It is Midwest* heartland. Unlike Ohio to its east and Illinois to its west, it was always a more rural and agricultural state (or, at least, was not as divided between urban and rural interests as its neighbors).
In someways, it is a "byway" between it's neighbors to its flanks with a time zone split down it's middle it looks to either side more than itself.
But it is also the home of great institutions and solidity - hence the "heartland" aspect.
It's good that we have an Indiana. But I'm very glad I don't live there!
* BW: the term "Midwest" refers to the US States which are immediately west of the northern members of the original thriteen US states. On a continental map today you would consider it to be "eastern central". But we would never use the term "central America" as that refers to a region of the Western Hemisphere below Mexico and above Colombia!
