April 8, 2003
WHAT TIME IS IT (In Indiana)?
Since many of my out-of-state friends and my Mom have been asking, here's more information on the whole Indiana time zone thing. Indiana is one of three U.S. states which does not Spring ahead from "standard" to "daylight saving" time or Fall back from daylight to standard time six months later. (Arizona and Hawaii are the others.)
Daylight time begins in most parts of the the U.S. on the first Sunday in April and ends on the last Sunday in October.† On the first Sunday in April, most people set their clock ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. local standard time, which becomes 3:00 a.m. local daylight time. On the last Sunday in October, clocks are set back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local daylight time, which becomes 1:00 a.m. local standard time.
But here in Indiana, there are three time zones observed during summer (although 87 of our 92 counties actually have the same clock time) and two time zones in winter (when 82 counties out of 92 counties are on the same time). The Hoosier state's unique system for observing daylight time is said to be rooted in its once farming-dominated economy. Apparently, farmers prefer early daylight to dry their fields and an early sunset to end their work at a reasonable hour.
Bottom line... from the first Sunday in April thru the last Sunday in October, my part of Indiana (Indianapolis) is in the same time zone as Chicago. And from late-October thru early-April we're in the same time zone as New York City. So, while it may appear that I actually change my clocks to match these time zones, the fact is that my part of Indiana is always on Standard Time.
Posted by Mikal at April 8, 2003 6:00 AM
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