History of Ohio, USA

1748 - Ohio Company of Virginia organized to begin Ohio settlement
In 1748, amidst the backdrop of ongoing colonial expansion in North America, the Ohio Company of Virginia was established with the aim of spearheading settlement and trade in the Ohio Country, a vast and strategically significant region west of the Appalachian Mountains. The company was formed by prominent Virginian land speculators, including Lawrence and Augustine Washington, brothers of the future President George Washington. Backed by influential figures such as Thomas Lee and Robert Dinwiddie, the company received a royal charter from King George II, granting them extensive land rights in the Ohio Valley.

The Ohio Company's formation marked a pivotal moment in the competition between European powers for control over the lucrative fur trade and territorial expansion in North America. With ambitions to establish settlements and exploit natural resources, particularly fur-bearing animals, the company aimed to capitalize on the region's economic potential. However, their presence... Read MORE...

1803 - Ohio became 17th state, first state west of Allegheny Mountains; Chillicothe named state capital

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February 6, 1807 - It was the famous "Cold Friday" in the Midwest and South. The temperature did not rise above zero in Ohio and Kentucky.

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1810 - Zanesville named state capital of Ohio

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1811 - First steamship sails on Ohio River
In 1811, the launch of the first steamship on the Ohio River marked a significant milestone in American transportation history. The steamship, named the New Orleans, was a marvel of engineering for its time, powered by steam engines that revolutionized river transport. Built by Nicholas Roosevelt and launched in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the New Orleans symbolized the growing reliance on steam power to overcome the challenges of river currents and facilitate more efficient cargo and passenger transport.
The World Almanac of the U.S.A, by Allan Carpenter and Carl Provorse, 1996

1816 - State capital relocated to Columbus

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1832 - Ohio and Lake Erie Canal opened
The opening of the Ohio and Erie Canal in 1832 marked a pivotal moment in the development of transportation infrastructure in the United States. This ambitious project was designed to connect the bustling city of Cleveland on Lake Erie with the Ohio River at Portsmouth, spanning a distance of over 300 miles. The canal system was a feat of engineering for its time, utilizing locks and waterways to navigate through the rugged terrain of Ohio, linking Lake Erie to the Ohio River Valley.

Economically, the canal facilitated the transport of goods and resources between the Great Lakes region and the interior of the country, significantly reducing transportation costs and opening up new markets for Ohio's agricultural and industrial products. It spurred the growth of towns along its route, such as Akron and Massillon, which became vital hubs for commerce and industry. The canal also played a role in the westward expansion of the United States, providing a reliable means of transport for... Read MORE...

1835 - Boundary dispute between Ohio and Michigan caused Toledo War; Ohio granted contested lands around Toledo
The Toledo War of 1835 emerged from a boundary dispute between the states of Ohio and Michigan over a narrow strip of land known as the Toledo Strip, which encompassed the modern-day city of Toledo and its surrounding areas. The conflict arose due to conflicting interpretations of earlier treaties that aimed to establish state boundaries in the newly developing Midwest. Both Ohio and Michigan claimed jurisdiction over the territory, which was strategically important due to its location along Lake Erie and its potential for economic development.

The disagreement escalated to a point where both states mobilized militias, though no major battles occurred. The conflict gained national attention and became a political issue, with each state lobbying Congress for support. In 1836, as a resolution approached, Ohio was granted control of the Toledo Strip in exchange for conceding claims to a portion of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which at the time was less desirable but later proved... Read MORE...

1852 - Ohio was the first state to enact laws protecting working women.

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1860 - May 1 – A Chondrite-type meteorite falls to earth in Muskingum County, Ohio near the town of New Concord.
On May 1, 1860, a significant event occurred in Muskingum County, Ohio, near the town of New Concord—a Chondrite-type meteorite fell to Earth. This type of meteorite is characterized by small, round grains known as chondrules embedded within its structure, providing valuable insights into the early solar system's composition.
May 1, 1860

1870 - John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil; Benjamin Goodrich opened rubber plant in Akron
In 1870, John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil, marking a pivotal moment in the history of American industry. Rockefeller's company quickly became the largest oil refinery in the world, revolutionizing the oil industry with its innovative strategies for production, transportation, and distribution. By implementing practices such as horizontal integration and aggressive cost-cutting, Standard Oil was able to dominate the market and eliminate competition, ultimately leading to the creation of one of the first and most powerful monopolies in the United States. This dominance played a significant role in shaping the modern corporate landscape and led to significant regulatory changes, including the eventual breakup of Standard Oil in 1911 due to antitrust laws.

