Today is...the Anniversary of Ohio being admitted as the 17th State

On this day in 1803, Ohio was admitted as the 17 U.S. State. What is your favorite thing about Ohio?

Here are some Ohio fun facts to celebrate!


Ohio is the 7th most populous state in the United States. California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania are the only states with more people.

Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the Union and was the first under the Northwest Ordinance, the ordinance that established the Northwest Territory.

The Northwest Ordinance banned slavery in the new territory thereby making the Ohio river the boundary between free and slave territories between the Appalachians and the Mississippi River.

Though President Jefferson signed an act of Congress that approved Ohio's boundaries and constitution on February 19, 1803, Congress never formally passed the resolution making Ohio a state. Though not technically required, this was an oversight, which was rectified on August 7, 1953 when President Eisenhower signed an act that officially declared Ohio a state as of March 1, 1803.

in 1853 Ohio and Michigan "fought" in the Toledo War, which was a mostly bloodless war for the Toledo Strip. Michigan lost the Toledo Strip when Congress intervened to say that the original boundaries of Ohio would stick, but gave Michigan the Upper Peninsula as a consolation  The UP proved to be extremely profitable to Michigan due to copper and iron deposits along with timber.

During the Civil War, Ohio provided more soldiers per-capita than any other state in the Union.

Ohio is known as the birthplace of aviation. This was made official in June 2003 by a U.S. House vote, ending the argument between Ohio (the Wright Brothers are from Dayton, Ohio) and North Carolina (the first flight from the Wright Brothers was in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina).

Ohio has produced 24 astronauts, more than any other state, the most famous being John Glenn and Neil Armstrong.