“The Pride of the Buckeyes”byPrayitno / Thank you for (9 millions +) viewsis licensed underCC BY 2.0
While there are other colleges in the state, almost every Ohioan has a soft spot for The Ohio State University Buckeyes and will cheer them on no matter where they’re at in the world. The state practically turns into a giant ghost town when the games on.
“Ohio state football spring game 4-12-2014”byPaula Livelyis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Out-of-context, it’s a little hard to decipher, but when thousands of fans raise their hands in unison cheering on the Buckeyes, it’s easy to tell what they’re spelling. O! H! I! O!
“Cuyahoga River”byJoanneis licensed underCC BY 2.0
Back in the day, the river that runs through Cleveland used to be pretty polluted; enough so to catch on fire, multiple times. But since then, Cleveland has cleaned up its act and the river isn’t quite as bad as it used to be.
Resembling a tree nut that’s popular in the state, Buckeye candies are everywhere. They’re easy to make too, just a ball of peanut butter fudge dipped in chocolate.
Stemming from the bitter sports rivalry between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines, everyone hates Michigan in Ohio. If you’re cheering on the blue and yellow, find another place to do it.
While Ohio might seem like an odd place to house some of the nation’s best destination theme parks, with Cedar Point in Sandusky and Kings Island near Cincy there are over 30 adrenaline infused coasters in the state for enthusiasts to ride.
America’s oldest brewery and President Barack Obama’s favorite beer, it’s hard to get this lager anywhere west of Ohio, so there’s a good chance an out-of-towner has never had it. After throwing back a few, they’ll probably want to pack a few in their suitcase for their buddies back home.
A traditional food in Southern Ohio, Goetta is hard to explain. It’s made up of blended pork, oats, onions, celery, and spices, and it goes on almost anything. The annual Glier GoettaFest serves up the best options.
The winters are cold in Ohio, and the summers are miserably hot and humid. It doesn’t help that nearly every major road undergoes weeks of construction the second warmer weather hits. It seems as if most towns have more orange traffic cones than people.
The fast food burger joint that refuses to cut corners, Wendy’s started in Columbus. You can guarantee that Ohioans were dunking their fries in their frozen drinks long before anyone else.
“The Jake” is Progressive Field Baseball Park in Cleveland, home to the Cleveland Indians. It gets the nickname from its former namesake, Jacobs Field.
The timeless debate of what to call carbonated, sugary drinks surfaces once again. While some states call it soda or coke, most Ohioans call it “pop.” It’s hard to hate though, it’s easily the most fun way to order a soft drink.
Ohioans have a tendency to use the word “please” A LOT. It’s most common plug is in the place of “excuse me.” When an out-of-towner visits, they’ll probably point out this oddity at first, but they’ll be saying it themselves in no time.
Call it a love-hate-love relationship, but it is possible to idolize someone, burn their jersey in the streets, and then welcome them back with open arms. Ohio will never forget the way Lebron deserted them, but are happy to have him back if it means a shot at the championship.
While they haven’t won a championship since the 1964 season and they can’t seem to hold on to a decent quarterback for more than a couple years, the Browns continue to have one of the largest fanbases in the country. It’s hard to believe until you watch a game in a packed Browns Backers bar halfway across the country, but Browns fans are the most dedicated around.
Southern Ohio does chili better than anywhere else in America. It’s so good it can go one top of basically anything, including spaghetti noodles. Don’t knock it till you try it, but having a three-way at Skyline is the best it gets.
One of the reasons that Cincinnati chili is so good is all of the strange seasonings that somehow make their way into the pot. One of the most apparent is the cinnamon taste that somehow complements that savory flavor of this dish.
With one of the largest Amish populations in the world, it’s completely normal to get stuck behind a horse-drawn buggy in upstate Ohio. The Amish population is nothing like it’s depicted in popular media, but they make the best furniture and home-style food around.
It may seem like an odd place for one of the most influential movements in music to start, but when local deejay Alan Freed coined the phrase and promoted the very first rock show at Cleveland Arena on March 21, 1952, he started a trend that couldn’t be stopped. That’s why the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is located in the Buckeye State.
In a town where students outnumber permanent residents, Ohio University in Athens tends to get a little wild. Block parties have a tendency to shut down entire streets.
A favorite in the Cleveland area, it’s a grilled, often deep-fried kielbasa on a toasted bun, topped with fries and slaw before being drenched in barbecue sauce. It’s not something to eat on the first date.
Known as a summer time beach destination, Put-in-Bay, is a little slice of paradise in the Midwest. It’s also home to the longest bar in the country, at over 400 feet.
One of the most bizarre things around, the Columbus Doo Dah Parade attracts all sort of strange to the streets. From hostage taking Fidel Castros to the fishnet mafia to people pulling cars with their piercings, it’s something that must be seen to be believed.
Ever since injuring Bo Jackson during the end of the 1990 football season, the Bengals have been unable to achieve any sort of post season success. Blame it on whatever you want, but many fans believe the curse is what’s holding them back.
A staple of Columbus binge eaters, the Thurmanator is a 1.5 pound meat sandwich that consists of a burger, topped with ham, provolone, onions, mushrooms, bacon, cheddar, and hot peppers. It’s not for the faint of heart.
Every Ohioan knows that the real Miami University is in Oxford, Ohio. Named for its location in Miami Valley, not only was it founded over 100 years before the University of Miami in Florida, it also has a tendency of topping the list that ranks which universities have the best looking students. Just sayin’.
Another Columbus restaurant that has turned into a nationwide chain, many Ohioans remember when Buffalo Wild Wings was called Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck, after the sandwiches they used to serve up on kummelweck buns. Every Ohioan has a soft spot for this place, and no matter how commercial it gets, they’ll still chow down on some of their wings.
Everyone outside of Ohio gets stumped when they see the word Cuyahoga, but with a county and river, along with other things, named after this Iroquoian word for “crooked river,” it’s something everyone visiting Ohio needs to practice saying.
Cleveland gets a bad rap nationwide, with bashes made in viral parody songs and comedians regularly taking shots at the city. Anyone that’s making fun of Cleveland probably hasn’t been there recently, as the city has spent a ton of money making it better. It’s actually a pretty fun place to visit.
A little snow on the ground doesn’t slow down Ohio. While some of the southern states freak out if there’s a light flurry, it takes at least a foot of snow to shut this state down.
There’s been a long bitter rival between Ohio football fans and the Pittsburgh Steelers. It didn’t help when the hometown boy Ben Roethlisberger left Miami University to don yellow and black. This hatred is similar to how Ohioans feel towards Michigan Wolverines, if you’re waving a “terrible towel,” get out of the Buckeye State.
There’s Cleveland, aka The Cleve, Sixth City, Comeback City, C-Town, etc. There’s Cincinnati, aka Cincy, Cincinasty, Cincitucky, The Queen City, The Tri-State, etc. Then there’s Columbus, aka C-Bus, Cowtown, the Discovery City, The Biggest Small Town in America, the list goes on, but you get the point.
Ohioans have a tendency to make fun of their hometown, until someone from out-of-state joins in. When that happens, they suddenly turn into patriots, willing to fight to the death for the reputation of where they’re from. What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Ohio? Tell us in the comments below!
