Friday is the 199th anniversary of Indiana statehood, and the Bartholomew County Commissioners will be using the date to kick off the celebration of next year’s bicentennial.

The commissioners will proclaim Friday as Indiana Statehood Day locally and will install a new, bicentennial flag to fly over the courthouse for the entire year. The flag-raising ceremony will be at noon Friday at the Bartholomew County Courthouse.

Commissioners said that communities across the state will be taking similar actions on Friday.