Ohio Details

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the Great Lakes region of the United States. Its borders include Pennsylvania on the northeast, West Virginia on the southeast, Kentucky on the south, Indiana on the west and Michigan on the north. It has a total land area of 40,948 sq mi. (106,055 sq km) and is considered the 34th largest state by area in the United States.

The name Ohio is derived from an Iroquoian word which means “great river” or “large creek”. This state is popularly known as the “Buckeye State” due to its large number of Ohio Buckeye trees. Ohio became the 17th member of the confederate in March 1, 1803.

Ohio was first explored for France by Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, in 1669. This state later became a British property after the French-Indian Wars. It was later acquired by the US after the Revolutionary War in 1783. The first settlement in this state was established at Marietta in 1788.

Ohio is a leading industrial state, ranking third in manufacturing employment. Its major manufacture industries include Akron, known for rubber; Canton, known for roller bearings; Cincinnati for jet engines and machine tools; Cleveland for auto assembly, auto parts and steel; Dayton for office machines, refrigeration, heating and auto equipment; Youngstown and Steubenville for steel; and, Toledo for glass and auto parts.

This state also boasts of abundant soybeans, corn, oats, greenhouse and nursery products, wheat, hay, and fruit including apples, peaches, strawberries and grapes. It also has productive dairy farming and sheep and hog raising industry. Aside from these mentioned, Ohio is said to be the fourth largest producer of lime across the United States. It also ranks high in the production of sand, gravel and crushed stones.

Major attractions in Ohio include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Indian burial grounds at Mound City Group National Monument, Perry’s Victory International Peace Memorial, the Pro Football Hall of Fame at Canton, and the homes of presidents Grant, Taft, Hayes, Harding, and Garfield.

The state capital and the largest city of Ohio is Columbus. This city has an estimated population of 754,885 residents as of 2008.

Residents of Ohio are called Ohioans and Buckeyes.