100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
Ohio (OH) is in the Midwest, a major industrial and agricultural hub with a diverse economy. The economy is driven mainly by manufacturing, aerospace, and defense. The capital and largest city of Ohio is Columbus. Top tourist attractions include the Cedar Point amusement park and Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Ohio was the first U.S. state to approve a law on maximum speed limits on roads in 1908.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Ohio Abbreviation OH Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus (Population: 913 175) Current time 18:18 Time zone EST (UTC-5), the state observes Daylight Saving Time EDT (UTC-4) Population 11,799,331 (#7 most populous US state) Area 116,096 km² (#34 largest US state) Admitted to the Union March 1, 1803 (#17 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Ohio
The capital of the state of Ohio is Columbus, which was founded for this purpose in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers. The name honors the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, and the city became the capital in 1816.
🏙️ Largest City in Ohio
The largest city in Ohio is Columbus, home to 913,175 residents in 2023. The second most populous city is Cleveland with 362,656 people, and the third is Cincinnati with a population of 311,097.
🕒 Time in Ohio
The current time in Ohio is 18:18. For most of the year the state observes the Eastern Standard Time zone (EST, UTC-5), switching to daylight time from March through November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Ohio
As of 2023, Ohio had 11,799,331 residents, ranking seventh among the most populous states in the U.S.
📍 Area of Ohio
Ohio’s total area is 116,096 km², of which 106,156 km² is land and 10,040 km² is water. Ohio is the 34th largest state in the U.S.
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Fun Facts About Ohio
🧩 Which States Border Ohio
Ohio shares a land border with four different U.S. states. To the west is Indiana, to the east Pennsylvania, to the southeast West Virginia, and to the south Kentucky. Its northern boundary is the shore of Lake Erie, across which it borders the state of Michigan.
📅 Date of Ohio Statehood
Ohio was admitted to the Union on March 1, 1803 as the 17th state, carved from part of the Northwest Territory.
📛 Ohio State Nickname
Ohio is nicknamed “The Buckeye State,” a nod to the nickname for the state’s residents. The term has been used since the early 19th century, when then Ohio senator and presidential candidate William Henry Harrison handed out campaign souvenirs carved from buckeye.
The term “buckeye” specifically refers to the Ohio buckeye, which has been the state’s official tree since 1953.
Ohio license plates also use the nickname “Birthplace of Aviation,” honoring the Wright brothers as citizens of Dayton. Orville and Wilbur Wright were aviation pioneers and creators of the first airplane, with which they flew for 12 seconds in 1903, covering 36.6 m.
⛰️ Highest Point in Ohio
The highest point in Ohio is Campbell Hill at 472.14 m, where a Cold War early-warning radar once stood.
🏞️ Rivers in Ohio
The longest river associated with Ohio is the Ohio River with a total length of 1,579 km. It is followed by the Wabash River (810 km), the Scioto River (372 km), the Great Miami River (260 km), and the Maumee River (220 km).
🎓 Universities in Ohio
The largest institution is Ohio State University, founded in 1870 in Columbus, with around 58,000 students. Second is the University of Cincinnati with more than 42,000 students. The third largest is Kent State University, with just under 30,000 students.
✉️ ZIP Codes in Ohio
Ohio is assigned ZIP code ranges 430xx-459xx. You can look one up by address on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) website. For more details, see ZIP codes in the USA.
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Weather in Ohio
The best time to visit Ohio is early fall, when temperatures are pleasant, there are fewer rainy days, and nature turns shades of orange and red.
Spring in Ohio is very changeable in terms of weather. In March, temperatures on most days range from 0 °C to 11 °C, then gradually warm to 11 °C to 23 °C in May. Higher elevations are colder and snow cover can persist. Rainfall is frequent and heavy in spring, with a lot of rain especially in March and April.
Summer in Ohio is warm and humid. From June through August, temperatures typically range from 16 °C to 29 °C, and there are significantly more rainy days compared to many other U.S. states. The risk of tornadoes remains, although they are less common than in spring.
