Ohio may be the butt of many internet jokes, however, us Buckeyes know that corn isn’t the only thing our great state has to offer. From famous figures to a rich history in aviation and abolition, there’s more than meets the eye in this Midwest mecca. Let’s explore some of the fascinating facts that prove Ohio really is the heart of it all.
the wrights take flight
You probably already know this one, but it doesn’t make it any less impressive! Ohio is the birthplace of aviation thanks to Orville and Wilbur Wright. After years of honing their mechanical skills in their Dayton workshop, the brothers took the first powered flight in 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. They had been experimenting with gliders in this location for several years and it was chosen due to its privacy and weather. Both of the brothers remained in Dayton through the end of their lives. They are buried in Dayton’s Woodland Cemetery.
space odysseys
Ohioans are also well-known for flying beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. You’ve probably heard the old joke that Ohioans are so desperate to leave the state that they’re willing to flee Earth— but we’re going to chalk this one up to a knack for exploration! According to NASA, 25 astronauts are from the Buckeye State and over 22,000 hours have been logged in space by Ohio astronauts. In 1962, John Glenn from Cambridge, OH was the first American to orbit the Earth. Neil Armstrong, of Wapakoneta, OH, was the first person to walk on the moon in 1969.
a passion for politics
Ohio is sometimes referred to as the “Mother of Presidents.” Seven US Presidents were born in Ohio: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford Birchard Hayes, James Abram Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren Gamaliel Harding. We also lay a partial claim to William Henry Harrison who was born in Virginia but settled in Ohio as an adult where he served as a U.S. representative and U.S. senator. Harrison lived in North Bend, OH when he won the 1840 presidential election.
wave your pennant proudly
Ohio has the only non-rectangular state flag in the United States. It is technically considered a swallow-tailed burgee and was adopted by the Ohio Legislature in 1902.
the big buckeye
Have you ever noticed how no matter where your travels take you, it seems like you always run into a fellow Ohioan? As it turns out, our state is more than just a great, big cornfield. Ohio actually has a lot of people. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ohio is the seventh most populated state in the country with approximately 11.8 million residents. As far as size, it’s only the 34th-largest state by area, which makes Ohio the tenth most densely populated state.
home of the free
Ohio played a key role in the American Civil War. It was the third most populous state in the Union, coming in just behind New York and Pennsylvania in total military manpower. Ohio had nearly 320,000 Union soldiers and the highest per capita of any Union state. Ohio also had the most active Underground Railroad network of any state with around 3,000 miles of routes used by escaping slaves.
Bosworth Hall, Oberlin College. 2008.
an ongoing legacy of inclusion
In addition to the state’s Union efforts, Ohio has a proud abolitionist history in higher education. Since its founding in 1833, Oberlin College was coeducational with some of its very first students being women. At that time, women only received a diploma from a program called the Ladies Course. The college began admitting women to its baccalaureate program, which granted bachelor's degrees, in 1837. Oberlin was also the first college in the US to admit Black students in 1835.
knocking it out of the park
The Cincinnati Red Stockings are the only professional baseball team in history to have a perfect season. In 1869, it became the first all-professional team with ten salaried players and competed against teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players. The Red Stockings were the first team to play on the East and West coasts in the same season. They achieved a 57-0 record during the 1869 season.
Another profound figure in Ohio baseball is Moses Fleetwood Walker, the first Black professional baseball player. Walker played baseball at Oberlin College and the University of Michigan. In 1883, Walker signed his first professional baseball contract with the Toledo Blue Stockings. He only played one season with the Blue Stockings due to the team’s financial constraints, but Walker’s professional career continued until 1889.
ironic beginnings
For our last trivia tidbit, we’re taking you back to the humble (and slightly comical) beginning. Ohio is considered the 17th state, which was certainly the intention in 1803 under President Thomas Jefferson. However, in 1953, a group of high school teachers were obtaining historical documents in preparation for Ohio’s 150th birthday celebration. To their surprise, they found that the Library of Congress was missing the legislation that granted statehood to Ohio. Evidently, Congress had authorized the act but the state constitution had never been ratified. Congress rectified the oversight and retroactively granted statehood to Ohio, but the fact remains that technically Ohio’s statehood was signed into legislation in 1953 under President Dwight Eisenhower.
Question our statehood all you want, but you can never erase our legendary accomplishments. Happy Ohio Day to all of our fellow Buckeyes!