History UsefulNotes / Ohio

After Virginia, Ohio is the state with the second most presidents born within its borders, with seven ([[UlyssesSGrant Grant]], [[RutherfordBHayes Hayes]], [[JamesGarfield Garfield]], BenjaminHarrison, [[WilliamMcKinley McKinley]], [[WilliamHowardTaft Taft]], [[WarrenHarding Harding]]),[[note]]An eighth (WilliamHenryHarrison -- Benjamin's grandfather) moved from Virginia.[[/note]] and is also the birthplace of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon. Other luminaries include John Glenn, James Thurber, a number of professional (American) football players, and [[OldShame 98 Degrees and Marilyn Manson]]. The United States Air Force maintains two bases in Ohio, one in Toledo and one in Dayton, the latter being where the 1998 Dayton Peace Accords were signed.

->''"I'm...from Ohio."''

Most of its big cities are known for their industrial base. Like elsewhere in the Great Lakes region, they were initially factory/mill towns that grew along trade routes and attracted job-seeking immigrants from all over: Irish, Germans, Eastern Europeans, African Americans fleeing the DeepSouth, and smaller but still significant Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, and African populations as well. The strong presence of racial minorities and a well-unionized labor force[[note]]Until recently, when John Kasich took over as governor and the state government hopped onto the "right-to-work" bandwagon.[[/note]] have given Ohio's urban and suburban areas a loyalty to the Democratic Party, though Republicans have a strong following in the rural, agricultural areas. This is why Ohio is such a battleground state during election season.

Unfortunately, Ohio was hit hard when industrial and manufacturing companies left the Great Lakes around the 1970s, and most of the cities except state capital Columbus (more on that later) became {{Dying Town}}s and {{Wretched Hive}}s overnight. The low employment led to high crime rates that the state still struggles to contain. However, TheNewTens have seen some improvement in this regard, as the cities have been trying to base their economies around health care, education, finance, technology, and the like.

After Virginia, Ohio is the state with the second most presidents born within its borders, with seven ([[UlyssesSGrant Grant]], [[RutherfordBHayes Hayes]], [[JamesGarfield Garfield]], BenjaminHarrison, [[WilliamMcKinley McKinley]], [[WilliamHowardTaft Taft]], [[WarrenHarding Harding]]),[[note]]An eighth (WilliamHenryHarrison -- Benjamin's grandfather) moved from Virginia.[[/note]] and is also the birthplace of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon.

* '''Central:''' This region is essentially the Columbus Metro Area. As mentioned earlier, Columbus is an anomaly among Ohio cities. Its economy is centered around the state government and [[SpellMyNameWithAThe The]] Ohio State University, the largest college in the U.S. by enrollment, rather than any specific industry at the mercy of economic trends. Snarkier observers refer to Columbus as the world's largest college town, but on the other hand, it hasn't been subjected to the Midwest's usual woes. For this reason along with the city's low cost of living and relatively low crime, Columbus is becoming increasingly attractive to young professionals looking to build their lives.

* '''Central:''' This region is essentially the Columbus Metro Area. As mentioned earlier, Columbus is an anomaly among Ohio cities. Its economy is centered around the state government and [[SpellMyNameWithAThe The]] Ohio State University, the largest college in the U.S. by enrollment, rather than any specific industry. Snarkier observers refer to Columbus as the world's largest college town, but on the other hand, it hasn't been subjected to the Midwest's economic woes. For this reason along with the city's low cost of living and relatively low crime, Columbus is becoming increasingly attractive to young professionals looking to build their lives.

* '''Southwest:''' Culturally, this region also includes Northern Kentucky and a tiny bit of Indiana due to the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area extending into both states.[[note]]Cincy's metro area is technically larger than Cleveland's, but metro Cleveland is entirely within Ohio, so the title of Ohio's largest metropolitan area is debatable.[[/note]] Cincy has a slightly better reputation and economic outlook than Cleveland, which isn't saying much by itself, but the city has a mediagenic glamor that most of Ohio lacks, and quite a few TV shows, movies, and books are set here. Dayton is in this region as well, hometown of Wilbur and Orville Wright, inventors of the modern airplane (though their first flight was in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina). Several institutions are named after the Wright Brothers, and aviation technology is a big field here.

