In 1916, the centennial of Indiana statehood, the Daughters of the American Revolution held a flag design competition. The winning design, by Paul Hadley, was approved as the "state banner" on May 31, 1917. The flag is defined by law as having design elements in either gold or buff, although in practice gold (actually golden yellow) is almost always used. The torch, symbolic of enlightenment and liberty, has rays spreading outward from its flames. A total of 19 stars ring the torch, recalling that the state was the 19th to join the Union. The name of the state is displayed above the largest star. The flag was defined as the state banner because, according to an act of the state legislature in 1901, the state flag was technically the national flag of the United States. In 1955 the General Assembly changed its classification from state banner to state flag "in addition to the American flag."

Indiana Official name: State of Indiana. State nickname: the Hoosier State. Total area: 36,420 sq mi, 94,328 sq km. Population (2000): 6,080,485. Population by race, origin (1997): white non-Hispanic 88.5%; white Hispanic 2.1%; black (including Hispanic) 8.3%; American Indian/Eskimo/Aleut 0.2%; Asian/Pacific Islander 0.9%. Natural increase rate per 1,000 population (1995): 5.1 (U.S. avg. 6.0). Gross domestic (state) product (1996): U.S.$155,800,000,000 (U.S.$26,730 per capita). Land use (1992): federal land 2.1%; non-federal land 97.9%, of which forest 15.9%, cropland 59.3%, pasture 8.2%, rangeland 0.0%, urban and built-up areas 9.2%, other 5.3%. Exports by state (1997): U.S.$12,029,000,000; percent of national total 1.95%.

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