Ohio - Map, Flag & County | HISTORY (2024)

Ohio's Native American History

Native American Cultures

Prehistoric hunters lived in the Ohio River Valley at least 14,000 years ago. Around A.D. 700, Indigenous people, such as the Adena and Hopewell cultures, known for their elaborate earthworks and mounds, established more permanent settlements. Various Native American tribes later populated the area, including the Chippewa, Ottawa, Delaware, Iroquois, Miamis, Mingo, Shawnees and Wyandots.

In the mid-1700s, European settlers began to arrive, leading to conflicts over land and resources. This culminated in the Northwest Indian War (1785–1795), where a confederation of Native American tribes, led by the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, resisted U.S. expansion. The war ended with the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, creating established Native lands, but American expansion soon forced tribes from the state.

During the War of 1812, Ohio's Lake Erie harbor in the village of Cleveland became a key base for the American military due to its location and connection of waterways. Significant battles occurred at Fort Meigs, the Battle of the Thames, and the naval Battle of Lake Erie, which became a turning point for the Americans in claiming victory.

In the early 19th century, many Native Americans in Ohio, which means "the great river" in Iroquois, were displaced by treaties and forced relocations, leading to the Indian Removal Act of 1830 that moved tribes such as the Shawnee and Miami west of the Mississippi River.

Ohio's Colonial History

Although the area now known as Ohio was largely uninhabited by Europeans until the mid-18th century, both the French and British empires claimed it. Many historians believe French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle was the first European to explore the region in the 1670s, claiming it for France. However, the British also sought control, contributing to the eruption of the French and Indian War (1754–1763). Following Britain's victory, Ohio became part of the British Empire until the American Revolution.

Post-Revolutionary War, Congress made Ohio part of the Northwest Territory established by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which laid the groundwork for the region's settlement. In 1788, a 48-person expedition sponsored by the Ohio Company, a land speculation company, led to the area's first settlement in what is now known as Marietta.

Soon after, Ohio became the first state carved from the Northwest Territory, joining the Union as the 17th state on March 1, 1803.

Immigration in Ohio

Ohio has experienced several immigration waves throughout its history. In the early 19th century, New England and Mid-Atlantic settlers moved to Ohio, attracted by agricultural and economic opportunities. By the mid-19th century, many German and Irish immigrants arrived, contributing to the state's cultural diversity.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the arrival of immigrants from Eastern Europe, who came to work in Ohio's booming industries. African Americans from the South also landed in Ohio during the Great Migration, seeking better job opportunities and escaping racial discrimination. Additionally, Ohio’s Amish population is one of the largest in America.

Great Migration

Ohio's Role in Civil War

A free state during the Civil War, Ohio's location along the Ohio River made it a critical stop on the Underground Railroad. The abolitionist sentiment was strong, and many Ohioans actively participated in helping enslaved people escape from the South to freedom in Canada. The state contributed more than 300,000 troops to the Union effort.

Following the war, Ohio established several Black communities and institutions. Wilberforce University, founded in 1856, is the oldest private historically Black university in the nation, named for abolitionist William Wilberforce.

The civil rights movement saw significant activity in Ohio, including events such as the 1966 Hough Uprising in Cleveland that left four African Americans dead, and the 1968 Glenville Shootout that resulted in the deaths of three Black nationalists, three white police officers and one Black civilian.

Kent State Shootings

The Kent State Shootings

Four students were killed by members of the Ohio National Guard on May 4, 1970, during an anti-Vietnam War demonstration at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Nine others were wounded, and the shootings became symbolic of the war’s protest movement, with more than 400 colleges joining strikes or demonstrations in response.

Eight former National Guardsmen involved in the shooting were acquitted of the shootings in 1973.

Ohio Industry and Economy

From its early agricultural roots, Ohio's economy evolved to play a crucial role in America's Industrial Revolution, with cities such as Cleveland, Cincinnati and Akron becoming hubs for manufacturing–particularly steel, rubber and automobiles. The state was one of the country’s top iron and steel producers in the 20th century.

Ohio also has a notable aerospace industry, with companies including NASA's Glenn Research Center and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base playing key roles in aerospace research and development. Additionally, Ohio is home to major finance, health care, and technology corporations.

Ohio's agricultural sector is a leading producer of corn, soybeans and chicken eggs. The state’s top natural resources are natural gas, clay, sand and gravel, shale, sandstone and hitite, a rock salt mined from under Lake Erie, throughout history.

Ohio Quick Facts

Date of Statehood: March 1, 1803

Capital: Columbus

Population: 11,799,448 (2020 U.S. Census)

