Ohio Symbols, State Names

Browse the state's symbols; state animal, state bird, state flower, state flag, state fossil, state insect, state motto, state seal, state tree, color, dance, fish, mammal, music, nut, reptile seal, and miscellaneous designations, emblems, and mascot of each state with pictures. Find origin of the state name. View the state almanacs, state timelines and peruse state facts and stats such as the capitol, location, and date admitted to the union.

Nick Name

Midwest

Buckeye State - State tree.
Mother of Modern Presidents - Seven presidents were Ohioans.

Buckeye State:

Ohio, the Buckeye State, received its nickname because of the many buckeye trees that once covered its hills and plains. But that's may be another reason.

William Henry Harrison, a Virginia-born Ohioan and military hero, was a candidate for the White House, but his opponents commented that he was better suited to sit in a log cabin and drink hard cider.

Making a positive reference, they dubbed him "the log cabin candidate," and chose as his campaign emblem a log cabin made of buckeye timbers, with a long string of buckeyes decorating its walls.

The campaign were successful. "Old Tippecanoe," as Harrison was often called, beat President Martin Van Buren, and thereafter the buckeye was closely associated with the state of Ohio.

The name itself is of native origin. Because the markings on the nut resembled the eye of a buck, the Indians called it "hetuck" or "buckeye."

Origin of Name

From an Iroquoian word meaning great river

The state of Ohio is named after the Ohio River. Ohio is the name that the Iroqois Indians used when referring to the river and means "large" or "beautiful river."

Postal Code

OH

Resident's Name

Ohioan