* '''Southeast:''' Welcome to Coal Country. Sparsely populated, Southeast Ohio lacks an urban presence other than the college town of Athens. It is part of the larger Appalachia region and culturally has more in common with neighboring West Virginia than the rest of Ohio. Mining, natural gas, and lumbering are the order of the day. The region is also known for its beautiful scenery, as it is the only part of Ohio to avert TheMountainsOfIllinois trope. Hiking, hunting, and camping are popular here.

* '''Southeast:''' Welcome to Coal Country. Sparsely populated and largely rural, Southeast Ohio lacks an urban presence other than the college town of Athens. It is part of the larger Appalachia region and culturally has more in common with neighboring West Virginia than the rest of Ohio. Mining, natural gas, and lumbering are the order of the day. The region is also known for its beautiful scenery, as it is the only part of Ohio to avert TheMountainsOfIllinois trope. Hiking, hunting, and camping are popular here.

Most of its big cities are known for their industrial base. Like elsewhere in the Great Lakes region, they were initially factory/mill towns that grew along trade routes and attracted job-seeking immigrants from all over: Irish, Germans, Eastern Europeans, African Americans fleeing the DeepSouth, and smaller but still significant Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, and African populations as well. The strong presence of racial minorities and a well-unionized labor force[[note]]Until recently, when John Kasich took over as governor and the state government hopped onto the "right-to-work" bandwagon.[[/note]] have given Ohio's urban and suburban areas a loyalty to the Democratic Party, though conservatism still has a foothold in the rural, agricultural areas. This is why Ohio is such a battleground state during election season.

One of the most misunderstood states in the USA, Ohio has long been used by writers to establish that a character from there is a small town CountryMouse. Unless a show is explicitly set in one of its larger cities, expect rural insularity, farming, and social conservatism to come up. In many cases, getting ''out'' of Ohio is part of the story. None of this is untrue ''per se''; the Buckeye[[note]]The nuts are poisonous, so don't actually eat one unless it's made of peanut butter.[[/note]] State has its rural areas, including people holding onto less-than-progressive ideals. However, it's also one of the most heavily urbanized states in the country. With over 11 million people living within its less than 45,000 square miles, it's the tenth most densely-populated state in the nation and most densely populated state outside the Atlantic coast. It has six cities of 100,000 or more, and several smaller cities north of 50,000. As such, it's more diverse in people and belief than many outsiders realize.

One of the most misunderstood states in the USA, Ohio has long been used by writers to establish that a character from there is a small town CountryMouse. Unless a show is explicitly set in one of its larger cities, expect rural insularity, farming, and social conservatism to come up. In many cases, getting ''out'' of Ohio is part of the story. None of this is untrue ''per se''; the Buckeye[[note]]The nuts are poisonous, so don't actually eat one unless it's made of peanut butter.[[/note]] State has its rural areas, including people holding onto less-than-progressive ideals. However, it's also one of the most heavily urbanized states in the country. With over 11 million people living within its less than 45,000 square miles, it's the tenth most densely-populated state in the nation and most densely populated with no Atlantic coastline,[[note]]Technically, however, No. 9-ranked Pennsylvania is also landlocked; UsefulNotes/{{Philadelphia}}'s access to the ocean is thanks entirely to the Delaware River.[[/note]] has six cities of 100,000 or more, and several smaller cities north of 50,000. As such, it's more diverse in people and belief than many outsiders realize.

One of the most misunderstood states in the USA, Ohio has long been used by writers to establish that a character from there is a small town CountryMouse. Unless a show is explicitly set in one of its larger cities, expect rural insularity, farming, and social conservatism to come up. In many cases, getting ''out'' of Ohio is part of the story. None of this is untrue per se; the Buckeye[[note]]The nuts are poisonous, so don't actually eat one unless it's made of peanut butter[[/note]]State has its rural areas, including people holding onto less-than-progressive ideals. However, it's also one of the most heavily urbanized states in the country. With over 11 million people, it's the most densely-populated state outside the East Coast, has six cities of 100,000 or more, and several smaller cities north of 50,000. As such, it's more diverse in people and belief than many outsiders realize.

