Coming to Ohio

Ohio has been home to people for more than 14,000 years. Many made Ohio their home because of its plentiful natural resources – water,fertile land, raw materials and wildlife. Native Americans were the first to come here. Throughout the ages, Revolutionary soldiers, religious missionaries, farmers, immigrants who dug the canal, factory workers and more have also come here, each seeking opportunities and a new life.

The human story starts with Native Americans, who lived in the region for thousands of years, slowing changing from nomadic hunters and gatherers to settled farmers. When Euro-American settlement began, this region was the western frontier of the United States. The first Euro-Americans came as fur traders and missionaries. Their stories include interactions and conflict with Native Americans and the natural environment, a densely forested wilderness.

In the early 19th century, Euro-Americans began to arrive in greater numbers, hoping to settle and farm. These farmers quickly felt the need for better transportation routes to eastern markets. Roads were poor or nonexistent. Most rivers and other bodies of water proved inadequate for navigation with large loads of crops. This water could, however, be used to feed a canal system.

The canal fulfilled its promise for farmers. Their crops could now reach market, and farmers' prosperity increased. The canal served businesses and industries as well, and the region as a whole began to flourish. The prosperity stimulated by the canal attracted more people to the region, including industrialists and entrepeneurs such as John D. Rockefeller, F.A. Seiberling and Cyrus Eaton. As a result, industry continued to expand and the influx of people continued.

Many of the communities that were formed by initial waves of people coming to Ohio still exist today. Throughout northeast Ohio, visitors will still find Italian, Irish, German, Ukrainian and other communities that were started because of a ditch – the Ohio & Erie Canal.