Indiana Nickname

State Nickname of Indiana

The Hoosier State


“Hoosier State” came into general usage in the 1830s as a nickname for Indiana but it’s been around for well over a century. IN is the Two-letter or Postal Abbreviation and Ind. is the Traditional or Standard Abbreviation for the State of Indiana.

John Finley of Richmond wrote a poem, “The Hoosier’s Nest,” which was used as the “Carrier’s Address” of the Indianapolis Journal, January 1, 1833. It was widely copied throughout the country and even abroad. A few days later, on January 8, 1833, at the Jackson Day Dinner at Indianapolis, John W. Davis offered “The Hoosier State of Indiana” as a toast. And in August, former Indiana governor James B. Ray announced that he intended to publish a newspaper, The Hoosier, at Greencastle, Indiana.

The word Hoosier is said to be derived from an Indian word for corn, “hoosa.” People from Indiana are called Hoosiers and Indian University students are called Hoosiers too.