Most of its big cities are known for their industrial base. Like elsewhere in the Great Lakes region, they were initially factory/mill towns that grew along trade routes and attracted job-seeking immigrants from all over: Irish, Germans, Eastern Europeans, African Americans fleeing the DeepSouth, and smaller but still significant Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, and African populations as well. The strong presence of racial minorities and a union labor force have made Ohio's urban and suburban areas heavily Democratic, though conservatism still has a foothold in the rural, agricultural areas. This is why Ohio is such a battleground state during election season.

Unfortunately, Ohio was hit hard when industrial and manufacturing companies left the Great Lakes around the 1970s, and most of the cities except state capital Columbus (more on that later) became {{Dying Town}}s and {{Wretched Hive}}s overnight. The low employment led to high crime rates that the state still struggles to contain. However, TheNewTens have seen some improvement in this regard, as the cities have been trying to base their economies around healthcare, education, finance, technology, and the like.

It is the birth state with the second highest number of presidents, with seven ([[UlyssesSGrant Grant]], [[RutherfordBHayes Hayes]], [[JamesGarfield Garfield]], [[BenjaminHarrison Harrison]], [[WilliamMcKinley McKinley]], [[WilliamHowardTaft Taft]], [[WarrenHarding Harding]]), and is also the birthplace of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon.

* '''Northeast:''' By far the most populous and urbanized region, this is where you'll find UsefulNotes/{{Cleveland}} along with the smaller metropolises of Akron (the former "Rubber Capital" where Firestone and Goodyear got their start), Canton, and Youngstown. Farmland is hard to come by as the four cities' exurbs overlap. The winters are notoriously harsh, since the "Snow Belt" starts around here and extends to Buffalo, [[NewYorkState New York]].

* '''Northwest:''' Home of [[UsefulNotes/ToledoOhio Toledo]]--a war was fought with neighboring UsefulNotes/{{Michigan}} over the territory. From this is born a rivalry between two universities (Ohio State and Michigan) and two states (as Ohioans say, "[[EarWorm We don't give a damn about the whole state of Michigan]]..."; Michiganders reply "Fuck Ohio", deeming Ohio unworthy of a song). You'll also find some popular summer getaways here like Cedar Point (generally considered the best amusement park in the country, sometimes the world) and Kelley's Island, an island and resort town in Lake Erie. Fans of ''{{Glee}}'' may be interested to know that Lima is located in this region as well, though the real city is unsurprisingly nothing like on the show ([[CaliforniaDoubling there are no palm trees, for starters]]).

* '''Southwest:''' Culturally, this region also includes Northern Kentucky and a tiny bit of Indiana due to the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area extending into both states. [[note]]Cincy's metro area is technically larger than Cleveland's, but metro Cleveland is entirely within Ohio, so the title of Ohio's largest metropolitan area is debatable.[[/note]] Cincy has a slightly better reputation and economic outlook than Cleveland, which isn't saying much by itself, but the city has a mediagenic glamor that most of Ohio lacks, and quite a few TV shows, movies, and books are set here. Dayton is in this region as well, hometown of Wilbur and Orrville Wright, inventors of the modern airplane (though their first flight was in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina). Several institutions are named after the Wright Brothers, and aviation technology is a big field here.

* '''Southeast:''' Welcome to Coalmining Country. Sparsely populated and largely rural, Southeast Ohio lacks an urban presence other than the college town of Athens. It is part of the larger Appalachia region and culturally has more in common with neighboring West Virginia than the rest of Ohio. Mining, natural gas, and lumbering are the order of the day. The region is also known for its beautiful scenery, as it is the only part of Ohio to avert the MountainsOfIllinois trope. Hiking, hunting, and camping are popular here.

* '''Central:''' This region is essentially the Columbus Metro Area. As mentioned earlier, Columbus is an anomaly among Ohio cities. Its economy is centered around the state government and [[SpellMyNameWithAThe The]] Ohio State University, the largest college in the US by enrollment, rather than any specific industry. Snarkier observers refer to Columbus as the world's largest college town, but on the other hand, it hasn't been subjected to the Midwest's economic woes. For this reason along with the city's low cost of living and relatively low crime, Columbus is becoming increasingly attractive to young professionals looking to build their lives.

