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Ohio

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Ohio is a large state in the Midwestern region of the United States.

Ohio welcome sign (2019)
Ohio welcome sign (2019)

It sits in a spot surrounded by many different places. To the north, Lake Erie separates Ohio from the Canadian province of Ontario. The state shares borders with Pennsylvania to the east and West Virginia to the southeast. To the southwest lies Kentucky, while Indiana is to the west. Michigan sits to the northwest.

Ohio Country en
Ohio Country en

The name Ohio comes from the Ohio River on its southern border. This name comes from a Seneca word meaning "good river" or "great river."

Many different groups of people have lived in Ohio throughout history.

Sunwatch Aerial illustration HRoe 2018 400px
Sunwatch Aerial illustration HRoe 2018 400px

Evidence shows nomadic people lived in the Ohio Valley as early as 13,000 BC. Later, the Adena culture lived in semi-permanent villages. They grew plants like sunflowers, squash, and possibly corn. Around 100 BC, the Hopewell people emerged as skilled mound builders. They created large earthworks in places like Marietta and Newark. The Hopewell were also great traders who reached a third of the continent.

5NationsExpansion
5NationsExpansion

Later, other groups like the Mississippian and Fort Ancient cultures lived in the region.

European history in Ohio began with many different powers.

LandingOfThePioneers
LandingOfThePioneers

In the 1700s, the French set up trading posts to trade furs. Later, Britain and France fought the French and Indian War. After that war, Britain took control of the land in 1763. This period saw much tension between Native tribes and European colonists. The land was part of the Northwest Territory, which was the first frontier of the new United States. On March 1, 1803, Ohio officially became the 17th state in the Union.

Map of Ohio showing Interurban Railways c 1907
Map of Ohio showing Interurban Railways c 1907

Ohio is a very busy and important place for many reasons.

Ohio population pyramid
Ohio population pyramid

It is the 34th-largest state by area, but it has a large population of nearly 11.9 million people. This makes it the seventh-most populous state in the country. Columbus is the capital and the largest city. Other major cities include Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Akron, and Toledo.

Ohio Statehouse exterior
Ohio Statehouse exterior

The state is also known as the "Buckeye State" because of its buckeye trees. People from Ohio are often called "Buckeyes."

Today, Ohio is known for making many different things.

A scene in a steel mill, Republic Steel, Youngstown, Ohio
A scene in a steel mill, Republic Steel, Youngstown, Ohio

It was one of the most important industrial powerhouses during the 20th century. While it now focuses more on services and information, it is still a huge industrial state. Ohio has the third-largest manufacturing sector in the country. It also has the second-largest automobile production.

Standard Oil Company 1889 CP04381 - DPLA - 032e381bb16b1a45abecfd1a6a86ae3a (cropped)
Standard Oil Company 1889 CP04381 - DPLA - 032e381bb16b1a45abecfd1a6a86ae3a (cropped)

Finally, Ohio is called "the Mother of Presidents." This is because seven United States presidents were born there.

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🖼️ Images & Media (28)
Beautiful Ohio - Henry Burr & Ruth Lenox, 1919.ogg
File:Sunwatch Aerial illustration HRoe 2018 400px.jpg
Sunwatch Aerial illustration HRoe 2018 400px.jpg
File:5NationsExpansion.jpg
5NationsExpansion.jpg
File:Ohio Country en.png
Ohio Country en.png
File:LandingOfThePioneers.jpg
LandingOfThePioneers.jpg
File:Battle of Lake Erie.jpg
Battle of Lake Erie.jpg
File:Morganmap.jpg
Morganmap.jpg
File:Standard Oil Company 1889 CP04381 - DPLA - 032e381bb16b1a45abecfd1a6a86ae3a (cropped).jpg
Standard Oil Company 1889 CP04381 - DPLA...
File:A scene in a steel mill, Republic Steel, Youngstown, Ohio.jpg
A scene in a steel mill, Republic Steel,...
File:Geographic regions ohio.svg
Geographic regions ohio.svg
File:Hellbender Cryptobranchus.jpg
Hellbender Cryptobranchus.jpg
File:Köppen Climate Types Ohio.png
Köppen Climate Types Ohio.png

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