Indianapolis is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. It is in the East North Central region of the Midwestern United States. With an estimated population of 855,164 in 2016, Indianapolis is the third most populous city in the Midwest and 15th most populous in the U.S. The city is the economic and cultural center of the Indianapolis metropolitan area, with 2,004,230 residents, the 34th most populous metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. Its combined statistical area ranks 27th, with a population of 2,386,199. Indianapolis covers 368 square miles, making it the 16th largest city by land area in the U.S.Indianapolis was founded in 1821 as a planned city for the new seat of Indiana's state government. The city was platted by Alexander Ralston and Elias Pym Fordham on a 1 square mile grid adjacent to the White River.