State of Ohio general data
- Time zone: 6 hours less than Italy
- Capital: Columbus
- Main towns: Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Toledo.
- Area: 116.096 km²
- Population: 11,600,000 inhabitants approximately.
- Population density: 99,91 residents / km²
- State abbreviation: OH
- Entry into the United States: It joined the United States on March 1, 1803, it is the 17th state to join the union.
According to thembaprograms.com, the territory of Ohio can be divided physically, into two large regions, the southeastern half is part of the Appalachian plateaus, while the northeastern sector occupies part of the central plains of the North American subcontinent. There is not much contrast in terms of elevation, because the average altitude of this state is 259m, with the highest point located at Campbell Hill, 472m, and the lowest in the Ohio River bed, 132m on the sea level. The highlands region is called the Allegheny plateau which extends to the shores of Lake Erie and west to the Ohio River. The plateau is the only area of Ohio that has not been shaped by the effect of the glaciation, and is characterized by valleys and hills. The other large unit that forms part of the central highlands of western Ohio can be divided into two subsections: the plain, near Lake Erie, and the northwest region. This last area was known as the Black Swamp, during the time of the first colonization. Once drained this area was used for agriculture with excellent results.
The rivers of Ohio are part of two watersheds: that of Lake Erie and that of the Ohio River. The main rivers that feed Lake Erie are the Maumee, the Sandusky, the Cayahoga, and the Grand. The major tributaries of the Ohio River are the Miami, Little Miami, Scioto, Hocking, Muskingum, and Mahoning. The Ohio River has been for centuries the leitmotif of the state’s development, as it allows navigation along the 700 km that it travels in Ohio.
Most of Ohio’s main lakes are man-made, many of them built to control floods, such as the catastrophic one that occurred in 1913, as well as to produce electricity and supply water to large cities. The most important lake is the Erie which it shares with Canada, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New York, the state controls 370 km of coastline. In this lake, the main ports are Sandusky Bay and Maumee. The largest inland lake is the Saint Marys, also called Grand Lake, in western Ohio.
Fauna– In addition to numerous fish species (catfish, pike, perch), wildlife is present with rabbits, deer, quail, ducks, squirrels and turkeys, and with some specimens of brown bear. Possums, muskrats, raccoons and minks are still trapped in some rural areas.
The climate – Ohio is temperate but very variable, there are significant changes based on latitude. Thus, in the south of the state, temperatures are higher, both in winter and in summer, than in the northern regions. Average temperatures in January vary between -3 ° C and 2 ° C, while in July there are averages between 23 ° C and 26 ° C. Average annual rainfall in Ohio is 940 mm, but is more abundant in the south than in the northern regions, and concentrated during the months from May to October.
Columbus: capital of Ohio
According to countryaah.com, Columbus is the capital of the state of Ohio and the seat of Franklin County. Located in the center of the state at a height of 240 m above sea level, on the banks of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, it is the most dynamic and populous city in Ohio.
The climate is variable as it is influenced by the winds from the north and southwest and that of the winds coming from the Gulf of Mexico. The average annual temperature is 10.8 ° C, -3 ° C during January and 21.5 ° C during August. Snowfalls abound in winter.
History– According to topschoolsoflaw.com, the origin of the city of Columbus dates back to the end of the 18th century, when after the independence of the United States the congress granted the colonists of Virginia the right to exploit lands in the Northwest territories. Thus, in 1797 Lucas Sullivant founded a settlement, Franklinton, on the banks of the Scioto River that grew due to its strategic location in the Ohio Basin. In 1812, the city was renamed Columbus, and converted into the state capital of Ohio.
Columbus has grown ever since, especially after the construction of the Ohio and Erie canals which, from 1831, allowed the site to be transformed into a prosperous enclave in the Midwest. In 1850, the railway was able to give a new impetus to the city as it has since been a vital node in communications between the east and the west. Therefore, during the civil war (1860-1865) the city played an important role, as an arsenal, prisoner camp and Union recruiting center.
After the civil war, the city grew as an academic center, especially in disciplines related to agricultural research. At the beginning of the 20th century, in 1913, Columbus suffered severe floods due to the overflow of the Scioto River, which caused many deaths and major damage in the capital of Ohio. Despite this serious setback, the city recovered and continues to be today a dynamic city with rapid demographic growth in part due to the fact that the city is the capital of the state.
Economy – Columbus’ economy is highly diversified between commercial, industrial and financial activities. Many IT companies have settled in the city, as well as dozens of large insurance companies. Many large aircraft construction companies have chosen Columbus as their center of operations, and the US military has some installations. The city has Port Columbus International Airport, and several smaller facilities nearby.
Education and what to see– Columbus’ premier educational institution is Ohio State University. Other higher education institutions in the city are Capital University, School of Art and Design, Devry Institute of Technology, Franklin University, and Ohio Dominican College. As a research center, the Battelle Memorial Institute is one of the most important private scientific and technological research institutions in the world.
Cultural institutions include the Columbus Museum of Art, the Science and Industry Center, the Columbus Zoo, the Garden Center and the Franklin Park Greenhouses, the Ohio Historic Center and the State Capitol Building). Art institutions abound in this city with a dynamic university life, including the Palace Theater, the Columbus Opera, the Ohio Theater, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and BalletMet. The center traces the evolution of Ohio, from a frontier outpost in the 18th century to its current urbanized and industrial profile. Permanent exhibitions narrate the origin of public buildings and parks.
