Southern Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Southern Indiana
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Evansville skyline
Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area in Hoosier National Forest
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| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,386,568 |
| Time zones | Central |
| Eastern | |
| Area code(s) | 812/930 |
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Southern Indiana is a special area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. It shares borders with Illinois to the west, Kentucky to the south, and Ohio to the east. This region includes the southernmost 33 counties of Indiana. Its main cities are Evansville, the area near Louisville, and the area near Cincinnati.
The culture here is a mix of Northern and Southern styles, making it unique in Indiana. It is often seen as part of the Upland South and the lower Midwest.
The Wabash and Ohio rivers form the western and southern edges of Southern Indiana. The land here changes a lot, from about 360 feet (110 meters) above sea level where the rivers meet, to 1,060 feet (320 meters) high in the Knobstone Escarpment. Southern Indiana has more varied landscapes than Central and Northern Indiana. You can find large forests, rolling hills, and cool karst caves. It's also home to the oldest exposed Devonian fossil beds in the world at the Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area.
About 1.4 million people live in Southern Indiana. It was the first part of the state where European settlers built towns. Vincennes, founded in 1732, is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in Indiana. It was also the first capital of the Indiana Territory. Later, Corydon became the state's first capital.
Important protected areas in Southern Indiana include Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area, George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, Hoosier National Forest, and the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. The region also has about a dozen colleges and universities, like Indiana University Bloomington, which is the main campus of the Indiana University system. Many Catholic Church buildings are in the area, such as Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Southern Indiana is split between the Eastern and Central time zones.
Contents
Exploring Southern Indiana's Geography
Southern Indiana has diverse landscapes and is divided into several sub-regions.
Sub-regions of Southern Indiana
Kentuckiana: Where States Meet
Kentuckiana is a name that combines "Kentucky" and "Indiana". It describes an area that covers parts of north-central Kentucky and south-central Indiana. This region is mostly focused around the city of Louisville.
The Indiana counties usually considered part of Kentuckiana include:
Southwestern Indiana: A Key Area
This sub-region is centered around the city of Evansville.
Southeastern Indiana: Near Cincinnati
This area is located closer to the Cincinnati metropolitan area.
Other Counties in Southern Indiana
Some other counties that are part of Southern Indiana include:
Time Zones in Southern Indiana
Most of Southern Indiana uses Eastern Time. However, Southwestern Indiana, including Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, and Gibson counties, observes Central Time.
How People Talk: Dialects in Southern Indiana
The way people speak in Southern Indiana is different from the rest of the state. You'll often hear the Southern dialect or South Midland dialect of American English. This is different from the Inland North dialect found in far Northern Indiana. Southern Indiana is the northernmost point where the South Midland dialect is spoken.
Colleges and Universities in Southern Indiana
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Southern Indiana has about 12 accredited colleges and universities. These include private liberal arts colleges and several public university campuses. The most well-known is Indiana University Bloomington, which is the main campus of the Indiana University system.
Public Universities
- Indiana University Bloomington
- Indiana University Columbus
- Indiana University Southeast
- Ivy Tech Community College (with 12 locations)
- Purdue Polytechnic Institute‡ (three locations)
- University of Southern Indiana
- Vincennes University
Private Colleges
- Hanover College
- Indiana Tech‡ (in Jeffersonville)
- Oakland City University
- Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology
- University of Evansville
Sports in Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana is home to both professional and college sports teams.
Professional Sports Teams
There are two professional sports teams located in Evansville:
- The Evansville Thunderbolts (started in 2018) play ice hockey.
- The Evansville Otters (started in 1995) play baseball in the independent Frontier League.
College Sports Teams
Many colleges in Southern Indiana have sports teams that compete at different levels.
- National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I
- Indiana Hoosiers (from Monroe County)
- Evansville Purple Aces (from Vanderburgh County)
- Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (from Vanderburgh County)
- NCAA Division II
- Oakland City Mighty Oaks (from Gibson County)
- NCAA Division III
- Hanover Panthers (from Jefferson County)
- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
- IU Southeast Grenadiers (from Floyd County)
- National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
- Vincennes Trailblazers (from Knox County)
