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Cities: Indianapolis Indianapolis Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana. It is located in Marion County, in the central part of the state. The city is the most populous in Indiana, counting 781,870 residents during the 2000 census. It is also the most important economic center in the State, hosting the national headquarters of several large companies and serving as an important transportation hub for highway, rail, and air traffic. The Indiana Legislature chose the confluence of the White River and Fall Creek as a site for the new state capital in 1820. The town was platted in 1821 and a post office established in 1822. The first railroad arrived in 1847 and by the time of the Civil War the city was an important railroad hub. During the early part of the 20th Century it was also the center of a large network of local passenger railroads known as interurbans. Subsequent development of highways, in particular the Interstate highway system, made the city a major crossroads for freight traffic. Indianapolis is also home to a variety of cultural institutions and events, the most famous of which is undoubtedly the Indianapolis 500 auto race, held each year in May. The first 500 was run in 1911 and, with some wartime interruptions, has been held every year since. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is also home to the Brickyard 400 stock car race and the only Formula One race in the United States. Major museums include the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Indiana State Museum. The city also serves as a home to several universities, including Butler University, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, and The University of Indianapolis. Major redevelopment in downtown Indianapolis revitalized the area in the 1980s and 1990s, and it now boasts a bustling retail district, lively night life, and fashionable (and expensive) residential developments.