Eli Lilly was founded in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Colonel Eli Lilly established the company in Indianapolis in May 1876. A pharmaceutical chemist and Union Army veteran, Lilly sought to produce medicines with consistent quality and reliable formulations. The company began with a small manufacturing operation and grew into a global pharmaceutical business.
Indianapolis remained central to Eli Lilly's identity and corporate history. The company's headquarters are located there, and the city became a major center for pharmaceutical research and manufacturing. Eli Lilly developed products across areas including diabetes, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience.
The company is often confused with the person Eli Lilly, who founded it, or with unrelated Lilly-branded businesses. It is also distinct from pharmaceutical companies headquartered in nearby Midwestern cities. Eli Lilly's corporate name is commonly shortened to Lilly, but the legal company is Eli Lilly and Company.