* '''Northeast:''' By far the most populous and urbanized region, this is where you'll find [[ClevelandRocks Cleveland]] along with the smaller metropolises of Akron (the former "Rubber Capital" where Firestone and Goodyear got their start), Canton, and Youngstown. Farmland is hard to come by as the four cities' exurbs overlap. The winters are notoriously harsh, since the "Snow Belt" starts around here and extends to Buffalo, [[NewYorkState New York]].

* '''Northeast:''' By far the most populous region, this is where you'll find [[ClevelandRocks Cleveland]] along with the smaller metropolises of Akron (the former "Rubber Capital" where Firestone and Goodyear got their start), Canton, and Youngstown. Farmland is hard to come by as the four cities' exurbs overlap. The winters are notoriously harsh, since the "Snow Belt" starts around here and extends to Buffalo, [[NewYorkState New York]].

* '''Northwest:''' Home of [[UsefulNotes/ToledoOhio Toledo]]--a war was fought with neighboring UsefulNotes/{{Michigan}} over the territory. From this is born a rivalry between two universities (Ohio State and Michigan) and two states (as Ohioans say, "[[EarWorm We don't give a damn about the whole state of Michigan]]..."; Michiganders reply "Fuck Ohio", deeming Ohio unworthy of a song). Toledo is the second-place birthplace of presidents with seven ([[UlyssesSGrant Grant]], [[RutherfordBHayes Hayes]], [[JamesGarfield Garfield]], [[BenjaminHarrison Harrison]], [[WilliamMcKinley McKinley]], [[WilliamHowardTaft Taft]], [[WarrenHarding Harding]]), and is also the birthplace of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon. You'll also find some popular summer getaways here like Cedar Point (generally considered the best amusement park in the country, sometimes the world) and Kelley's Island, an island and resort town in Lake Erie. Fans of ''{{Glee}}'' may be interested to know that Lima is located in this region as well, though the real city is unsurprisingly nothing like on the show ([[CaliforniaDoubling there are no palm trees, for starters]]).

One of the most misunderstood states in the USA, Ohio has long been used by writers to establish that a character from there is a small town CountryMouse. Unless a show is explicitly set in one of its larger cities, expect rural insularity, farming, and social conservatism to come up. In many cases, getting ''out'' of Ohio is part of the story. None of this is untrue per se; the Buckeye[[note]]The nuts are poisonous, so don't actually eat one unless it's made of peanut butter[[/note]]State has its rural areas, including people holding onto less-than-progressive ideals. However, it's also one of the most heavily urbanized states in the country. It's the most densely-populated state outside the East Coast, has six cities of 100,000 or more, and several smaller cities north of 50,000. As such, it's more diverse in people and belief than many outsiders realize.

* '''Southwest:''' Culturally, this region also includes Northern Kentucky and a tiny bit of Indiana due to the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area extending into both states. [[note]]Cincy's metro area is technically larger than Cleveland's, but metro Cleveland is entirely within Ohio, so the title of Ohio's largest metropolitan area is debatable.[[/note]] Cincy has a slightly better reputation and economic outlook than Cleveland, which isn't saying much by itself, but the city has a mediagenic glamor that most of Ohio lacks, and quite a few TV shows, movies, and books are set here. Dayton is here as well, hometown of Wilbur and Orrville Wright, inventors of the modern airplane (though their first flight was in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina). Several institutions are named after the Wright Brothers, and aviation technology is a big field here.

* '''Southwest:''' Culturally, this region also includes Northern Kentucky and a tiny bit of Indiana due to the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area extending into both states. [[note]]Cincy's metro area is technically larger than Cleveland's, but metro Cleveland is entirely within Ohio, so the title of Ohio's largest metropolitan area is debatable.[[/note]] Cincy has a slightly better reputation and economic outlook than Cleveland, which isn't saying much by itself, but the city has a mediagenic glamor that most of Ohio lacks, and quite a few TV shows, movies, and books are set here. Outside Cincy you'll find King's Island, a popular amusement park in its own right, even if it plays second string to Cedar Point more than it would like. Dayton is here as well, hometown of Wilbur and Orrville Wright, inventors of the modern airplane (though their first flight was in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina). Several institutions are named after the Wright Brothers, and aviation technology is a big field here.

