Indy Communities

The greater Indianapolis area, which includes the city proper in Marion County and some nearby suburban cities in Hamilton, Hendricks and Johnson counties, is an area that is home to a population of more than 2 million residents. The cities lie in the central part of the state and with Indianapolis as the state’s capital, it is the state’s largest city and home to many of its largest businesses and its central government.

The area is home to several colleges and higher education institutions, including Brown Mackie College, Butler University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indiana Wesleyan University, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Marian College, Martin University, The Art Institute of Indianapolis, Franklin College and the University of Indianapolis. The city of Indianapolis is home to two professional sports team, football’s Indianapolis Colts and basketball’s Indiana Pacers, both of which have large followings throughout the area.

Major suburban cities in the region other than Indianapolis itself include Carmel, Fishers, Lawrence, Greenwood, Beech Grove, Brownsburg, Zionsville, Plainfield, Mooresville and Noblesville, to name a few. The area is full of retail options and dining choices, from the eclectic offerings of downtown to the family-friendly ventures and independently run diners in the surrounding communities. The largest industries here include government, health care, education and finance. The area has more than 200 parks covering 10,000 acres and is home to a number of large events and festivals held throughout the year. The recently built Indianapolis Convention Center is a big draw for conferences and other large events. Some celebrations held annual include the Indiana Black Expo, the three-day Indy Jazz Festival, the Indiana State Fair, the monthlong 500 Festival celebrating the running of the race, the Heartland Film Festival, the Indianapolis Theatre Fringe Festival and the Midwest Music Summit.