If you follow the Prestige Door blog, you know that we occasionally like to highlight the great state we live in. Sure, you come to us for all the latest and greatest garage door information, but we are a family-owned company based out of Uniontown, Ohio. We service Akron, Canton and the surrounding areas with expert garage door repair and installation needs. But we are also your friends and neighbors. Let’s spend some time being proud of where we came from and where we live.
Ohio was initially colonized by French fur traders, but would become a British colonial possession following the French and Indian War of 1754. It was not until the end of the American Revolution that Britain ceded control of Ohio to the newly formed United States. It was not until March 1 of 1803 that Ohio became a state.
Ohio was settled primarily by migrants from New England, New York and Pennsylvania. Southerners settled along the southern part of the territory, arriving by travel along the Ohio River from the Upper South. Northerners near Cleveland supported modernization, public education, and anti-slavery policies.
Ohio Becomes an Industrial Powerhouse
Throughout much of the 19th century, industry was quickly expanding across the Midwest and plains states. At the time, the United States was making a transition from an agricultural economy to an industrial economy, and the American Midwest would play a big role in that transition. In fact, one of the first iron manufacturing plants opened right here in Uniontown, the town Prestige Door is based out of. By the mid-19th century, Ohio would have a total of 48 blast furnaces open across the state.
The discovery of coal deposits further accelerated Ohio’s reputation as an commodities and energy-driven state. In fact, by 1853, the area around Cleveland was the third largest iron and steel producer in the country. And this was a trend that would continue for decades. By 1892, Ohio was ranked as the 2nd-largest steel producing state behind Pennsylvania. Ohio would continue to contribute to the manufacturing and energy might of the United States for many, many years to come. By 1908, Ohio had over 9,500 miles of railroad linking coal minds and oil fields with the rest of the country and industries around the world.
Even as big industry and manufacturing left Ohio or went out of business as the economy changed, here in Northeast Ohio, manufacturing has remained pivotal to Ohio’s economy even today. Manufacturing is the largest sector of Northeast Ohio’s gross regional product (GRP) and is projected to remain the largest sector. The areas around Akron, Canton, and Cuyahoga Falls successfully transitioned from traditional manufacturing to advanced manufacturing. As companies leverage automation, machine, learning, and other advanced technologies, the companies in Northeast Ohio will play a critical role. Want to learn more about the history of NE Ohio specifically? No problem, simply follow this link.
So, now you’ve learned a little about the history of Ohio, but there is so much more to this state. How about a little trivia? How much do you know about Ohio? It’s time to test your knowledge.
Interesting Facts About the State of Ohio
Did you know where the name of the state came from? Like so many other states, the name “Ohio” has Native American roots. Ohio got its name from the Iroquois word “O-Y-O,” which means “great river” in the native Iroquois language. The Iroquois has already settled between the Ohio and Great Lakes when American settlers showed up. It is the Ohio River that the Iroquois referred to when they named the state. The United States would then end up adopting the name when Ohio was nationally recognized and achieved statehood.
Cleveland, the capital of Ohio, is named after a land surveyor named Moses Cleaveland. In 1796, Cleveland surveyed the land around Cleveland for the Connecticut Land Company. You will notice a different spelling there. The city was originally named “Cleaveland”, but in the early 1930s, the Cleveland Advertiser dropped the “a” so that the city’s name could fit on is masthead. Once that happened, the new spelling took hold and Cleaveland was now Cleveland.
Ohio’s nickname is the Buckeye State, but do you know where that nickname came from? It’s quite simple, actually. The local buckeye tree was prevalent all across the state. With so many buckeye trees, it wasn’t long before Ohio was playfully referred to as the Buckeye State.
Another interesting tidbit about Ohio is that in the past it has been called the “Mother of Modern Presidents.” Why? Because seven Ohioans (both natives and residents) have ascended to the White House since 1869. Ohio is also known as the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, and National Football League Hall of Fame in Canton.
We Are Northeast Ohio’s Premier Garage Door Repair Company
We hope you have enjoyed this look back at the history of our great state. Here at Prestige Door, we are so proud to call Ohio home. Our goal as a company is to not only provide first-class professional garage door repair and installation services, but to enrich our community.
Whether you need a garage door checkup, repair, or installation, we are here to help. Next time you need us, simply call us at or fill out the form on our contact page. And for more information on the NE Ohio markets we serve, simply click or tap this link.