* '''Central:''' This region is essentially the Columbus Metro Area. As mentioned earlier, Columbus is an anomaly among Ohio cities. Its economy is centered around The Ohio State University, the largest college in the US by enrollment, rather than any specific industry. Snarkier observers refer to Columbus as the world's largest college town, but on the other hand, it has stayed economically strong even through the collapse of the industrial sector in the '70s and the Great Recession of the 2000s, since the largest employers in the area are the state government and OSU. Combined with its low cost of living and relatively low crime, Columbus is becoming increasingly attractive to young professionals looking to build their lives. In spite of all this, the city has a rather light media presence compared to Cleveland and Cincinnati; stories set here are rare in the extreme.

* '''Central:''' This region is essentially the Columbus Metro Area. As mentioned earlier, Columbus is an anomaly among Ohio cities. Its economy is centered around The Ohio State University, the largest college in the US by enrollment, rather than any specific industry. Snarkier observers refer to Columbus as the world's largest college town, but on the other hand, it has stayed economically strong even through the collapse of the industrial sector in the '70s and the Great Recession of the 2000s--due to the university and state government jobs as well. Combined with its low cost of living and relatively low crime, Columbus is becoming increasingly attractive to young professionals looking to build their lives. In spite of all this, the city has a rather light media presence compared to Cleveland and Cincinnati; stories set here are rare in the extreme.

[[quoteright:315:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Ohio_1309.gif]][[caption-width-right:281:Ohio, before it collapsed under the sheer weight of campaign ads in the Great Lawnsignpocalypse of 2012.]]

[[quoteright:315:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Ohio_1309.gif]]

Most of its big cities are known for their industrial base. Like elsewhere in the Great Lakes region, they were initially factory/mill towns that grew along trade routes and attracted job-seeking immigrants from all over: Irish, Germans, Eastern Europeans, African Americans fleeing the DeepSouth, and smaller but still significant Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, and African populations as well. The strong presence of racial minorities and a unionized labor force have made Ohio's urban and suburban areas heavily Democratic, though conservatism still has a foothold in the rural, agricultural areas. This is why Ohio is such a battleground state during election season.

* '''Central:''' This region is essentially the Columbus Metro Area. As mentioned earlier, Columbus is an anomaly among Ohio cities. Its economy is centered around The Ohio State University, the largest college in the US by enrollment, rather than any specific industry. Snarkier observers refer to Columbus as the world's largest college town, but on the other hand, it has stayed economically strong even through the collapse of the industrial sector in the '70s and the Great Recession of the 2000s--probably because of the university and also the fact that Columbus, being the capital, is also heavily reliant on government. Combined with its low cost of living and relatively low crime, Columbus is becoming increasingly attractive to young professionals looking to build their lives. In spite of all this, the city has a rather light media presence compared to Cleveland and Cincinnati; stories set here are rare in the extreme.

* '''Central:''' This region is essentially the Columbus Metro Area. As mentioned earlier, Columbus is an anomaly among Ohio cities. Its economy is centered around The Ohio State University, the largest college in the US by enrollment, rather than any specific industry. Snarkier observers refer to Columbus as the world's largest college town, but on the other hand, it has stayed economically strong even through the collapse of the industrial sector in the '70s and the Great Recession of the 2000s. Combined with its low cost of living and relatively low crime, Columbus is becoming increasingly attractive to young professionals looking to build their lives. In spite of all this, the city has a rather light media presence compared to Cleveland and Cincinnati; stories set here are rare in the extreme.

