Located in the heartland of America, Indiana has many claims to fame. It's home to major universities, such as Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Notre Dame, as well as one of the most famous sporting events in the United States, the Indianapolis 500 car race held every May. Indiana also boasts two of the top 15 Best Small Cities, according to the 2010 "Money" magazine issue devoted to the best places to live in the United States.
Located near Indianapolis, Carmel is home to the corporate headquarters of companies such as Delta Faucet and Thomson Multimedia, which means a decent employment picture. With a population of about 67,000 in 2010, according to "Money" magazine's annual list of the Top 100 Best Small Cities, Carmel is a pedestrian-friendly city and maintains a lively arts and culture scene.
Carmel, No. 14 nationally on the Money list, has a charming City Center district. Developed in the early 2000s, it includes a 1,600-seat performing arts hall as well as 1 million square feet of boutique shopping and upscale restaurants.
Fishers came in at No. 8 nationally on Money's Top 100 list in 2010, partly because of job growth and economic stability, as well as its proximity to Indiana's biggest city. Residents of Fishers can enjoy the low crime rate, low-cost housing and community spirit of a small city, while being only a few miles up Interstate 69 from downtown Indianapolis.
Best known as the home of Indiana University, Bloomington is often considered the quintessential college town. The city of nearly 72,000 people, according to the 2000 census, enjoys the cultural opportunities that surround the college, such as Big 10 athletics, live music, visual and performing arts presentations, and a variety of guest speakers and food and wine festivals. "National Geographic" named Bloomington one of the top 50 adventure towns in the United States because a wide range of outdoor activities nearby.
That's right, there's a Santa Claus, Indiana. With a population of a little more than 2,000 people, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, Santa Claus doesn't qualify as a city. But the town does receive about a half a million letters around Christmastime each year, according to the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. Not surprisingly, Santa Claus has Christmas-theme street names, a huge statue of Santa and a family park that was originally named Santa Claus Land. It has been updated through the years and is now known as Holiday World & Splashin' Safari.
