Indianapolis has a long and captivating history, from its early days as a spiritual center for Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists in the 1820s to its current status as the seat of the Indiana government. The area where the city of Indianapolis is now located was once inhabited by the Lenape (nation of Delaware), a native tribe that lived along the White River. Calvin Fletcher, one of the first prominent residents, documented many details of Indianapolis's early history in his diary. In 1820, the Indiana General Assembly passed an act that made Indianapolis the seat of the state's new capital.
This act also enabled the consolidation of the city and county's budgetary functions, and allowed for the City-County Council to vote to merge the Indianapolis Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Department. In addition, it allowed for the consolidation of the Indianapolis Fire Department with the fire departments of the individual municipalities based on their approval. Notable weeklies in Indianapolis include NUVO, an alternative weekly; the Indianapolis Recorder, a weekly newspaper serving the local African-American community; the Indianapolis Business Journal, which reports on local real estate news; and the Southside Times. The city is also home to several German clubs, such as the Indianapolis Turngemeinde (185) and Turners, which merged with other clubs and became known as the Indianapolis Social Turnverein. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) is now the primary law enforcement agency in Indianapolis.
It is not, however, the only law enforcement agency in Marion County; there were other agencies even before Unigov was established in Indianapolis. Indianapolis has a rich and vibrant history that has shaped it into what it is today. From its early days as a religious center to its current status as a major metropolitan city with a strong police force, Indianapolis has come a long way. Its unique history has made it an interesting place to explore and learn about.
