The state of Ohio is a state in the Midwestern United States. Though it ranks 34th among the 50 states in terms of total area, it ranks 7th in total population. Ohio was founded in 1803 and was the first territory (and eventually state) to be carved out of the newly-approved Northwest Territory. Ohio sits just west of Pennsylvania and was one of the first states to be heavily settled after the end of the American Revolution. Ohio's location along the powerful Ohio River gave the state access to the Mississippi River, which would become the most important commercial transportation route in the country until the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.
Ohio's dependence on trade - and the Ohio River - gave it a lot of power before the outbreak of the Civil War, and today we see its manufacturing and industrial influence that first grew during that time. Cities such as Cleveland, Dayton, Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati were all major manufacturing and industrial towns during the 19th and 20th centuries, and it was not until the late 1970's and the 1980's that the cities began to see major deindustrialization begin to occur. This left many of the major metro areas in Ohio economically devastated, mere shadows of their former glory. However, today much of the damage has begun to be repaired, as more and more money is being spent on urban renewal and economic diversification, two crucial factors in the resurgence of the cities in the so-called \"Rust Belt.\"
Ohio's power during the 19th century - and the reason behind its rise in manufacturing and logistics services - stemmed from the rivers that course through it. Railroads built at the time helped to solidify its status as a major freight forwarder, and during the formation of the Interstate Highway System Ohio was the beneficiary of several major interstates, including I-70, I-80, I-90, I-71, I-75 and I-77. These major routes help tremendously when it comes to transporting a vehicle to or from one of the major metro areas of Ohio, which is where the best deals are to be had. Smaller towns away from those interstates can take longer to get to or from, which shows up in the price. If you're shipping a vehicle to or from Ohio, get your free estimate online and compare offers from licensed auto transport companies, or read our Ohio auto transport page for more about shipping to and from the state.
About the Author
Dave Armstrong is one of American Auto Shipping's longest-tenured team members. As content manager and strategist, most of what you read on this website came from him. He has extensive knowledge of the auto transport industry, having spent time in every role the business has to offer.