History of Ohio in Timeline

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Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state bordering Lake Erie. It's the 34th largest and 7th most populous state in the U.S., with nearly 11.9 million residents. Columbus is the state's capital and largest city, while Cleveland and Cincinnati are other major metropolitan areas. Known as the "Buckeye State", Ohioans are called "Buckeyes". The state also borders Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan.

13 hours ago : Ohio Paychecks, Trump Tax Bill, and Senate Republicans' Megabill Concerns

Ohio's average hourly pay is compared. The Trump tax bill passed the House and advanced to the Senate. Senate Republicans expressed concerns regarding the House megabill.

May 17, 1901: Earthquake near Portsmouth

On May 17, 1901, an earthquake of magnitude 4.2 occurred near Portsmouth, Ohio.

May 9, 1902: Adoption of the Flag of Ohio

On May 9, 1902, the state legislature officially adopted the flag of Ohio.

December 17, 1903: Wright Brothers' First Flight

On December 17, 1903, Dayton natives Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully invented the first airplane, making four brief flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

1910: Interior Canals

As late as 1910, interior canals carried much of the bulk freight of the state.

1913: The Great Flood of 1913

In 1913, Ohio experienced its greatest natural disaster in the Great Flood, which resulted in at least 428 fatalities and hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage, particularly around the Great Miami River basin.

1913: Great Dayton Flood

In 1913, the worst weather disaster in Ohio history, known as the Great Dayton Flood, occurred along the Great Miami River. This led to the creation of the Miami Conservancy District.

1913: Lincoln Highway Chosen (1913)

In 1913, what was known as 'Main Market Route 3' was chosen to become part of the historic Lincoln Highway, the first road across America.

1919: Reds Win World Series

In 1919, the Cincinnati Reds won the World Series.

October 3, 1920: First NFL Game

On October 3, 1920, the first official game of the National Football League (NFL) was played, with the Dayton Triangles defeating the Columbus Panhandles 14-0 in Dayton.

1920: Indians Win World Series

In 1920, the Cleveland Indians won the World Series.

1922: Bulldogs Win NFL Championship

In 1922, the Canton Bulldogs won the NFL Championship.

1922: Klondike Bar Origin

The Klondike bar originated in Mansfield, Ohio in 1922.

1923: Bulldogs Win NFL Championship

In 1923, the Canton Bulldogs won the NFL Championship.

1924: Dum Dums Lollipops

Dum Dums lollipops were originally produced in Bellevue, Ohio in 1924.

1924: Bulldogs Win NFL Championship

In 1924, the Canton Bulldogs won the NFL Championship.

1926: Lincoln Highway Becomes U.S. Route 30 (1926)

Upon the advent of the federal numbered highway system in 1926, the Lincoln Highway through Ohio became U.S. Route 30.

1933: Great Depression Impact on Ohio

By 1933, during the Great Depression, Ohio experienced high unemployment, with over 40% of factory workers and 67% of construction workers unemployed. Cleveland residents Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created the Superman comic character.

July 21, 1934: Highest Recorded Temperature

On July 21, 1934, the highest recorded temperature in Ohio was 113 °F (45 °C) near Gallipolis.

March 9, 1937: Anna (Shelby County) Earthquake

On March 9, 1937, the most substantial known earthquake in Ohio history, the Anna (Shelby County) earthquake, occurred, with a magnitude of 5.4 and intensity VIII.

1940: Population Growth Slows

In 1940, Ohio's population growth slowed down, marking an exception to the trend of growth exceeding 10% per decade observed in previous census periods.

1940: Reds Win World Series

In 1940, the Cincinnati Reds won the World Series.

1944: Missed General Election

Since 1896, Ohio has had only three misses in the general election, one of them being 1944.

1945: Rams Win NFL Championship

In 1945, the Cleveland Rams won the NFL Championship.

1948: Indians Win World Series

In 1948, the Cleveland Indians won the World Series.

1950: Browns Win NFL Championship

In 1950, the Cleveland Browns won the NFL Championship.

1952: First Rock 'n Roll Concert in Cleveland

In 1952, Alan Freed, who emerged from the swing dance culture in Cleveland, hosted the first live rock 'n roll concert in Cleveland.

1953: Spangler Candy Company

Dum Dums lollipops have been made by Spangler Candy Company in Bryan, Ohio since 1953.

1953: Discovery of Oversight in Ohio's Statehood

In 1953, as Ohio was preparing for its sesquicentennial, it was discovered that Congress had not passed a formal resolution admitting Ohio as the 17th state. Congressman George H. Bender introduced a bill to rectify this, admitting Ohio retroactive to March 1, 1803.

