With the opening of the Ohio & Erie Canal, the region began its history as a national player in the production and distribution of goods. Starting with agricultural products and later manufactured items, many goods have been made in Ohio and transported for trade to other parts of the country.

This change was important for the growth of the United States as a new nation. For years after the American Revolution, the United States was dependent on the colonial trade routes with Europe. In the 1820s and 1830s, the American Industrial Revolution began in New England. The canal system let manufacturers and merchants look to the newly created states in the Midwest for raw materials and new markets for their products. This made America less dependent on European imports and strengthened her position on the world economic stage.

The canal spurred Ohio’s rapid growth both agriculturally and industrially. Successful early industries directly stimulated by the canal created an economic base that drew industrialists and entrepreneurs to the region, and the momentum of industrial innovation and growth was sustained through the mid-twentieth century. Industry thrived all along the Canalway: steel and petroleum products in Cleveland, rubber and milling in Akron, agriculture-related business in Massillon and Canton, matches in Barberton, chemicals in Navarre, and iron in Dover. The impact on the nation resembles the influence of the Silicon Valley in th 1990s.

New transportation technologies, starting with railroads, emerged to support the spiraling growth. As trade increased, the need for reliable, year-round transportation grew. This led to the birth and rapid growth of railroads, faster and more reliable than canals. The railroads changed the speed of business in Ohio, and many canal towns suffered as a result.

Ohio’s industrial heritage continues today, although the current face of industry is continually evolving. Many of the characteristics of the past—innovation and entrepeneurship—play a role in the region’s continuing success. The Canalway itself also plays a role. Businesses consider quality of life when making decisions about where to locate. Recreation, access to nature and culture, and thriving community amenities are ways that the Canalway contributes to quality of life.