Indiana and Chicago: Different States

No, Indiana and Chicago are not in the same state.

• Indiana — A U.S. state (admitted 1816), capital Indianapolis, population 6.8M. Borders Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois.
• Chicago — A major city in the state of Illinois, population 2.7M. Located on Lake Michigan's southwestern shore.

Relationship

Chicago sits ~15 miles from the Indiana border (Gary/Hammond). The Chicago metropolitan area ("Chicagoland") extends into Northwest Indiana (Lake, Porter, LaPorte counties), creating a bi-state economic region. But politically and legally, Chicago is entirely within Illinois.

Common Confusion Sources

• Chicago sports teams have huge Indiana fanbases
• Northwest Indiana = "The Region" (Calumet), economically tied to Chicago
• South Shore Line commuter rail connects Indiana to Chicago
• O'Hare Airport (Chicago) serves Indiana travelers