While Indianapolis’ fertility rate (67 births per 1,000 women, ages 15-44) is high, the rate is not consistent throughout the county. Small children account for as much as 14 percent of the people in some neighborhoods and less than 2 percent in others.

The adjoining map shows the wide disparity in births and young children throughout Indianapolis. The biggest concentration of young children is in Lawrence Township, while residents in Washington, Franklin and Perry townships appear to have fewer children.

Indianapolis’ high overall birth rate is similar for all ethnic groups. White residents have a birth rate of 16.7, which is higher than the rate of 13.7 for whites in Indiana. Black residents’ birth rate is 18.4, compared to 17.5 for blacks in Indiana. And the birth rate for Hispanics is 13.7, compared to 10.6 for Hispanics across the state. While the birth rates for these three ethnic groups vary, it is most significant that the rates for all three are higher in Indianapolis than across the state.

 

   
     
  Indianapolis is doing well in comparison with simlar cities in other statesNatural increaseIndianapolis' high birth rateNumber of births, 2003Educational attainment of mothersMigration explains the growth of the suburbs  
  PopulationThe population basicsIndianapolis' population is growing slowlyThe Central Indiana region grew rapidlyNatural increase and migration: two ways the population growsIndianapolis is younger than the state or the nationIndianapolis is becoming more diverse  
  Most Central Indiana growth is in surburban areas rather than the urban coreIndianapolis will remain the hub of Central IndianaThe trend is toward more older peopleBlacks are the largest minority, while Hispanics are the fastest-growing ethnic groupThe suburbs remain whiteEthnic, racial and cultural groupsHispanic social integrationHistoric sidebar