Fall in Ohio is mild, and both temperatures and rainfall drop to more comfortable levels. In September, temperatures are around 13 °C to 25 °C, which makes this month ideal for travel and getting outdoors. By late October it starts to get much cooler, reaching the November norm of 2 °C to 11 °C, and rainy days increase.
Winter in Ohio is cold. From December through February, temperatures usually range from -7 °C to 5 °C. Total precipitation in this period is among the highest in the U.S., and northern areas can get up to 50 cm of snow. Snowstorms or severe cold, with temperatures dropping to -25 °C, can disrupt travel and outdoor plans.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Ohio
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What to See in Ohio
1️⃣ Cedar Point Amusement Park
Cedar Point in the city of Sandusky west of Cleveland is considered one of the best amusement parks in the world. Among its 70 operating attractions are 17 roller coasters, some of which look downright intimidating at first glance.
Cedar Point also offers less adrenaline-heavy rides such as carousels, slides, and water boats. Families with kids and groups of friends will have a blast, and a single day may barely be enough.
2️⃣ Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Cuyahoga Valley is the only national park in Ohio, known for beautiful trails and waterfalls. The park has about 201.17 km of hiking paths that run along the Cuyahoga River through forests, wetlands, and meadows.
A favorite stop is Brandywine Falls, 18.3 m high, easily reached from a nearby road. The park is a perfect escape into nature.
3️⃣ Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art ranks among the best of its kind in the U.S., with a collection of more than 61,000 works. It is renowned for extensive holdings of European, Asian, and African art.
Highlights include Pablo Picasso’s The Life (1903) and a cast of Auguste Rodin’s The Thinker, which was damaged in a terrorist attack in Cleveland in 1970. Admission to the Cleveland Museum of Art is free.
4️⃣ Kings Island Amusement Park
Kings Island is a large amusement park near Cincinnati with around seventy attractions. About a quarter of them are roller coasters, from high-adrenaline rides with loops and heavy acceleration to gentler trains for smaller children. The park also includes the Soak City Water Park, a summer favorite with slides, flumes, and pools.
🗺️ Mason, Ohio
5️⃣ Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton honors the greatest figures in the sport. The museum showcases collections of trophies, jerseys, photographs, and other items that document the NFL’s rich history. A ceremonial induction of new members takes place here every year.
🗺️ Canton, Ohio
6️⃣ Hocking Hills State Park
Hocking Hills State Park sits in Logan southeast of Columbus, known for stunning scenery filled with rock formations, caves, and waterfalls. About 40.23 km of trails of varying difficulty crisscross the park, leading to highlights like Cedar Falls and Old Man’s Cave. The best time to visit is fall, when the leaves turn deep red.
🗺️ Logan, Ohio
7️⃣ West Side Market
West Side Market is Cleveland’s oldest marketplace, operating continuously since 1912. Dozens of stalls sell fresh bread, fruit, vegetables, fish, and local specialties. The market’s landmark is its brick clock tower.
8️⃣ Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is one of the largest and most highly rated in the United States. It opened in 1927 and is now home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 800 species.
Visitor favorites include polar bears, Tasmanian devils, lions, giraffes, and koalas. The zoo also features a marine world where you can watch fish, manatees, and penguins in habitats designed to mirror their natural environments.
9️⃣ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a must for music fans. The museum displays original costumes, instruments, and personal items of legendary musicians. Permanent and temporary exhibits feature Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Jackson 5, The Kinks, and many more. The Hall hosts an annual ceremony to induct new artists.
🔟 Ohio State Reformatory
The Ohio State Reformatory is a complex of former correctional buildings constructed between 1886 and 1910. The site became famous thanks to the film The Shawshank Redemption, some scenes of which were shot here.
No longer serving its original purpose, the prison distinguished by its Neo-Gothic architecture now operates as a museum. Visitors can take a guided tour that brings the prison’s history and the stories of its most famous inmates to life.
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Largest Cities in Ohio
The table lists the ten largest cities in Ohio in 2023. The data source is the federal agency United States Census Bureau, whose primary task is the national census.
