Why Ohio's Population Is So Equally Spread Out

Ohio is NOT empty, which is unlike most other states in the country. The state's three largest metropolitan areas - Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati - all have roughly the same population. And the state is home to many more metro regions with substantial populations. If we compare Ohio to Michigan, Illinois, or Indiana which all have very dominant cities in Detroit, Chicago and Indianapolis respectively, we can see just how different Ohio is. So how did Ohio manage to spread its population out so much? And why doesn't it own the piece of land in between the Ohio River and Pennsylvania border?

--

Video editing support provided by Kat Olsen

[zabronzkee]

Ohio gets a lot of crap for a state that has a little bit of everything. beaches, mountains, plains, big cities everywhere, country everywhere, tons of sports teams, the lakes, access to a lot of other states. Proud to be an Ohioan.

[brentvance]

As a truck driver living in Ohio. From Cincinnati you can drive to 38 different states in one day driving time.

[timk]

When people drive through Ohio, it is often through the glaciated (flattened) parts of the state, which is rather flat and dull. The bottom third extending from Cincinnati to Wheeling, West Virginia is very pretty with rugged topography.

[manny]

I will say, one of the best things about Ohio is the logistical advantage of being within a days drive of so much of the eastern US. Just 6 hours to Chicago, 8 hours to NYC, 12 hours to Florida, Minnesota, or Maine, no wonder we love to drive for every vacation.

[marpsr]

Surprised you didn’t mention Toledo is a major port and that Ohio and Michigan nearly went to war over it in the skirmish known as the Toledo War.

[Cbockhoff]

Only thing you missed about the Great Lakes region of Ohio is you mentioned the proximity to Lake Erie causing milder winters but you missed that proximity also causing excessive snowfall due to lake effect snow.

[-cy]

I’m a trucker and Ohio is probably the most evenly developed state in the country!

[patrickshaw]

As an Ohioan, I find it amusing that our evenly distributed population is considered interesting.
I suppose there is some truth in it, cause I always thought territories where most of the population lives in one area (your example of Denver, Colorado) quite fascinating.

[johnnguyen]

Ohio is 1 of 11 states where less than 25% of the population living in a single metro area.

[Budman_Buds]

My Ohio History teacher was Dr. George Knepper, University of Akron. Dr. Knepper characterized Ohio as; "The western most of the eastern states, and the eastern most of the western states". IMO an insightfully apt description.

[johnm]

People like to hate Ohio because their only first hand experience of it was driving through it on a gross, rainy, gray day on their way to their uncle's house on Thanksgiving

I honestly think that Ohio is the perfect intersection of affordability and year round livability, and once you get off the interstate highways it starts looking a lot better.

[ToastyNova]

I’ve lived in Ohio my whole life (Cincinnati then Columbus at OSU, then back to Cincy after graduation). All my friends that have moved out of state have already come back or plan on coming back because there isn’t anything like it. I love my Buckeye State ❤

[facingthewind]

Once you’ve driven across vast stretches of the High Plains without hitting a town for 50 miles, places like Ohio start to feel a lot less empty.

[johnmcnulty]

I used to think that Ohio was boring until I went to the Hocking Hills. I just visited Rock House, Cedar Falls and Ash Cave and it was awesome!

[larrybailey]

Southeastern Ohio here, and I really like our area. Very affordable, beautiful rolling hills, not hugely populated, (not overcrowded) and within a few hours drive of Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Pittsburg.

[jimslancio]

Cleveland was settled by New Englanders from Connecticut (led by Moses Cleaveland - city name spelling later changed).
Cincinnati (and Marietta, upriver) were settled by pioneers coming down the Ohio River.
Different settlers led to different population centers.

[GreggSadler]

Ohio is reportedly one of two states that can support itself with regard to minerals, agriculture, etc.

[stickynorth]

As a Canadian, I always found Ohio interesting for the fact it had 3 large similarly sized cities, something we don't have in any province up here. Also the fact that their population combined is fairly large and yet its influence muted yet strong. Just disappointed that the high speed rail line between the Big 3 C's was never approved... That would have been a real game-changer for the region. Perhaps a future Brightline project...

[percentSNAFU]

Ohio has hands down the best state flag, and is the only one of the 50 that is a pennant shape. I'm from NY, in the westernmost county, less than a two hour drive to Ohio, through the little piece of Pennsylvania that juts norrh to Lake Erie.

[SoSelfMadeMedia]

Cincinnati resident…
1. 40 minutes from Dayton and Lexington, KY
2. 90 minutes from Columbus, Indianapolis, and Louisville
3. About 3 hours from Cleveland and West Virginia
4. About 4 1/2 hours from Detroit, Chicago, Nashville and Pittsburgh
5. About 6 hours from Atlanta, Memphis, and Milwaukee
6. 7 hours from Toronto
These are all reasonable drives to many different cities and cultures… Plus many people who visit Cincinnati say it’s their best experience in the Midwest.. 💯