Indiana is a state in the United States' Midwestern region. It is the 38th-largest in terms of land area and the 17th-most populated among the 50 states. Indianapolis is the state's capital and biggest city. On December 11, 1816, Indiana was admitted to the Union as the 19th state. It is bounded to the northwest by Lake Michigan, to the north by Michigan, to the east by Ohio, to the south and southeast by the Ohio River and Kentucky, and to the west by the Wabash River and Illinois.