As roads were built and settlements moved north, a central government headquarters was needed. In January 1821, a site was selected and the city of Indianapolis was founded. To provide an in-depth look into the city's past, Calvin Fletcher wrote a diary and John D. Dunn wrote a two-volume history of Indianapolis.
Dunn's work was particularly comprehensive, dedicating an entire chapter to reviewing the evidence about the first inhabitants of the area. He also addressed topics that had not been previously examined, such as ethnicity and the development of the greater metropolitan area. Dunn was also the first historian to recognize that Indianapolis had an African-American community. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) is the principal law enforcement agency in the city.
However, it is not the only law enforcement agency in Marion County, not even in Indianapolis before Unigov. The Indiana State Fair has been held annually in Indianapolis since 1852, and the NASCAR Memorial Day 500 mile race, the Indianapolis 500, was first held in 1911. In 1821, Indianapolis became the seat of Marion County and four years later, when the state legislature met for the first time, Indianapolis had a street and a population of 600 people. A number of journals and memoirs stand out as being particularly important to Indianapolis history students. Notable weeklies include NUVO, an alternative weekly, the Indianapolis Recorder, a weekly newspaper serving the local African-American community, and the Indianapolis Business Journal. Indianapolis has been closely linked to politics since its election as the seat of Indiana government in 1820s.
It also became a railroad transportation hub for the region and a center for civic and cultural affairs. Graduate students at Butler University and University of Indianapolis have also examined aspects of the city's history. Today, Indianapolis is a vibrant city with a rich history that continues to be explored by historians and students alike. It is an important achievement that provides useful information about its past.
