14 Fun Facts About Ohio

In celebration of NJM's expansion of its auto, homeowners, and renters insurance into Ohio, we gathered some the most interesting facts about the state. Test your Ohio knowledge against these fun facts!

1. Ohio didn't officially become a state until 1953. It was declared a state in 1803, but didn't get the presidential stamp of approval until President Dwight Eisenhower signed off. He backdated the declaration to the original date.

2. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ohio is the 7th most populated state in the country with more than 11,600,000 residents.

3. Ohio is known as the Buckeye State because of the buckeye trees commonly found throughout the Ohio River Valley. These plants produce small, brown nuts that look like the eye of a deer. Ohio legend says that carrying one in your pocket is good luck.

4. Ohio gets its name from the Iroquois word Ohi–yo, meaning "great river."

5. New Jersey’s famous inventor, Thomas Edison, was born in Milan, Ohio on February 11, 1847.

6. Ohio is home to the world’s largest cuckoo clock! The giant, fully functional clock is located in the town of Sugarcreek, known as the “Little Switzerland of Ohio.”

7. The state ranks number one in the country’s production of Swiss cheese.

8. Like its neighbor, Pennsylvania, Ohio is home to a large Amish population, which spans 5 counties in the rolling hills of east–central Ohio. Approximately 40,000 Amish citizens live and work in that area of the state.

9. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located in Cleveland. Inductees from New Jersey include Whitney Houston (2020), Bon Jovi (2018), Paul Simon (2001), Bruce Springsteen (1999), and Ricky Nelson (1987).

10. The world's first electric traffic signal was introduced in Cleveland on August 5, 1914.

11. Harry M. Stevens from Ohio gave America its first hotdog in 1900.

12. Columbus is the capital of Ohio.

13. Ohio is 44,825 square miles.

14. The state of Ohio has 88 counties.

We hope these facts will help you blow everyone away at your next trivia night. In the meantime, if we missed anything, let us know in the comments below! You can also check out our other fun fact blogs about New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.