Indiana’s capital has not always been the centrally located city known today. It began in a smaller community settled near the state’s southern boundary. This initial location served the newly formed state during a formative decade, providing the setting for the adoption of its fundamental governing document. Understanding the first capital provides insight into the priorities of Indiana’s early statehood before the population expanded and necessitated a more central seat of power.
Corydon: Indiana’s First Capital
The town of Corydon holds the designation as Indiana’s original state capital, a role it officially held from 1816 to 1825. This community, situated in the extreme southern part of the state in Harrison County, was already serving as the territorial capital before Indiana achieved statehood. In June 1816, 43 delegates convened in Corydon to draft the state’s first constitution, a prerequisite for admission into the Union.
The delegates met during a period of significant heat, often conducting their business under a large elm tree known as the Constitution Elm. The convention designated Corydon as the seat of government in Article XI, Section 11 of the 1816 constitution. The Harrison County courthouse, a two-story Federal-style limestone structure, was nearly completed at the time. It served as the first State Capitol building.
The first session of the Indiana General Assembly met in this building on November 4, 1816, shortly before Indiana was officially admitted as the 19th state on December 11 of that year. This structure housed all branches of the state government until the capital was officially relocated. The constitution’s designation, however, was temporary, stipulating that Corydon would remain the capital only until 1825 or until removed by law.
The Relocation to Indianapolis
The temporary capital provision reflected an early recognition that Corydon’s location in the south, near the Ohio River, would eventually become impractical. As Indiana’s population grew and expanded northward, the need for a geographically central seat of government became apparent. This was necessary to serve the citizens more equitably.
In 1820, the General Assembly authorized a 10-member commission to select a new, permanent location for the capital. The commission examined several sites before settling on a largely undeveloped, wooded area near the confluence of Fall Creek and the White River. This central location was chosen primarily for its potential to be accessible to a majority of the state’s residents as settlement progressed.
The new site was officially named Indianapolis, a combination of the state’s name and the Greek word for city, “polis.” The legislative bill to finalize the move was signed in 1824. The transition of governmental functions, including the transfer of state records, was completed in January 1825.