1954: Browns Win NFL Championship

In 1954, the Cleveland Browns won the NFL Championship.

1955: Browns Win NFL Championship

In 1955, the Cleveland Browns won the NFL Championship.

1960: Missed General Election

Since 1896, Ohio has had only three misses in the general election, one of them being 1960.

1963: Pro Football Hall of Fame

In 1963, Canton was enshrined as the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1963: Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrined in Canton

In 1963, Canton was enshrined as the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1964: Perfect Streak

From 1964 to 2016, Ohio had the longest perfect streak of any state, voting for the winning presidential candidate in each election.

1964: Browns Win NFL Championship

In 1964, the Cleveland Browns won the NFL Championship.

1965: Appalachian Regional Development Act

In 1965, Congress passed the Appalachian Regional Development Act, an attempt to address poverty and economic despair in the Appalachian Region. It defines 29 Ohio counties as part of Appalachia.

1967: Carl Stokes Elected Mayor of Cleveland

In 1967, Carl Stokes was elected mayor of Cleveland, becoming the first African American mayor of one of the nation's 10 most populous cities.

1967: Super Bowl Inception

Since the Super Bowl's inception in 1967, no Ohio team has won the Super Bowl.

1970: Kent State Shooting

In 1970, an Ohio Army National Guard unit fired at students during an antiwar protest at Kent State University, resulting in four deaths and nine injuries. The Guard had been called onto campus due to violent protests related to the United States' invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War.

1970: Ohio Population

In 1970, the census recorded just over 10.65 million Ohioans, after which the population growth slowed for the next four decades.

1974: Ohio Lottery

The Ohio Lottery began in 1974 and has since contributed significantly to education funding.

1975: Reds Win World Series

In 1975, the Cincinnati Reds won the World Series.

1976: Reds Win World Series

In 1976, the Cincinnati Reds won the World Series.

July 1979: Ohio Trade Mission to China

In July 1979, Ohio Governor Jim Rhodes led a State of Ohio Trade Mission to China, which resulted in the development of economic ties, a sister state-province relationship with Hubei province, and academic exchanges between Ohio State University and Wuhan University.

1979: Last Service to Columbus Union Station (1979)

Columbus' Union Station was last served in 1979 by the National Limited.

1980: U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Ohio River Boundary

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the boundary between Ohio and Kentucky (and, by implication, West Virginia) is the northern low-water mark of the Ohio River as it existed in 1792.

1982: Grand Prix of Cleveland

The Grand Prix of Cleveland hosted CART races from 1982 to 2007.

1983: Winter Guard International Championships

Between 1983 and 2003, Winter Guard International hosted national championships at the University of Dayton 18 times.

January 31, 1986: Earthquake in LeRoy Township

On January 31, 1986, an earthquake of magnitude 5.0 occurred in LeRoy Township in Lake County, Ohio, triggering aftershocks for two months.

1990: Manufacturing Job Loss

From 1990 to 2019, Ohio experienced a significant loss of over 300,000 manufacturing jobs and a decline in union membership, with 17.4% of Ohioan workers being union members in 2000 compared to 12.8% in 2022.

1990: Center of Population

In 1990, Ohio's population center was located approximately 6,346 feet (1,934 m) northeast of its location in 2000, which was in Morrow County.

1990: Reds Win World Series

In 1990, the Cincinnati Reds won the World Series.

1993: National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993

In 1993, the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) was enacted, which later became the basis for a lawsuit against Ohio's voter purging policy.

1994: Ohio's Policy of Purging Infrequent Voters Begins (1994)

Since 1994, Ohio has had a policy of purging infrequent voters from its rolls.

2000: Decline in Union Membership

From 1990 to 2019, Ohio experienced a significant loss of over 300,000 manufacturing jobs and a decline in union membership, with 17.4% of Ohioan workers being union members in 2000 compared to 12.8% in 2022.

2000: Center of Population

In 2000, Ohio's center of population was located in Morrow County, specifically in the county seat of Mount Gilead.

2002: Help America Vote Act of 2002

In 2002, the Help America Vote Act was enacted and was later cited in a lawsuit against Ohio's voter purging policy.

2003: Winter Guard International Championships

Between 1983 and 2003, Winter Guard International hosted national championships at the University of Dayton 18 times.

2005: Winter Guard International Championships

Since 2005, Winter Guard International has permanently hosted national championships in performing arts at the University of Dayton.

2006: Median Household Income Drop

From 2006-07 to 2008-09, Ohio experienced a 7% drop in median household income.

December 2007: Job Losses Begin

From December 2007 to September 2010, Ohio lost 376,500 jobs, indicating the impact of the Great Recession on the state's economy.

