First explored for France by Robert
Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle, in 1669, the Ohio
region became British property after the French and
Indian Wars. Ohio was acquired by the U.S. after the
Revolutionary War in 1783. In 1788, the first
permanent settlement was established at Marietta,
capital of the Northwest Territory.
The 1790s saw severe fighting with the Indians in
Ohio; a major battle was won by Maj. Gen. Anthony
Wayne at Fallen Timbers in 1794. In the War of 1812,
Commodore Oliver H. Perry defeated the British in
the Battle of Lake Erie on Sept. 10, 1813.
Ohio is one of the nation's industrial leaders,
ranking third in manufacturing employment
nationwide. Important manufacturing centers are
located in or near Ohio's major cities. Akron is
known for rubber; Canton for roller bearings;
Cincinnati for jet engines and machine tools;
Cleveland for auto assembly, auto parts, and steel;
Dayton for office machines, refrigeration, and
heating and auto equipment; Youngstown and
Steubenville for steel; and Toledo for glass and
auto parts.
The state's fertile soil produces soybeans, corn,
oats, greenhouse and nursery products, wheat, hay,
and fruit, including apples, peaches, strawberries,
and grapes. More than half of Ohio's farm receipts
come from dairy farming and sheep and hog raising.
Ohio ranks fourth among the states in lime
production and also ranks high in sand and gravel
and crushed stone production.
Tourism is a valuable revenue producer, bringing in
$25.7 billion in 2000. Attractions include the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame, Indian burial grounds at
Mound City Group National Monument, Perry's Victory
International Peace Memorial, the Pro Football Hall
of Fame at Canton, and the homes of presidents
Grant, Taft, Hayes, Harding, and Garfield. |
