Here we will go over nine things you didn’t know about the state of Ohio.
Ohio is generally known for its buckeye trees and corn; however, if you take a closer look at the state’s history, you will see that Ohio has a lot more going on up there.
If you want to learn more about Ohio, you are in the right place because below, we discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly secrets you didn’t know.
Table of Contents
1) Bicentennial Barns
2003 was Ohio’s 200th anniversary of statehood. To commemorate this event, the bicentennial commission decided that using historical barns as billboards was a great way to celebrate.
Artist Scott Hagen painted 88 barns (one in each county) with the Ohio bicentennial logo. The project took Scott five years to complete, and he drove over 65,000 miles during his pursuit.
Although some barns have been painted and demolished, many still stand and can be viewed today.
2) The Great Lakes
Ohio is one of the only states privileged enough to have access to one of the Great Lakes.
In fact, only eight states have access to one or more of the five Great Lakes that are shared with Canada.
Northeast Ohio, in particular, is bordered by Lake Erie, which offers residents and visitors prime fishing locations, freshwater catches, hundreds of beaches, and open space for water sports.
3) Medical Marijuana Is Legal
In 2016, Ohio jumped on the bandwagon and finally legalized medical marijuana; however, it is not highly publicized, so few people are aware.
Another thing you might not know is that recreational use is close to being legalized, and you might be able to pick up some personal use cannabis before 2023 ends.
Since nearly %50 of Ohio is considered “prime farmland,” many suspect that much of the land will soon turn into hemp fields.
4) Jerry Springer Was an Ohio Mayor
American broadcaster and producer Gerald Norman Springer, aka Jerry Springer, was a politician before he started airing his unsavory and out-of-control tabloid show “Jerry Springer.”
Jerry Springer being a politician, may not surprise you, but what might surprise you is that he thrived as a politician and even became Cincinnati, Ohio’s 56th mayor.
5) Agriculture Is Ohio’s Largest Industry
Agriculture is the state’s largest industry and supports the economy with over $93 billion annually.
Among Ohio’s 74,500 active farms, you will find animals like cows, chickens, pigs, sheep, and horses and crops like corn, soybeans, wheat, and oat.
6) Iconic Movies Were Filmed in Ohio
Since Ohio is home to some of the most industrialized cities and vast farmland, the film industry has repeatedly chosen the state for filming.
Some of the most iconic movies shot in Ohio are:
- Shawshank Redemption
- Back to the Future
- Rain Man
- A Christmas Story
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Tommy Boy
- The Avengers
- Spider-Man 3
Marvel Studios has taken advantage of the state’s populous downtown areas for many films and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon. If you live in Ohio, keep your ears open for filming dates, and you can check the action out for yourself.
7) Ohio Has the Best Attractions
Ohio is often overlooked for vacation travel, but it shouldn’t be because the state has some of the best attractions in the country.
A few examples include the following:
- Cedar Point Amusement Park
- The Rock in Roll Hall of Fame
- The Pro Football Hall of Fame
- National Museum of the US Air Force
- Hocking Hills State Park
- Cleveland MetroParks Zoo and the Columbus Zoo
- The Amish Country
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Kings Island and Kelleys Island
The list of Ohio attractions goes on and on.
8) The River That Caught Fire
The Cuyahoga River is one of the country’s most famous bodies of water. Unfortunately, the river is not famous for the best reasons. In 1969, the Cuyahoga River was so polluted that it caught on fire.
What you may not know is that that fire was not the only one. The River remains too toxic to step in most days of the year and has caught on fire at least 13 times.
9) An Unnatural Number of Serial Killers
There must have been something in the water because Ohio was home to some of the most notorious serial killers of all time.
If you are a true crime junkie, you have probably heard of the following Ohio Natives.
- Jeffrey Dahmer
- Anthony Sowell (the Cleveland Strangler)
- Donald Harvey (the Angel of Death)
- Ariel Castro
- Gary Heidnik
- Robert Andrew Berdella (the Kansas City Butcher)
- The Cincinnati Strangler
Luckily, you don’t have to worry about your stay in Ohio because it has been a while since a serial killer victimized the state.
