Spotlight on Ohio
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With just over 45,000 residents in the 19th century, Ohio’s population grew an astonishing 10 percent per decade up until the 1970s, at which point it stabilized at roughly 10.6 million—Ohio is one of the more heavily populated states. The population density of Ohio ranks ninth among all U.S. states. Nonetheless, Ohio currently suffers from a negative net population migration, and an increasing rate of unemployment.
Historically, the Ohio River was a vital artery for troop and supply movements, as were Ohio’s railroads. Ohio, whose name was derived from the Seneca word ohi:yo’, meaning “large creek,” was formed primarily from the Ohio Territory and was admitted to the Union as the 17th state (and the first under the Northwest Ordinance) on March 1, 1803. Ohio is known as the “Buckeye State” for its prevalence of Ohio Buckeye trees and, as such, Ohioans are also known as “Buckeyes.”
Currently, Ohio occupies 18 seats in the United States House of Representatives. Ohio is known for its status as both a swing state and a bellwether in national elections. By far, Ohio’s largest sector is transportation/utilities, which employs over 1 million people, or 19.4 percent of the state’s workforce. Other strong sectors are health and education (15.8 percent), government (15.1 percent), manufacturing (12.1 percent). The manufacturing sector in Ohio is third largest in the country when measured in terms of GDP.
A bit of history
The Native Americans in the Ohio Valley were greatly affected by the aggressive tactics of the Iroquois Confederation, based in central and western New York. After the so-called Beaver Wars in the mid-1600s, the Iroquois claimed much of the Ohio country as hunting specifically, beaver-trapping ground. After the devastation of epidemics and war in the mid-1600s, which largely emptied Ohio of indigenous people by the mid-to-late seventeenth century, the land gradually became repopulated by the mostly Algonquian-speaking descendants and Mississippian cultures.
Many of these First Nations in the Ohio region were a blend of different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds born out of the earlier devastation brought about by disease, war or social instability. By the 18th century, however, they were part of a larger economy brought on by European entry into the fur trade.
During the 1800s, the French set up camp to control the fur trade in the region. France and Great Britain went to war in North America for literally seven years. The indigenous peoples were mostly assimilated, sadly. And they struggled but lost in the battle for independence. The French ceased its control of Ohio as a result. There was some resistance from Pontiac’s Rebellion in 1760s, which posted as an initial challenge to the British. But the colonists’ victory in the American Revolution ended this battle for control and, in 1783, Britain ceded all claims to Ohio and the country. Under President Jefferson in 1803, Ohio was signed under the constitution and new boundaries were approved.
Ranked high for being business-friendly
Last year, Ohio was ranked fourth in country for best business climate by Site Selection magazine, based on a business-activity database. The state has also won three consecutive Governor’s Cup awards from the magazine, based on business growth and developments. Having a business-friendly tax system in 2009 placed Ohio in 10th place, according to a survey by the Small Business Entrepreneurship Council.
The manufacturing and financial activities sectors each compose 18.3 percent of Ohio’s GDP, making them Ohio’s largest industries by percentage of GDP. Ohio has the largest bioscience sector in the Midwest, and is a national leader in the “green” economy. Ohio is the largest producer in the country of plastics, rubber, fabricated metals, electrical equipment, and appliances.
The American Business Journal is very proud to spotlight the young, ambitious Senator Sherrod Brown in this issue and profile companies and entrepreneurs who are working diligently to keep Ohio a thriving and industrial state.
Historically, the Ohio River was a vital artery for troop and supply movements, as were Ohio’s railroads. Ohio, whose name was derived from the Seneca word ohi:yo’, meaning “large creek,” was formed primarily from the Ohio Territory and was admitted to the Union as the 17th state (and the first under the Northwest Ordinance) on March 1, 1803. Ohio is known as the “Buckeye State” for its prevalence of Ohio Buckeye trees and, as such, Ohioans are also known as “Buckeyes.”
Currently, Ohio occupies 18 seats in the United States House of Representatives. Ohio is known for its status as both a swing state and a bellwether in national elections. By far, Ohio’s largest sector is transportation/utilities, which employs over 1 million people, or 19.4 percent of the state’s workforce. Other strong sectors are health and education (15.8 percent), government (15.1 percent), manufacturing (12.1 percent). The manufacturing sector in Ohio is third largest in the country when measured in terms of GDP.
A bit of history
The Native Americans in the Ohio Valley were greatly affected by the aggressive tactics of the Iroquois Confederation, based in central and western New York. After the so-called Beaver Wars in the mid-1600s, the Iroquois claimed much of the Ohio country as hunting specifically, beaver-trapping ground. After the devastation of epidemics and war in the mid-1600s, which largely emptied Ohio of indigenous people by the mid-to-late seventeenth century, the land gradually became repopulated by the mostly Algonquian-speaking descendants and Mississippian cultures.
Many of these First Nations in the Ohio region were a blend of different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds born out of the earlier devastation brought about by disease, war or social instability. By the 18th century, however, they were part of a larger economy brought on by European entry into the fur trade.
During the 1800s, the French set up camp to control the fur trade in the region. France and Great Britain went to war in North America for literally seven years. The indigenous peoples were mostly assimilated, sadly. And they struggled but lost in the battle for independence. The French ceased its control of Ohio as a result. There was some resistance from Pontiac’s Rebellion in 1760s, which posted as an initial challenge to the British. But the colonists’ victory in the American Revolution ended this battle for control and, in 1783, Britain ceded all claims to Ohio and the country. Under President Jefferson in 1803, Ohio was signed under the constitution and new boundaries were approved.
Ranked high for being business-friendly
Last year, Ohio was ranked fourth in country for best business climate by Site Selection magazine, based on a business-activity database. The state has also won three consecutive Governor’s Cup awards from the magazine, based on business growth and developments. Having a business-friendly tax system in 2009 placed Ohio in 10th place, according to a survey by the Small Business Entrepreneurship Council.
The manufacturing and financial activities sectors each compose 18.3 percent of Ohio’s GDP, making them Ohio’s largest industries by percentage of GDP. Ohio has the largest bioscience sector in the Midwest, and is a national leader in the “green” economy. Ohio is the largest producer in the country of plastics, rubber, fabricated metals, electrical equipment, and appliances.
The American Business Journal is very proud to spotlight the young, ambitious Senator Sherrod Brown in this issue and profile companies and entrepreneurs who are working diligently to keep Ohio a thriving and industrial state.
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