2007: Pre-recession Jobs

As of February 2018, Ohio lacked 45,000 jobs compared to the pre-recession numbers of 2007.

2007: Grand Prix of Cleveland

The Grand Prix of Cleveland hosted CART races from 1982 to 2007.

2008: Unemployment Rate Rise

In 2008, Ohio's economy experienced a surge in unemployment rate from 5.6% during the first two months of 2008.

2008: Headquarters of Publicly Traded Companies

In 2008, fifty-nine of the United States' top 1,000 publicly traded companies (by revenue) were headquartered in Ohio, including Procter & Gamble, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, AK Steel, Timken, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Wendy's.

2008: Crew Win MLS Cup

In 2008, the Columbus Crew won the MLS Cup.

December 2009: Peak Unemployment during Great Recession

In December 2009 and January 2010, Ohio's unemployment rate reached a peak of 11.1% during the Great Recession, along with a record of 89,053 foreclosures filings in 2009.

2009: Income Growth Begins

From 2009, income grew in Ohio with an overall 7.1% increase in income growth.

January 2010: Peak Unemployment during Great Recession

In December 2009 and January 2010, Ohio's unemployment rate reached a peak of 11.1% during the Great Recession, along with a record of 89,053 foreclosures filings in 2009.

May 2010: Unemployment Rate

In May 2010, Ohio's unemployment rate was 10.7%.

September 2010: Job Losses End

From December 2007 to September 2010, Ohio lost 376,500 jobs, indicating the impact of the Great Recession on the state's economy.

2010: Language Spoken

According to the 2010 census, About 6.7% of the population age 5 years and older reported speaking a language other than English, with 2.2% of the population speaking Spanish, 2.6% speaking other Indo-European languages, 1.1% speaking Asian and Austronesian languages, and 0.8% speaking other languages.

2010: Christian Denominations

According to the ARDA, in 2010 the largest Christian denominations by adherents were the Catholic Church with 1,992,567; the United Methodist Church with 496,232; the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with 223,253, the Southern Baptist Convention with 171,000, the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ with 141,311, the United Church of Christ with 118,000, and the Presbyterian Church (USA) with 110,000.

2010: Ohio Department of Development Attributes Job Creation

As of 2010, the Ohio Department of Development credited the "Third Frontier" program with the creation of 9,500 jobs, with an average salary of $65,000, and a $6.6 billion economic impact with a return on investment of 9:1. The state also won the International Economic Development Council's Excellence in Economic Development Award.

2010: Business Climate Ranking

In 2010, Ohio was ranked second in the country for best business climate by Site Selection magazine, based on a business-activity database.

2010: Foreign-Born Residents

In 2010, there were 469,700 foreign-born residents in Ohio, making up 4.1% of the total population, with the largest groups coming from Mexico, India, and China.

2010: Voter Demographic Leans Republican

Since the 2010 midterm elections, Ohio's voter demographic has leaned towards the Republican Party.

2011: Demographic Data

As of 2011, 27.6% of Ohio's children under the age of 1 belonged to minority groups, with 6.2% of the population under five years old, 23.7% under 18, and 14.1% aged 65 or older; females comprised 51.2% of the population.

December 31, 2011: Earthquake near Youngstown

On December 31, 2011, an earthquake occurred approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) northwest of Youngstown, Ohio, registering a 4.0 magnitude.

2012: Income Growth

Ohio's overall income grew from 2009 to 2012, with the top 1% experiencing a 37.0% increase in income growth, while the bottom 99% grew their income by only 2.3%.

August 2014: Unemployment Rate Returns to 5.6%

In August 2014, the unemployment rate in Ohio returned to 5.6%, the level it was before the Great Recession.

2014: Pew Forum Poll

According to a Pew Forum poll in 2014, 56% of Ohioans felt religion was "very important", 25% that it was "somewhat important", and 19% that religion was "not too important/not important at all".

April 2015: Labor Force Participation

As of April 2015, Ohio's labor force participation rate was 63%, which was slightly above the national average.

2015: Ohio GDP

In 2015, Ohio's gross domestic product was $608.1 billion, making it the seventh-largest economy among the 50 states and accounting for 3.4% of U.S. GDP and 0.8% of world GDP.

April 2016: Lawsuit Filed Against Ohio's Voter Purging Policy (April 2016)

In April 2016, a lawsuit was filed challenging Ohio's policy of purging infrequent voters, alleging violations of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

November 2016: Preliminary Injunction Upheld Against Voter Purging (November 2016)

In November 2016, a preliminary injunction against Ohio's voter purging policy was upheld by the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, preventing the removal of thousands of voters shortly before the election.

