Ohio is a state rich in political history. Want to see the birthplaces of many modern presidents? One of Ohio's nicknames is the "Mother of Modern Presidents" because seven Republican presidents, including Ulysses S. Grant, were born in the state. In addition, the contemporary movement to elect African American leaders began in Cleveland, the state's largest metropolitan area, in 1967 when Carl B. Stokes was elected mayor.

Ohio also has an interesting state history. See the snake-shaped ceremonial and burial mounds built by Native Americans at Serpent Mound. German settlers once lived in German Village at Columbus, the state's capital. Did you ever hear of Johnny Appleseed? Many of the orchards in Ohio and Indiana were started with seeds given to settlers by John Chapman, who was also known as Johnny Appleseed.

The word "Ohio" comes from the Iroquois Indian word that means "fine or good river." Ohio is nicknamed the "Buckeye State" after the buckeye tree, which used to grow abundantly on the state's hills and plains and whose seed resembles a deer's (buck's) eye. The abbreviation for Ohio is OH.

Ohio is an East North Central state bordered by Michigan and Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, and Kentucky and West Virginia to the south. It was the first state from the Northwest Territory to enter the Union. As early as the 1800's, Ohio was known as the "Gateway State" because its roads, railways, and canals connected the Eastern and Western parts of the United States. Its cities include Cincinnati, Toledo, and Akron.


In addition to being famous for people who lived there, Ohio is known for its industrial output. Only California and New York surpass the state in that category. This is because of its natural resources, including a plentiful supply of water and vast mineral deposits, which include coal and salt. Visit the place where blimps and tires are born; Akron, the home of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, was once known as the "Rubber Capital of the World."

Visit the places where many famous people once lived. John Glenn, another former senator from the state, was the first American astronaut to circle around the earth. Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon, was born in Wapakoneta. Famous inventors from the state include Thomas Edison, Orville Wright, and Charles Kettering, a native of Dayton and the inventor of a self-starter for cars.