The origin of the word “Hoosier” to describe residents of Indiana is somewhat mysterious and debated.
One theory suggests that the term “Hoosier” comes from the name Samuel Hoosier, a contractor who hired many laborers from Indiana for his work on the Louisville and Portland Canal in the early 19th century. It is said that the workers became known as “Hoosier’s men,” and over time, the term “Hoosier” came to be associated with all people from Indiana.
