Indiana has long been renowned for its vibrant political culture, and Indianapolis is no exception. From its inception in 1820 as the seat of the Indiana government to its current status as a major transportation hub and center for civic and cultural affairs, the city has been closely intertwined with politics. Over the years, the political culture of Indianapolis has evolved in response to changes in the city's population, economy, and government. In the early days of Indianapolis, religious congregations such as Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists were established in the 1820s. Subsequently, other groups such as Episcopalians, Disciples of Christ, Lutherans, Catholics, Congregationalists, Quakers, Universalists, Unitarians, and Jewish congregations were also established in the city before the Civil War. In the 1980s, a shift in tax law necessitated foundations to donate more money.
This influx of funds enabled Indianapolis to construct amenities such as swimming pools and athletic stadiums. The city also experienced a transformation in its law enforcement agencies when the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was consolidated with the Marion County Sheriff's Department and individual fire departments of municipalities with approval from all affected parties. In recent years, Indianapolis has become a much more welcoming place for newcomers than other cities in the Midwest. This is due in part to English's pragmatic and impartial political gesture which coincided with many of his past political actions. For instance, he was willing to accept accusations only after his party decided to abandon an element of its platform that supported elections “by initiative, referendum and recall” which he considered antithetical to his limited government opinions. Having lived in both Indianapolis and Columbus, it is evident that Columbus has more competition with Cleveland and Cincinnati than Indianapolis does with Chicago.
This is due to the fact that Indianapolis has been able to preserve its political culture while still adapting to changes in its population, economy, and government.