In the same year, Benjamin Goodrich opened the first rubber plant in Akron, Ohio, laying the foundation for what would become a major industry hub. Goodrich's plant specialized in the production of rubber products, including... Read MORE...


Read more about John Davison ROCKEFELLER

1876 - December 29 – The Ashtabula River Railroad bridge disaster occurs, leaving 92 dead.
On December 29, 1876, tragedy struck in Ashtabula, Ohio, when the Ashtabula River Railroad bridge collapsed, resulting in one of the deadliest railroad disasters in American history up to that time. The bridge, a key part of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, was designed to withstand heavy snow loads common in the region. However, a combination of factors including a blizzard, inadequate maintenance, and questionable construction practices led to its catastrophic failure.

As a passenger train known as the Pacific Express crossed the bridge that fateful evening, the structure suddenly gave way. The train plunged over 70 feet into the icy ravine below, with the locomotive and several cars catching fire upon impact. The disaster claimed the lives of at least 92 people, including passengers and crew, making it a deeply tragic event that shocked the nation.
December 29, 1876

1883 - Advice - Keep it to Yourself
You have trouble - your feelings are injured, your husband is unkind, your wife frets, your home is not pleasant, your friends do not treat yon fairly, and things in general do not move pleasantly. Well, what of it? Keep it to yourself. A smoldering fire can be found and extinguished; but when the coals are scattered, who can pick them up? Bury your sorrow. The place for sad and distrusting things are under ground. A cut finger is never benefitted by pulling off the plaster and exposing it to somebody's eye. Tie it up and let it alone. Charity covers a multitude of sins. Things thus covered are often covered without a scar, but once published and confided to meddling friends, there is no end to the trouble they may cause. Keep it to yourself. Troubles are transient and when a sorrow is healed and passed, what a comfort it is to say: "No one ever knew it until the trouble was all over."
The Union County Journal
Marysville, Ohio
Thurs, December 13, 1883

1886 - ANOTHER TORNADO CAUSES GREAT DEVASTATION IN OHIO. HANCOCK, HARDIN AND ADJACENT COUNTIES ARE VISITED BY A TERRIFIC CYCLONE, DESTROYING LIFE AND PROPERTY.
A terrible tornado swept over the southern part of Hancock and northern part of Hardin county at a late hour Friday night carrying death and destruction in its path. At Forest, WILLIAM McELREE, wife and two children and mother-in-law, MRS. HIGGINS, were buried in the ruins of a large brick house, and the first named killed. The rest were injured, the last named fatally. MISS LEASE was killed in her house. ISSAC LAMBERT, 8 years of age, was buried under his house and fatally injured. A. L. PACKERT was fatally hurt by falling lumber. THOMAS MOORE was buried under the ruins of a large frame house and badly hurt. CHARLES PACKERT and J. V. THOMPSON, sleeping in the same bed in this house, were carried a long distance and landed safely in bed. THOMAS HART and wife were blown from bed in the second story, and the latter perhaps fatally hurt. The ten-year-old son of JACOB RUMMEL had his collar bone broken and was otherwise hurt.

Two churches were destroyed. Two brick school houses were... Read MORE...

1887 - COLLISION, FIRE AND EXPLOSION.
FOREST, Ohio, Sept. 19. - Special Telegram - Early this morning the second section on freight train No. 71, on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway ran into the rear of the first section, badly breaking up two locomotives and about ten cars loaded with freight. A dense fog prevailed at the time, and the accident occurred one mile west of this place. No persons was hurt by the accident, but about five minutes afterward, when both trains had stopped, and the trainmen were examining the cars to ascertain what damage was doe, and what help would be needed to clear the track, a terrible explosion occurred, caused by dynamite in one of the cars.

Edward Bough, a fireman of one of the engines, was instantly killed, the body being thrown a distance of 100 feet, and horribly mangled, J. R. Lyon, an engineer, was badly, but not fatally injured a few hours after by a boy throwing a cartridge into the firebox of the engine of which Lyon was in charge. What caused the first explosion so ... Read MORE...

