A state almost entirely surrounded by water. On the north is Lake Erie, south the Ohio River, and to the west the Miami River. Strategically located near all these major waterways which quickly transformed Ohio into one of the nation's leading transportation and industrial centers. Large, heavy machinery was able to be manufactured and transported cheaply throughout an emerging America. Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus prospered into the heavily populated urban centers they are today.

Ohio continues to lead the U.S. in the production of truck, train, tire, and other related transportation items. Most of the nation's machine tools are forged in Ohio. In total Ohio ranks third in manufacturing with $180 Billion in sales annually. An amount only California and Texas exceed. Production workers earn the third highest hourly wage in the nation at $14.10 per hour (slightly behind Michigan and Washington).

The first inhabitants of Ohio were prehistoric humans who traveled here during the last Ice Age about 10,000 years ago. Hunting extinct mastodons, gathering fruit, and fishing in the fertile river valleys. The European exploration was led by the Frenchman Sier de LaSalle. Claiming Ohio and much of the Great Lakes region for France in the 17th century.

French fur trappers and missionaries had a good relationship with the local Indians (Ottawas) who allied themselves with the French in the French and Indian War against the British. When the war ended in 1763, the Indians and France were forced to cede much of this land to Great Britain. The United States later acquired it at the end of the American Revolution.

Some of the Buckeye State's most renowned citizens are Standard Oil's John D. Rockefeller, airplane inventor Orville Wright, astronaut and Ohio Senator John Glenn, and golfer Jack Nicklaus. Its major attractions include the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, and its State Parks. Ohio has 19 State Forests and 72 State Parks of which 57 have camping facilities.