* '''Northwest:''' Home of [[UsefulNotes/ToledoOhio Toledo]]--a war was fought with neighboring UsefulNotes/{{Michigan}} over the territory. Toledo is the second-place birthplace of presidents with seven ([[UlyssesSGrant Grant]], [[RutherfordBHayes Hayes]], [[JamesGarfield Garfield]], [[BenjaminHarrison Harrison]], [[WilliamMcKinley McKinley]], [[WilliamHowardTaft Taft]], [[WarrenHarding Harding]]), and is also the birthplace of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon. You'll also find some popular summer getaways here like Cedar Point (generally considered the best amusement park in the country, sometimes the world) and Kelley's Island, an island and resort town in Lake Erie. Fans of ''{{Glee}}'' may be interested to know that Lima is located in this region as well, though the real city is unsurprisingly nothing like on the show ([[CaliforniaDoubling there are no palm trees, for starters]]).

One of the most misunderstood states in the USA, Ohio has long been used by writers to establish that a character from there is a small town CountryMouse. Unless a show is explicitly set in one of its larger cities, expect rural insularity, farming, and social conservatism to come up. In many cases, getting ''out'' of Ohio is part of the story. None of this is untrue per se; the Buckeye[[note]]The nuts are poisonous, so don't actually eat one unless it's made of peanut butter[[/note]] State has its rural areas, including people holding onto less-than-progressive ideals. However, it's also one of the most heavily urbanized states in the country. It's the most densely-populated state outside the East Coast, has six cities of 100,000 or more, and several smaller cities north of 50,000. As such, it's more diverse in people and belief than many outsiders realize.

One of the most misunderstood states in the USA, Ohio has long been used by writers to establish that a character from there is a small town CountryMouse. Unless a show is explicitly set in one of its larger cities, expect rural insularity, farming, and social conservatism to come up. In many cases, getting ''out'' of Ohio is part of the story. None of this is untrue per se; Ohio has its rural areas, including people holding onto less-than-progressive ideals. However, it's also one of the most heavily urbanized states in the country. It's the most densely-populated state outside the East Coast, has six cities of 100,000 or more, and several smaller cities north of 50,000. As such, it's more diverse in people and belief than many outsiders realize.

* '''Northeast:''' By far the most populous region, this is where you'll find [[ClevelandRocks Cleveland]] along with the smaller metropolises of Akron (the former "Rubber Capital" where Firestone and Goodyear got their start), Canton, and Youngstown. Farmland is hard to come by as the four cities' exurbs overlap. The winters are notoriously harsh, since the "Snow belt" starts around here and extends to Buffalo, [[NewYorkState New York]].

* '''Northwest:''' Home of [[UsefulNotes/ToledoOhio Toledo]]--a war was fought with neighboring UsefulNotes/{{Michigan}} over the territory. Toledo is the second-place birthplace of presidents with seven ([[UlyssesSGrant Grant]], [[RutherfordBHayes Hayes]], [[JamesGarfield Garfield]], [[BenjaminHarrison Harrison]], [[WilliamMcKinley McKinley]], [[WilliamHowardTaft Taft]], [[WarrenHarding Harding]]), and is also the birthplace of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon. You'll also find some popular summer getaways here like Cedar Point (generally considered the best amusement park in the country, sometimes the world) and Kelley's Island, an island and resort town in Lake Erie. Fans of ''{{Glee}}'' may be interested to know that Lima is located in this region as well, though the real city is unsurprisingly nothing like on the show (there are no palm trees, for starters).

* '''Northwest:''' Home of [[UsefulNotes/ToledoOhio Toledo]]--a war was fought with neighboring {{Michigan}} over the territory. Toledo is the second-place birthplace of presidents with seven ([[UlyssesSGrant Grant]], [[RutherfordBHayes Hayes]], [[JamesGarfield Garfield]], [[BenjaminHarrison Harrison]], [[WilliamMcKinley McKinley]], [[WilliamHowardTaft Taft]], [[WarrenHarding Harding]]), and is also the birthplace of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon. You'll also find some popular summer getaways here like Cedar Point (generally considered the best amusement park in the country, sometimes the world) and Kelley's Island, an island and resort town in Lake Erie. Fans of ''{{Glee}}'' may be interested to know that Lima is located in this region as well, though the real city is unsurprisingly nothing like on the show (there are no palm trees, for starters).