1888 - In the Ohio Legislature a bill was introduced on the 9th fixing passenger rates at two cents per mile on all railroads in the State.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
January 14, 1888

1894 - March 25 – Coxey's Army (of the unemployed), the first significant protest march in the United States, departs from Massillon, Ohio, for Washington, D.C.
In 1894, amidst the economic hardships of the Gilded Age in the United States, a notable event took place known as Coxey's Army. On March 25th of that year, a group of unemployed men, led by Jacob Coxey, set out from Massillon, Ohio, on a journey to Washington, D.C. Their aim was to petition the federal government for relief measures and jobs during a severe economic depression that had left many Americans destitute. Coxey's Army, as they were dubbed by the press, consisted of around 100 men initially, but their numbers grew as they marched through several states towards the nation's capital.

The march of Coxey's Army marked the first significant protest of its kind in American history, highlighting the desperation and discontent among the unemployed and working-class Americans at the time. Despite encountering various challenges and arrests along their journey, Coxey and his followers persevered, capturing the attention of the nation and sparking debates about government... Read MORE...

1895 - Ohio
Ohio, a north central state of the American Union, bounded N. by the state of Michigan and Lake Erie, E. by Pennsylvania and West Virginia, S. by West Virginia and Kentucky, and W. by Indiana. The state limits include nearly all the Wine Islands of Lake Erie, along which lake the state has a water-front of 230 miles, while the navigable Ohio River divides it from West Virginia and Kentucky, washing the S.E. and S. border of the state for 436 miles. The longest E. and W, measurement is 225 miles; N. and S., 205 miles. Area, 41,060 square miles, of which about one-third is under cultivation, one-fifth pasture, and one sixth woodland. But a small percentage is unproductive...

The principal cities and towns, following the census of 1890, are Cincinnati, the largest city, and a great" port and manufacturing centre (pop. 296,90s); Columbus, the capital (1880, 51,647; 1890, 88,150); Cleveland. principal lake-port (261.353); Toledo (81.434), Dayton, 61,220), Youngstown (33,220),... Read MORE...

1899 - First full time automobile service station was opened in 1899 in Ohio.
In 1899, a significant milestone in automotive history occurred with the opening of the first full-time automobile service station in Ohio, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of transportation infrastructure. Situated at a time when automobiles were transitioning from novelty items to practical modes of transport, this station represented a critical innovation in supporting the growing number of vehicles on the road. Prior to its establishment, automobile owners faced considerable challenges in fueling and maintaining their vehicles, often relying on makeshift arrangements or local blacksmiths for assistance.

The Ohio station, known for its pioneering approach, offered a dedicated space where drivers could refuel their vehicles, make minor repairs, and obtain necessary supplies like oils and spare parts. This development not only eased the logistical burden on early motorists but also laid the groundwork for a network of service stations that would become essential in... Read MORE...

1900 - Ohio gave America its first hot dog in 1900. Harry M. Stevens created the popular dining dog.

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1903 - Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, began building airplanes in Dayton, Ohio

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1908 - August 8 – The Hoover Company of Canton, Ohio, acquires manufacturing rights to the upright portable vacuum cleaner just invented by James M. Spangler.

wikipedia.org
August 8, 1908

1924 - June 28 – A tornado touches down in Lorain, Ohio and kills 78 people.

wikipedia.org
June 28, 1924

1925 - Shenandoan dirigible crashed, killed 14

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1937 - Ohio River flooded, 750,000 people left homeless; East Ohio Gas Co. explosion killed 131

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1938 - Teflon invented by Ohioan Roy J. Plunkett

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1958 - St. Lawrence Seaway completed

1970 - Kent State shootings - May 4 - Kent, Ohio

May 4, 1970

1973 - February 12 – Ohio becomes the first U.S. state to post distance in metric on signs

February 12, 1973

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Ohio:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland):

Explore the history of rock 'n' roll and see iconic memorabilia from legendary musicians.

Cedar Point (Sandusky):

Experience the thrills of one of the world's best amusement parks with a variety of roller coasters and rides.

Hocking Hills State Park (Logan):

Discover stunning natural beauty with waterfalls, caves, and hiking trails in this picturesque park.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (Columbus):

Enjoy a day of wildlife encounters and conservation education at one of the top zoos in the country.

Amish Country (Holmes County):

Immerse yourself in the Amish culture, visit quaint villages, and savor delicious homemade foods.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (Cincinnati):

Explore the beautiful botanical gardens and see a diverse range of animals at this historic zoo.

Pro Football Hall of Fame (Canton):

Celebrate the history of American football and the legends of the game.

Ohio's Lake Erie Shores &... Read MORE...