Final answer:
Indiana's population density measures the number of residents per square mile, impacting urban planning and resource distribution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Indiana's population density represents the average number of people living per square mile in the state. This metric is significant as it influences factors such as population movement and the allocation of resources across the state. A sentence illustrating the concept might read: "Indiana's population density, which calculates the number of residents per square mile, helps to understand how crowded an area is and guides decisions related to urban planning and resource distribution." The calculation of population density involves dividing the total population by the land area, this helps in ascertaining how populated or sparse a region may be, which has direct implications on societal functioning, including infrastructure development, ecological impact, and social services provision.