On March 1, 1803, Ohio became the 17th state admitted to the United States.
With nearly 12 million residents, the “Buckeye State” is the nation’s seventh most populous state, a ranking anchored by its major metropolitan areas, including Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Akron and Toledo.
Economically, Ohio stands as both an agricultural leader and an industrial powerhouse. The state boasts more than 74,000 farms across nearly 14 million acres of farmland and remains a leading producer of soybeans, corn and livestock. Ohio also played a major role in America’s industrialization, becoming one of the nation’s busiest manufacturing centers because of its proximity to coal and iron ore resources.
Today, that legacy continues through investments in technology and services, including Anduril Industries’ $1 billion Arsenal-1 Hyperscale Manufacturing Facility in Columbus for autonomous defense systems, expected to create 4,000 jobs over the next decade.
“Ohio has always relied on its primary economic drivers — farming and manufacturing — but we’re seeing a lot of innovation occurring in our state now,” said Senate Assistant Minority Leader Hearcel Craig, who represents the 15th District and is a 2023 CSG Henry Toll Fellow. “And that’s opening Ohio to a lot of new industry.”
A spirit of innovation, Craig added, is deeply rooted in Ohio’s history. Dayton, known as the “Birthplace of Aviation,” was home to the Wright brothers, who designed and built the world’s first successful powered airplane at their bicycle shop and conducted test flights at nearby Huffman Prairie Flying Field. Today, the city is home to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force — the world’s largest military aviation museum — featuring more than 350 aerospace vehicles, weapons and artifacts.
“We’re extremely proud of our aviation history here in Ohio,” Craig said. “The Wright brothers, of course, were instrumental to the innovation that began in Dayton. But there are countless others who’ve continued to build upon what they began all those years ago. And we’re seeing the fruits of those labors in our communities, like here in Columbus, which is now one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.”
The state also played a central role in African Americans’ fight for liberty and equity, Craig added. Cincinnati is home to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which chronicles the story of several of Ohio’s towns, such as Ripley, that helped thousands of enslaved people escape to freedom.
Native to Ohio is Oberlin College, founded in 1833, which was one of the first colleges in America to admit African Americans and women. The state’s embrace of diversity, Craig said, could also be found in his home city of Columbus, which is home to Poindexter Village, one of the nation’s first public housing projects, founded in 1940, whose early residents were predominately African American.
“Poindexter was right down the street from where I grew up, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt came to the dedication ceremony,” Craig said. “It was a place of real pride in the community, and it stands as a tribute to the diversity of our state.”
Ohio’s nickname, the “Buckeye State,” stems from its native buckeye trees that dot the Ohio Valley. But the term “buckeye” has made its way onto everything from Ohio State University’s athletic teams to the state’s signature candy, called the buckeye, featuring dollops of peanut butter dipped in milk chocolate.
“There’s even a buckeye flavored ice cream from Graeter’s, which is made in Ohio, that is the bomb,” Craig added. “So yeah, the buckeye is a very big deal here in Ohio, and we’re very proud of it.”
The “Buckeye State” has sent more of its residents (seven) to the White House than any other state, save for Virginia (eight), including Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft and Warren G. Harding.
Ohio is likewise home to a wide variety of famous celebrities, including actor Paul Newman, actress Halle Berry, director Steven Spielberg, comedian Dave Chappelle, as well as basketball icons LeBron James and Akron-born Steph Curry, and golfer Jack Nicklaus.
On the recreation front, Ohio boasts the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, where visitors can catch a first-hand glimpse of everything from Elvis’ customized MG car to Bruce Springsteen’s iconic “Born to Run” outfit to Ringo Starr’s drum kit.
And those looking for thrills can find what they’re looking for at Cedar Point in Sandusky, known as the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World.” The sprawling 364-acre amusement park features 18 world-class roller coasters, including the Top Thrill 2, a 420-foot-tall behemoth that reaches speeds of more than 120 mph.
“My kids go on all the roller coasters, but at my age I’m perfectly happy with the hoppy horses — and this is coming from someone who used to love jumping out of airplanes as a parachutist with the 82nd Airborne!” Craig said. “But Cedar Point really is a great place that your entire family can enjoy.”