What Are Some Interesting Facts About Ohio?

Depending upon what you consider to be "interesting," your answer to what are some interesting facts about Ohio, you might be looking for different sorts of information. However, acquainting yourself with this information will help you to understand more about this state.

• The first ambulance service was established in Ohio. It began in Cincinnati in 1865.
• Cincinnati also had the first traffic light in the United States of America. This traffic light made its appearance on August 5, 1914.
• James J. Ritty, who was from Dayton, invented the cash register in 1879. It was created in order to stop employees from stealing from his store.
• The Cincinnati Reds were the first professional baseball team.
• Akron was the first city to use police cars.
• Cincinnati was the home of the first fire department.
• Akron is known as the rubber capital of the world.
• The American Federation of Labor was founded in Columbus.
• The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located in Cleveland.
• The Professional Football Hall of Fame is in Canton.
• The "Drew Carey Show" is set in Cleveland.
• Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, William Harrison, William McKinley, William H. Taft, and William G. Harding were all born in Ohio. When you think about how many presidents there are, you will realize that a large percentage of them are from Ohio.
• Ohio was also the home of the first full service car station.
• Ohio was the first state to have laws that protected working women. This law was created in 1852, much earlier than other womens right works came into play.
• Harry M. Sevens, of Ohio, created the first hot dog in 1900. Baseball fans can certainly thank Stevens for this treat that they often enjoy!
• 50% of the population of the United States lives within a 500 mile radius of Columbus, Ohio.
• Ohio's state flag is a pennant design. No other state has that design.
• Ohio University, in 1804, was the first university established in Ohio.
• Oberlin College was started in 1833. Oberlin was the first interracial and coeducational college in the United States.
• Columbus was not always the capital of Ohio. The first capital of Ohio was Chillicothe.
• Cleveland was the first city to be lit by electricity in 1879.
• The nickname of Ohio is the Buckeye State.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar is from Ohio.
• The state bird is the cardinal.
• The nickname "Buckeye" comes from the fact that the Buckeye is the state tree.
• The state flower is the red carnation.
• There are 88 counties in the state of Ohio. The largest county is Ashtabula. The smallest county is Lake County.
• Ohio is the seventh most populous state. As of 2001, the population of Ohio was counted as 11,373,541 people.
• The state is 205 miles long. The state is 230 miles wide.
• Ohio holds 18 seats in Congress.
• Ohio was the 17th state to join the Union. They joined on March 1, 1803.
• Ohio is the 34th biggest state in the country.
• Ohio is bordered by Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Michigan, and Indiana.

Now you have learned some interesting facts about Ohio which cover a wide spectrum from basic facts to more in depth knowledge.