Things You May Not Have Known About Ohio

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Here are twenty fun facts about the Buckeye State that you might not know: 

1.  When did Ohio become a state? Yep, you're right (or we will pretend that you are) – 1803, when Thomas Jefferson approved its boundaries and the constitution! However, it wasn't officially granted statehood until 1953 by Dwight D. Eisenhower, when he signed and backdated Ohio's admittance into the union.

2.  Have you ever looked at the flags of other states (you know – they are all rectangular) and noticed its one-of-a-kind burgee-shaped design? Ohio has the only non-rectangular flag in the United States. According to the Ohio State Flag Code, the flag should be folded 17 times to represent Ohio as the 17th state to join the union. 

3.  Marietta was the first permanent settlement in the Northwest territory. Founded in 1788, Marietta was named after Queen Marie Antoinette of France. 

4.  Oberlin College in northern Ohio was the first college in the U.S. to admit women in 1833 and African-Americans in 1835. 

5.  Speaking of breaking barriers – Carl Stokes of Cleveland became the first black mayor of a major city in 1967. "Ohio – The Heart of it All" that's because all roads lead through here. Did you know that about 50 percent of the population in the United States is located within 500 miles of the capital of the state in Columbus? 

6.  Did you ever wonder how Ohio received its name? The state was named because of the Ohio River. Ohio originated from the Iroquois word "ohi-up," which means "great river." Did you know that Ohio has over 40,000 miles of waterways? 

7.  Ohio has had eight presidents come from Ohio (only one of them served two full terms, and four died while in office.) Technically, the seven below were born in Ohio, while William Henry Harrison was born in Virginia but moved to Ohio. Harrison later died while in office. 

     Ulysses S. Grant – Two full terms 

     Rutherford B. Hayes James Garfield - assassinated while in office 

     Benjamin Harrison William McKinley – assassinated while in office 

     William H. Taft 

     Warren G. Harding – died of a stroke while in office  

8.  With so many presidents coming from this great state, Ohio is known as the "Mother of Modern   Presidents. 

9.  Speaking of the president - Ohio's William Henry Harrison delivered the longest inauguration speech in the history of U.S. presidents. He also served the shortest term for anyone ever to hold the office, dying of pneumonia one month after taking office. 

10.  Do you remember hearing Ohio referred to as a "Swing State" during elections? That is because only eight presidents have lost in Ohio and gone on to the White House. The last president elected without winning Ohio was John F. Kennedy in 1960. 

11.  O-H-I-O! Ohio is the only state in the U.S. with an official rock song! "Hang On Sloopy was given that designation in 1985. 

12.  Ohio – the birthplace of Superman? Now, I did not know that! Superman was created by two high school students from Cleveland in 1933. Believe it or not, the first iteration of the Superman character was a villain with psychic powers. 

13.  Most of us from Ohio know, but some may not, that the 1994 film "The Shawshank Redemption" was filmed at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield. 

14.  We talked about how Ohio got its name earlier, but what about the Columbus Blue Jackets Hockey Team? Give up? The name refers to the fact that Ohio sent more soldiers to the Union army during the civil war than any other state. On a side note, the other name in the running was the Columbus Justice. 

15.  What do Wendy's and Arby's have in common? Both are two of the most successful fast-food chains, and both had their start in Ohio. Wendy's started in Columbus and Arby's in Boardman. Another popular fast-food chain, White Castle, was founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921 but moved its headquarters to Columbus in 1936. 

16.  Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island – have you been there? If not, you probably don't know about the Beer Barrel Saloon and the nearly 406-foot bar. Guinness recognizes beer Barrel Saloon as the world's longest permanent continuous bar.

17.  Akron became the first city in the United States to use a police car in 1899. Its cost $2,400. I was curious about what that would compare to today, and with inflation, that would be $71,748.92 over the 132 years. 

18.  The first concrete-paved street was completed on July 10th, 1891, in Bellefontaine, Ohio. George Bartholemew is noted as the gentleman credited for bringing cement and concrete to the Midwest. Referred to as "artificial stone," Bartholemew convinced the city council to try it around the courthouse and guaranteeing the pavement to last at least five years. 

19.  Founded in 1870, Cedar Point is the second oldest amusement park in the United States. The oldest is located at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut. 

20.  And just for fun – did you know that it is prohibited to participate or conduct a duel in Ohio?