Indianapolis metropolitan area


Indianapolis–Carmel–Anderson or Indianapolis metropolitan area is an 11-county metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Indiana, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget. The metropolitan area is situated in Central Indiana, within the American Midwest.
The metropolitan area is centered on the capital and most populous city of Indiana, Indianapolis. Indianapolis–Carmel–Anderson is the 34th most populous metropolitan area in the United States, and largest in the state of Indiana. As of 2014, the population was 1,971,274. Indianapolis also anchors the larger Indianapolis–Carmel–Muncie combined statistical area, the 26th most populated, with 2,372,570.
The Indianapolis metropolitan area is part of the Great Lakes Megalopolis, which contains an estimated 59 million people.

Geography

Metropolitan area

Anchor cities

Combined Statistical Area

The larger Indianapolis–Carmel–Muncie Combined Statistical Area includes the following statistical areas:
The Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie CSA had an estimated population of 2,411,086 in 2017.

Area codes

The 317 area code covered all of northern and central Indiana until 1948, when the 219 area code was created. Central Indiana remained under the 317 banner until 1997, when growth in and around Indianapolis prompted the creation of 765 area code.
The 317 area code covers the Indianapolis metropolitan area. The counties covered by 317 are Boone, Hancock, Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Morgan, and Shelby.
According to the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, the 317 area code was expected to run out of numbers in 2017. Overlay area code 463 was implemented in late 2016, thereby requiring 10-digit dialing.

Transportation

Highways

Indiana's "Crossroads of America" moniker is largely attributed to the historical function of the Indianapolis metropolitan area has played as a center for logistics and transportation.

Interstates

The Indianapolis area is a major point on the United States Interstate Highway System, as it is a confluence of four major interstate highways:
Other interstates that cross through the Indianapolis area include:
Other notable roads in the area are:
The Indianapolis metropolitan area is served by several airports, most under ownership and operation of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, including Eagle Creek Airpark, Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport, Indianapolis Regional Airport, Hendricks County Airport, Indianapolis Downtown Heliport, and the busiest airport in the state, Indianapolis International Airport. In 2014, Indianapolis International served 7.4 million passengers and handled nearly 1 million metric tonnes of cargo.
Other airports within the region include:
is served by Amtrak's Cardinal, which operates thrice-weekly between Chicago and New York City.

Higher education

The Indianapolis metropolitan area is home to a number of higher education institutions, including:
enrolls some 30,000 students, the highest post-secondary enrollment within the Indianapolis metropolitan area.
The ‡ symbol denotes university branches whose main campuses are located outside the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

Sports

Professional teams

Semi-professional teams

College sports (Division I)

Headquartered in Indianapolis, the National Collegiate Athletic Association is the preeminent collegiate athletic governing body in the U.S. and Canada, regulating athletes of 1,281 institutions; conferences; organizations; and individuals. The NCAA also organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities and helps more than 450,000 college student-athletes who compete annually in college sports.
SchoolFoundedNicknameConference
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis1972IUPUI JaguarsThe Summit League
Butler University1855Butler BulldogsBig East Conference

Events

The Indianapolis metropolitan area hosts several notable sporting events annually, including the Brickyard 400, Grand Prix of Indianapolis, NHRA U.S. Nationals, NFL Scouting Combine, Big Ten Football Championship Game, the largest half marathon in the U.S., and the largest single-day sporting event in the world, the Indianapolis 500. The cars competing in the latter race are known as IndyCars as a reference to the event. Indianapolis has also been a frequent host of the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's basketball tournaments. Other major sporting events hosted include Pan American Games X in 1987, Super Bowl XLVI in 2012, and the 2013 International Champions Cup between Chelsea F.C. and Inter Milan.
High school sports are highly competitive in Greater Indianapolis. In 2013, MaxPreps ranked Indianapolis No. 3 in its Top 10 Metro Areas for High School Football.

Notable natives