Size: 44,825 square miles

Nickname(s): The Buckeye State

Motto: With God, All Things Are Possible

Tree: Buckeye

Flower: Red carnation

Bird: Cardinal

Ohio Interesting Facts

  • Although Ohio was granted statehood on February 19, 1803, an oversight meant the state’s constitution wasn’t ratified. Upon discovery, Ohio didn't become an "official" state until August 7, 1953. (But Dwight D. Eisenhower backdated the admittance date.)
  • Ohio is known as the "Mother of Presidents" as seven U.S. presidents were born in the state: William Henry Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft and Warren G. Harding.
  • The state's nickname, "The Buckeye State," comes from the buckeye trees common in Ohio; the nuts of these trees are said to look like the eyes of a deer (or buck). The Ohio Legislature made the buckeye tree the official state tree in 1953.
  • Ohio’s pennant-shaped state flag is the only one in the U.S. not in the shape of a rectangle.
  • The 4-H Club was founded in Clark County, Ohio, in 1902.
  • The Ohio Legislature made the red carnation the state’s official state flower in 1904 in honor of McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901, as the former president often wore the flower in his lapel’s buttonhole.
  • Famous Ohioans include Orville and Wilbur Wright, Neil Armstrong, Annie Oakley, Thomas Edison, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Dorothy Dandridge, Erma Bombeck, Toni Morrison and LeBron James.
  • The Pro Football Hall of Fame is in Canton, Ohio.
  • The pawpaw fruit, native to Ohio for 30,000-plus years, is celebrated during the annual Ohio Pawpaw Festival held each September.
  • The Ohio Legislature passed a resolution in 1985 to make “Hang on Sloopy,” a 1965 No. hit by Dayton band the McCoys, the state’s official rock song.
  • The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened its famous I.M. Pei-designed museum in Cleveland in 1995.
  • Thomas Edison, from Erie County, Ohio, holds more than 1,000 patents, including for the light bulb and phonograph. Other famous inventions by Ohioans include chewing gum (Amos Tyler, first patent, 1869), cash register (James Ritty, 1878), vacuum cleaner (Murray Spangler, 1907), automobile self-starter (Charles Kettering, 1911) and traffic signal (Garrett Morgan, 1923).

Sources

Ohio, U.S. Census Bureau, census.gov
Symbols of Ohio, ohiosos.gov
Happy Statehood Day, Ohio! 17 things to know about the 17th state in the Union, Dayton Daily News
Ohio: The 48th State?, ohiohistory.org
Ohio's Statehood, ohio.org
Ohio 220th Anniversary of Statehood (1803): March 1, 2023, census.gov
200th Anniversary of Ohio Statehood, archives.gov
7 interesting facts you should know about Ohio and its history, State Library of Ohio
Along the Ohio Trail, ohio.gov
Ohio: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide, Library of Congress
Ohio Indigenous Peoples, familysearch.org
Kent State shootings: The 1970 student protests that shook the US, BBC

Ohio - Map, Flag & County | HISTORY (1)

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Ohio - Map, Flag & County | HISTORY (2024)

FAQs

What was Ohio called before it was called Ohio? ›

The Northwest Territory originally included areas previously called Ohio Country and Illinois Country.

Who were the first settlers in Ohio? ›

The earliest and heaviest settlement was in the southeastern part of the state, closest to Pennsylvania and Virginia - which provided most of the settlers. Early settlers were primarily of English, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish descent. By the 1820's, several thousand African Americans had settled in Ohio.

When did Ohio become a state in 1953? ›

Although legally Ohio became the 17th state with the February 19, 1803 act of Congress, Ohio statehood is celebrated on March 1. The date of March 1, 1803 was when the Ohio legislature met for the first time. This was retroactively made the statehood date by a 1953 Resolution of the United States Congress.

What are some historical facts about Ohio? ›

Ohio became the 17th state in 1803. The Ohio and Lake Erie Canal opened almost 30 years later and connected Lake Erie with the Ohio River. That made it much less expensive to ship goods from the east, so more settlers started arriving in the state. Most people from Ohio fought for the Union during the Civil War.

What is the oldest town in Ohio? ›

Established in 1788, Marietta is the oldest city in the state of Ohio, and the first official American settlement territory north and west of the Ohio River. Known as the “Riverboat Town,” it is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers.

What are Ohio natives called? ›

The original inhabitants of Ohio consisted primarily of three nations: the Erie, Kickapoo and Shawnee, the first two both residing in areas near modern-day Toledo.

Who originally owned Ohio? ›

Although the area now known as Ohio was largely uninhabited by Europeans until the mid-18th century, both the French and British empires claimed it. Many historians believe French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle was the first European to explore the region in the 1670s, claiming it for France.

What is Ohio famously known for? ›

A quintessential Midwestern state, Ohio is known for many things, from the gorgeous Cuyahoga Falls and rock n' roll to its manufacturing history and views of Lake Erie.

What is the motto of Ohio? ›

During the early 1950s, the Ohio Legislature sponsored a contest to select a state motto. “With God All Things Are Possible” became Ohio's state motto on October 1, 1959. James Mastronardo, a 12-year-old boy, recommended this quotation from the Bible.

What is Ohio's flower? ›

Flower: Red Carnation

The red carnation is thought to symbolize love and passion. It was a favorite of Ohio-born president William McKinley, who often wore one on his jacket. The red carnation was named the state flower in his honor after his assassination.

What is the state animal of Ohio? ›

It was then listed as effective in the Ohio Revised Code in 1953. The white-tailed deer (O. virginianus) became the official state animal in 1988. The black racer became the state reptile in 1995.

What is an Ohio state bird? ›

The cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is the state bird of Ohio. It is well known for its rich, distinctive call.

What is the largest city in Ohio? ›

Columbus (/kəˈlʌmbəs/, kə-LUM-bəs) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio.

Why is Ohio called Ohio? ›

Ohio derives its name from the Ohio River that forms its southern border, which, in turn, originated from the Seneca word ohiːyo', meaning "good river", "great river", or "large creek". The state was home to several ancient indigenous civilizations, with humans present as early as 10,000 BCE.

What was Ohio State's original name? ›

When did the name change from the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College to The Ohio State University? On May 1, 1878, the state legislature officially renamed the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College to The Ohio State University.

What is the other name for Ohio? ›

Ohio is nicknamed the "Buckeye State" after its Ohio buckeye trees, and Ohioans are also known as "Buckeyes".

What did Ohio State change their name to? ›

In 1878, and in light of its expanded focus, the college permanently changed its name to the now-familiar "The Ohio State University." To this day, "The" is part of Ohio State's official name.

What was Ohio before civilization? ›

Early Woodland Period: about 800 BCE BC to CE 500. The early Woodland culture in Ohio is known as the Adena. The Adena culture lived in large habitation sites near waterways. They hunted and gathered like their Paleo-Indian and Archaic ancestors.

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