Ohio Facts
There are many things to know about the state of Ohio, facts that any traveler or resident should know. These Ohio facts will increase your knowledge about the state.
• Ohio is known as the Buckeye State, after the buckeye tree which is the official tree of the state. Natives of Ohio are hence also referred to as Buckeyes.
• The state beverage is tomato juice, the state flower Scarlet Carnation, the state insect the Ladybug beetle and the state stone Ohio Flint Large white trillium.
• The ambulance has its first service before any other place in the world could pick it up in Cincinnati.
• The first city fire department too was started in Cincinnati. The Rock’n Roll hall is Fame is in Cincinnati.
• Police cars were used first in Akron in Summit County.
• In addition, Akron has many “firsts” to its credit. Alcoholics Anonymous had its first meeting in Akron and the first automobile and balloon was made there as well. Akron is called the rubber capital of the world.
• The cash register was used in Dayton for the first time by James J Ritty in 1879, to prevent the patrons of his eatery, from eating into his profits.
• Dayton was the place that the Wright Brothers invented the plane in 1903.
• The hot dog was invented by Harry M Steven, in Ohio in 1900, where it was sold for the first time. It has the distinction of being the state that had the first ever automobile service station.
• Dresden in Muskingum County is where ‘The World’s Largest Basket’ lies. Impressive among the Ohio facts is that, this county produces the largest number of handmade baskets in comparison to any other city in the US. The pioneer and manufacturer of maple splint baskets is the reputed basket making company, Longaberger Company.
• Electricity reached Cleveland before it reached any other city in the world. Cleveland was the first city in the world to be fully lighted with electricity.
• Among the well known Ohio facts, you should know that Ohio is home to a number of well known inventors. Thomas A. Edison who has 1093 US patents to his name was born in Milan, Ohio. Among his 1093 patents, those of the bulb, the phonograph, and the first moving camera are the most prominent.
America's first automobile was made by John Lambert who hailed from Ohio City. Charles Kettering, the first car maker in America, was born in Loudonville, a village in Ohio. Charles Goodyear who discovered the process to vulcanize rubber was born in Akron. Chewing gum was patented by W.F. Semple who hailed from Mount Vernon, Alexandria. Cleveland, Ohio was also home to four Olympic gold medal’s holder, James Cleveland Owens, popularly known as Jesse Owens. He won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics held in Germany.