Fun Facts about Ohio

The first European to explore Ohio was RenĂ©-Robert Cavelier in 1669.  The name of the state comes from the Iroquois word meaning "beautiful river".  In 1803, Ohio became the 17th state to join the union.  The Buckeye State really has a rich history with so many famous people and events.  I've tried to break it down a little by some of the major cities.

Akron

..........the first city to use police cars

..........once the rubber world capitol, home to 4 great tire manufacturers

Bainbridge

..........home of the first dental school in the United States

Canton

..........home of the Football Hall of Fame

Cincinnati

..........in 1865, established the first ambulance service

..........The Red Stockings became the first professional baseball team in 1869.

Cleveland

..........in 1879, Cleveland was the world's first city to be lit electrically.

..........in 1914, lit up America's first traffic light

..........Home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame..

Columbus

..........Capital city since 1816

..........Home of Phillip Martin and my first two murals in America

Dayton

..........in 1879, James J. Ritty invented the cash register.

Toledo

..........home of the Mudhens, Tony Paco's Hungarian Hotdogs, and Max Klinger

Taking flight has been a big part of Ohio history.  The Wright Brothers lived in Dayton.  In 1962, the first American in to orbit the earth, John Glenn, was from Ohio.  In 1998, at age 77, Glen was also the oldest American to venture into space.  If that isn't enough to make you a proud Buckeye, Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, was from Wapakoneta, Ohio.

The first settlement in Ohio, in 1788, was Marietta.  It was named after the French queen Marie Antoinette.

Ohio is the home of eight, count 'em, eight US presidents.  They are William Henry Harrison (a Virginia-born Ohioan), Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William H. Taft, and Warren G. Harding.

There are a lot of people out there claiming this title, including Harry M. Stevens. He claims he invented the ever popular, all American hot dog.

Fifty percent of the US population lives withing 500 miles of the state capital, Columbus, Ohio.

Ohio is the only US state with a pennant shaped flag.  It is officially called the Ohio burgee, but it is my guess most people in Ohio don't know that.  I sure didn't.

Although many teachers may not be pleased about this, W.F. Semple of Mount Vernon patented chewing gum in 1869.

More Famous Buckeyes

..........Erma Bombeck, columnist

..........Doris Day, singer and actress

..........Thomas Edison, inventor

..........Ermal Fraze, inventor of the pop top can

..........Clark Gable, actor

..........Dean Martin, singer

..........Annie Oakley, gunslinger entertainer

..........Jesse Owens, US Olympic gold athlete in the 1936 Berlin Games

..........Jack Nicklaus, golfer

..........James J. Ritty, inventor of the cash register

..........Steven Spielberg, director