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Last updated on Thursday, July 5, 2007
(BLOOMINGTON) - For decades, Indiana historians have spent countless hours dissecting the meaning and origin of the word “Hoosier.”
A recently published article in the "Indiana Magazine Of History" is shedding some light on the topic.
Dr. Eric Sandweiss is an assistant professor of history at IU and helps publish the magazine. He says a Hanover College professor has unearthed some new information.
While many have said the word "Hoosier" was a derogatory term, Sandweiss says that isn't the case. It appears the term actually first popped up around 1830, just over a decade after the state was founded.
Sandweiss says the word was actually used to describe people who lived along the rivers and canals in Indiana and was actually a source of pride.
Sandweiss also says it's possible that the word did come from, at some level, the calling out of the words, "who's there?" That's been an urban legend in Indiana for many years as well.
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