OHIO - Ohio, proudly known as the Buckeye State since its admission to the Union in 1803, holds a pivotal place in American history as the gateway to the Westward Expansion. But before it became the 17th state, what was this vast and fertile region known as? The answer lies in the formal organization of the United States after the American Revolution, when the area was part of a foundational American territory.
The Northwest Territory: A New Frontier for a New Nation
Before becoming the state of Ohio, the region was officially part of the "Territory Northwest of the River Ohio," more commonly known as the Northwest Territory.
The U.S. Congress established this vast expanse of land through the landmark Northwest Ordinance of 1787. After the American Revolution, this ordinance provided a blueprint for governing the territory and, crucially, a method for new states to be admitted to the Union on an equal footing with the original thirteen. The Northwest Territory included the land that would eventually become the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.
From Territory to the First "Child" of the Ordinance
As settlers moved westward into the territory, the population grew rapidly. The region of present-day Ohio was the first part of the Northwest Territory to meet the population requirements for statehood. After drafting a state constitution, Ohio was officially admitted to the Union on March 1, 1803, setting a precedent for the other states that would follow from the territory.
The Origin of the Name "Ohio"
While the region was part of the Northwest Territory, the name for the future state was drawn from its most significant geographical feature. The name "Ohio" is derived from the Iroquois word "ohi: yo," which translates to "great river." This was the Indigenous name for the mighty Ohio River that forms the state's southern border.
Pre-Territorial History
It's essential to recall that before its status as a U.S. territory, the land was inhabited for centuries by various Native American tribes, including the Shawnee, Miami, and Wyandot. During the colonial era, it was a contested frontier claimed by both France and Great Britain before being ceded to the United States after the Revolutionary War.
So, while the land has a history stretching back millennia, its first official designation under the United States government, prior to its becoming a state, was as part of the Northwest Territory. The state of Ohio was then carved from this territory in 1803, taking its name from the "great river" that had long defined the region.