City County Population 1 Columbus Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield 913,175 Map of Columbus 2 Cleveland Cuyahoga 362,656 Map of Cleveland 3 Cincinnati Hamilton 311,097 Map of Cincinnati 4 Toledo Lucas 265,304 Map of Toledo 5 Akron Summit 188,701 Map of Akron 6 Dayton Montgomery, Greene 135,512 Map of Dayton 7 Parma Cuyahoga 78,951 Map of Parma 8 Canton Stark 69,197 Map of Canton 9 Lorain Lorain 65,337 Map of Lorain 10 Hamilton Butler 62,997 Map of Hamilton -
Sports Teams in Ohio
🏒 Hockey (NHL)
The only NHL club from Ohio is the Columbus Blue Jackets, who play their home games at Nationwide Arena. The team was founded in 2000 and belongs to the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference. The team colors are dark blue, red, silver, and white.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
Two Ohio teams play in the NFL, both in the AFC North Division.
The Cleveland Browns entered the league in the 1950 season and play their home games at Paycor Stadium in Cleveland. The club colors are brown, orange, and white.
The second club is the Cincinnati Bengals, who have competed in the NFL since the 1970 season. Their home venue is Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, and the club colors are black, orange, and white.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
Ohio’s sole representative in the NBA since the 1970 season is the Cleveland Cavaliers, part of the Central Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays home games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The club colors are wine, gold, and black.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
Two teams represent Ohio in Major League Baseball.
The Cincinnati Reds joined the National League back in 1890 and today play in its Central Division. They host home games at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, and the team colors are red, black, and white.
The second Ohio MLB team is the Cleveland Guardians of the American League’s Central Division. The Guardians play home games at Progressive Field in Cleveland, and list navy blue, red, and white as their team colors.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
Two Ohio teams compete in Major League Soccer, both in the Eastern Conference.
The Columbus Crew first played in the 1996 season, and the official club colors are black and gold. Home games are played at Lower.com Field in Columbus.
The second team is FC Cincinnati, which entered MLS in the 2019 season. All home matches are played at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, and the club colors are orange and blue.
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Ohio State Symbols
All official Ohio symbols were approved by the state’s General Assembly, with the law signed by the governor. The article below lists only some of these symbols.
Flag of the State of Ohio
Ohio adopted its state flag on May 9, 1902. Its shape is unique among U.S. states, resembling a swallowtail. The designer was architect John Iesenmann, who created it for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. Ohio officially adopted its flag later than most other states.
The flag’s unusual shape is meant to evoke Ohio’s hills and valleys, while the stripes symbolize roads and waterways. The “O” in the blue triangle stands for the state’s name, Ohio, and also recalls the nickname “Buckeye State.”
State Seal of Ohio
The first version of Ohio’s great state seal entered use on March 25, 1803, and it has undergone many modifications since then, most recently in 1996. Its central motif is the sun rising over Mount Logan, representing hope and a new beginning. A sheaf of wheat and thirteen arrows in the lower half symbolize agriculture and the original thirteen U.S. colonies.
State Tree
The official tree is the Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra). It became a symbol on October 20, 1953, and is widespread across the state. The nut resembles a deer’s eye, which led to the nickname “buckeye.”
State Flower
The floral symbol since February 3, 1904 has been the carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus). It was adopted in honor of former U.S. president and Ohio native William McKinley, who favored the flower and often wore it in his lapel.
State Song
The state song, adopted in 1969, is “Beautiful Ohio”, with lyrics by Wilbert McBride and music by American composer Robert A. King.
State Amphibian
Since 2010, Ohio’s symbol has been the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), chosen for its abundance in the state’s forests and wetlands. The salamander is characterized by bright yellow spots and can live up to 20 years in the wild.
State Reptile
On November 24, 1995, a law took effect naming the eastern racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor) the official state reptile. The initiative came from students who wanted to raise awareness of this snake, which is common in Ohio.
State Bird
The General Assembly declared the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) the state bird in 1933, following a vote by children across the state. Only male cardinals are bright red, while females are mostly brown with hints of olive.
State Gemstone
As of August 1, 1965, the official gemstone is flint from the Flint Ridge quarries, known for its high quality and range of colors. Flint was also chosen for its cultural and historical significance, as Indigenous peoples used it to make weapons and tools.
State Beverage
Tomato juice became Ohio’s official state beverage under a law effective October 6, 1965.
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