Ohio

From its small town, nature escapes, to its cosmopolitans, Ohio has everything for every type of traveler. It is a great destination for leisure travelers, shoppers, and those looking for outdoor adventures. It has some great cultural attractions, great countryside to unwind in, amusement parks, and some great falls, lakes, and forests. Ohio is, for sure, a hidden gem that you would not want to miss. 

Geography

Located in the Midwestern region of the United States, Ohio is a densely populated state. This does not mean that Ohio does not have space for green and nature. In fact, the word ‘Ohio itself actually stems from the Seneca word ‘ohiyo’ which means ‘good river’ or ‘great river’ or ‘large creek’. It is also interesting to know that the land of Ohio actually emerged from the lands west of Appalachia. This makes the state’s roots forever tied to the mountains and waters. 

Of course, Ohio’s geographic location is actually very economically strategic. Ohio’s location links the northeast to the midwest making it the route of most cargo and business traffic. Their economy benefits a lot from their geographic location. It has also helped them built great infrastructure by having the 10th largest highway network. Since it has access to the coast, Ohio has numerous cargo ports that further allow it to gain prominence in the trade industry. 

Another fascinating trivia is that while the Ohio River is bounded by Ohio, the river itself actually belongs more to both Kentucky and West Virginia. 

History

Archaeological evidence points to the fact that the Ohio Valley was inhabited by various nomadic groups as early as 13,000 BC. They were able to establish semi-permanent villages and have even started to domesticate plants like sunflowers, squash, and a crop similar to corn. Unfortunately, Ohio would go on to hold a tragic history for the indigenous population. It will be the site of numerous Indian massacres including the Yellow Creek Massacre, Gnadenhutten, and Pontiac’s Rebellion school massacre. By 1842, all remaining natives in the Ohio area would be forced out of the state. 

The statehood of Ohio is actually pretty complicated itself and requires a bit of a background with political history. In general, however, Ohio is part of the earlier states admitted as a state of the United States. It is formally known as the 17th state, but keep in mind that the idea of admitting state ‘formally’ is not quite the norm until Louisiana formally became known as the 18th state of America. 

Today, Ohio continues to make history being the “fuel cell corridor” of the country. It is nicknamed ‘fuel cell corridor’ for being one of the leading states when it comes to renewable energy and technology. While it did suffer a little bit economically for this decision to cut back on their fuel consumption. Ohio today is the 6th fastest growing economy in the country.  

Weather 

The climate in Ohio is humid continental except for the northern periphery which has a humid subtropical climate. Summers here are usually hot and humid and winters are generally nothing too extreme. This does not mean that Ohio does not experience any extreme weather. Keep in mind that Ohio is still within the country’s ‘tornado alley’. Although it does experience fewer tornadoes than any other states in the tornado alley region. 

Tourism 

What most travelers love about Ohio is the variety of experiences for all kinds of tourists. It has the cities, it has small towns, and then it has its woods and wildernesses for those who are up for it. Some of the most notable nature parks you definitely have to visit are the Hocking Hills State Park, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.