How Wide Is Ohio? Total Distance from East to West

How Wide is Ohio?

Ohio, a Midwestern U.S. state, is not one of the largest states in the country by area, ranking only 34th. It is, however, a highly populated state with over 11.8 million residents. If it weren’t for the Ohio River and the shore of Lake Erie, the state would be almost square. The East/West dimensions are almost the same as its North/South ones. From North to South, the state is nearly 245 miles long. How wide is Ohio? At its widest point, Ohio is 227 miles from East to West.

Founding

The state of Ohio was named after the Ohio River, which came from the Seneca word ohiːyo’, meaning “good river,” “great river,” or “large creek.” Just west of the Appalachian Mountains, Ohio was highly contested from the colonial era through the Indian Wars in the late 1700s, ultimately becoming part of the Northwest Territory. On March 1, 1803, Ohio became the 17th state admitted to the union as the first state from the Northwest Ordinance. It was also the first post-colonial free state in the union. Ohio would become an industrial powerhouse in the 20th century. Though it has shifted to more of a balanced economy, adding service and information industries, it still has the 7th largest GDP in the U.S.

Geography

Ohio is bounded by Lake Erie and Michigan to the north and the Ohio River to the south. To the east of it is Pennsylvania, while Indiana sits to its west. Across the Ohio River, Kentucky and West Virginia are its southern neighbors. Along Lake Erie, Ohio has over 300 miles of coastline. The Ohio River belongs mostly to Kentucky. It was judged in a 1980 U.S. Supreme Court decision that a 1792 law dividing parts of Virginia into West Virginia and Kentucky set the boundaries at the low water mark on the northern side of the river. An agreement with Michigan regarding the ownership of Toledo established the Ohio/Michigan border on something of a slant to allow Toledo to be part of Ohio.

Overall Size

Ohio is the 34th largest state in the union, with an area of 44,925 square miles. As mentioned, the state is 245 miles long by 227 miles wide. The highest point in the state, Campbell Hill, sits at 1,549 feet above sea level, while the lowest point, where the Ohio River meets the border of Indiana, is 455 feet above sea level.

Wildlife

Ohio has four habitats: wetlands, forests, prairies, woodlands, and the Great Lakes. These habitats contain a diversity of wildlife, including 219 bird species, 67 mammalian species, 45 species of snakes, and 39 different species of amphibians. In Ohio, you will find white-tail deer, eastern gray squirrels, black bears, coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, mourning doves, American crows, robins, blue jays, cardinals, American bullfrogs, snapping turtles, eastern box turtles, and common water snakes. Fish in Ohio include rainbow trout, catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill sunfish.

Comparison to Similar and Popular States

Some states with similar widths to Ohio include:

Some popular states for comparison:

Where is Ohio Located on a Map?

Ohio is found in the Midwestern region of the United States, it ranks as the 34th largest state among the fifty. Boasting a population of nearly 11.8 million residents, it holds the distinction of being the seventh-most populous and the tenth-most densely populated state in the nation.

Here is Ohio on a map:

Conclusion

Ohio may not be the nation’s largest state at only 227 miles wide. Still, it has a significant population, a diversity of wildlife, and an economic impact greater than its limited area may suggest.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock.com