Nicknames are common for people and sports teams, but why would a U.S. state have a nickname? The 50 States in the U.S. all have special and different qualities that they like to brag about, some of which are used to attract people to move to the state or vacation there, while others are rooted in long-standing history.
All these factors culminate into several interesting facts about Ohio, with one of the more notable ones being that Ohio is home to the “One and Only Presidential Museum”. This famous museum pays homage to John Hanson, who was the first-ever president of the U.S.
Many states created their own nickname after they entered the union 200+ years ago, but not all state nicknames have stuck with each state over the years, and many have developed additional nicknames or primary nicknames that they identify with the most or that set them apart from other states. States take their nicknames from various parts of their history so let’s take a look at Ohios nickname.
What is Ohio’s Nickname? It is “The Buckeye State”.
The Buckeye State is situated in the Midwestern region of the United States, sharing borders with Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and the Canadian province of Ontario. The capital of Ohio is the iconic city of Columbus.
How did Ohio get its nickname? Ohio’s nickname originated from the abundance of Buckeye trees within the state. The fruit of the buckeye tree was believed to resemble that of a male deer’s eye by the native Americans. The nickname gained solidarity during William Henry Harrison’s 1840 presidential campaign. Ohio, unlike most other states doesn’t have it’s nickname appear on the famous state seal.
Harrison’s presidential rivals claimed he was “better suited to sit in a log cabin and drink hard cider.” Many of Harrison’s supporters turned this insult on its head, naming him “the log cabin candidate”. His supporters then proceeded to create Harrison’s campaign emblem as a log cabin made out of buckeye timbers with a long string of Buckeye’s on the walls. The famous nickname is even mentioned with Ohio state’s mascot, Brutus Buckeye.
If you are interested in seeing the US state nicknames for all 50 states, including the date each state was entered into the Union, then head over to our page that lists them in alphabetical order.
Ohio State Nickname
Much the same as many other states, Ohio has adopted multiple nicknames over the years, not just one. Although the Buckeye nickname is the official nickname, there are other nicknames for Ohio, let’s check them out.
- Mother of Modern Presidents – this Ohio state nickname is used when referring to Ohio, there have been a total of seven United States Presidents that were born in Ohio. The list of these presidents are as follows, Ulysses Simpson Grant (Point Pleasant), Rutherford Bichard Hayes (Delaware, OH), James Abram Garfield (near Orange), Benjamin Harrison (North Bend), William McKinley (Niles), William Howard Taft (Cincinnati), and Warren Gamaliel Harding (Corsica, now Blooming Grove). William Henry Harrison, who was actually born in Virginia but settled in Ohio, and claims Ohio as his native state.
- The Yankee State – was one of the first-ever Ohio state nicknames, probably by people from Kentucky and Virginia because of its free institutions. It also is in reference to the many New Englanders who moved to Ohio in the early 1800s.
Nicknames for Ohio
Now that you are familiar with the nicknames for the 17th state, it makes sense to have a look at what the Ohio motto is. All states have a unique state motto/slogan, usually derived from an event linked with the state’s historical past, mottos tend to be given to the state as a representation of the people’s past and present.
“With God, all things are possible” is the motto for Ohio, this phrase was originally adopted as Ohio’s motto in 1959 after the Ohio Legislature gave the all-clear to make this Ohio’s slogan. The origins of this nickname date back to the early Ohio settlers and their religious views. Many Ohio residents are of Christian faith to this day and appreciate the longevity of this motto.
If you are interested in learning about the Ohio state abbreviation, make sure to check out our page dedicated to this. Unlike some other states, the Ohio state abbreviation is easier to understand and memorize. However, knowing these state abbreviations is highly recommended for multiple reasons.