2016: Cavaliers Win NBA Championship

In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Championship.

2016: Employment Statistics

In 2016, the total number of people employed in Ohio was 4,790,178, with 252,201 unique employer establishments and 785,833 non-employer establishments.

2016: Presidential Election

In the 2016 presidential election, Ohio voted for Republican Donald Trump at larger margins than the nation as a whole.

February 2018: Unemployment Rate

As of February 2018, Ohio's unemployment rate stood at 4.5%, marking a decrease from 10.7% in May 2010.

2018: Tax Burden

In 2018, the bottom 20% of earners in Ohio contributed 12.3% of their income towards various taxes, while the top 1% only paid 6.5%.

June 10, 2019: Earthquake near Eastlake

On June 10, 2019, an earthquake occurred approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) north-northwest of Eastlake under Lake Erie, Ohio; it registered a 4.0 magnitude.

2019: Manufacturing Job Loss

From 1990 to 2019, Ohio experienced a significant loss of over 300,000 manufacturing jobs and a decline in union membership, with 17.4% of Ohioan workers being union members in 2000 compared to 12.8% in 2022.

2019: Columbus Corporations on Fortune 500 List

In 2019, Columbus, Ohio, had six corporations named to the U.S. Fortune 500 list, including Alliance Data, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, American Electric Power, L Brands, Huntington Bancshares, and Cardinal Health.

2019: Ohio's GDP Ranking

In 2019, Ohio ranked seventh in GDP among states, demonstrating its continued status as an industrial state with a substantial manufacturing sector and the second-largest automobile production in the country.

2019: Mike DeWine Governor

Since 2019, Mike DeWine has been the governor of Ohio.

March 9, 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Reaches Ohio

On March 9, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached Ohio, with three cases reported.

2020: Religion in Ohio

According to the ARDA's 2020 study, Christianity remained the predominant religion in Ohio, with Non-denominational Christianity as the largest Protestant cohort and Catholicism as the single-largest denomination.

2020: Ohio Lottery Contribution

As of 2020, the Ohio Lottery has contributed more than $26 billion to education since its inception in 1974.

2020: Ohio's U.S. House Seats Following the 2020 Census

Following the 2020 census, Ohio has 15 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

2020: Census Results

In 2020, the United States Census Bureau counted 11,808,848 residents in Ohio, reflecting a 2.4% increase since 2010.

2020: Ohio Ranked as 17th Hardest State to Vote In (2020)

In a 2020 study, Ohio was ranked as the 17th hardest state for citizens to vote in.

2020: Presidential Election

In the 2020 presidential election, Ohio voted for Republican Donald Trump at larger margins than the nation as a whole.

2021: Religion in Ohio

According to the Public Religion Research Institute's 2021 American Values Survey, 64% of Ohioans identified as Christian, with 19% as Mainline Protestant, 17% as Evangelical Protestant, and 18% as Catholic.

2022: Homelessness Data

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 10,654 homeless people in Ohio.

2022: General Assembly

As of the 2022 election cycle, the Republican Party holds the majority in both houses of the Ohio General Assembly.

2022: Decline in Union Membership

From 1990 to 2019, Ohio experienced a significant loss of over 300,000 manufacturing jobs and a decline in union membership, with 17.4% of Ohioan workers being union members in 2000 compared to 12.8% in 2022.

2022: Cincinnati Bearcats Football Team

In 2022, the Cincinnati Bearcats football team became the first "Group of Five" team to qualify for the College Football Playoff.

February 2023: COVID-19 Deaths in Ohio

As of February 2023, over 41,600 Ohioans had died from COVID-19.

2023: Income and Poverty Statistics

In 2023, Ohio's per capita income was $60,402, ranking 38th in the U.S., and the state's median household income was $65,720. Also in 2023, 13.4% of the population was living below the poverty line.

2023: Ohioans approve abortion rights amendment

In 2023, Ohioans approved a constitutional amendment strengthening abortion rights.

2023: Crew Win MLS Cup

In 2023, the Columbus Crew won the MLS Cup.

2024: Ohio State Buckeyes Football Record

As of 2024, The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is second in all-time winning percentage, with a 977–335–53 overall record and a 30–29 bowl record.

2024: Registered Voters

As of 2024, there are more than 8 million registered Ohioan voters, of which over 70% are not affiliated with any political party.

2024: Ohio's Federal Representatives in 2024

As of the 2024 election cycle, ten federal representatives from Ohio are Republicans while five are Democrats.

2024: Presidential Election

In the 2024 presidential election, Ohio voted for Republican Donald Trump at larger margins than the nation as a whole.