Official Ohio Symbols

State Name

Ohio took its name from the Iroquois Indian word meaning something great. The Iroquis used the word for the Ohio River, which forms the state's southeastern and southern borders.

	Tomato Juice was designated the official Beverage of Ohio by the Ohio General Assembly in 1965. Adoption of an official beverage coincided with the Tomato Festival held in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. In 1870, Reynoldsburg resident Alexander Livingston began to grow tomatoes commercially. The Tomato Festival, which occurs every year, honors Livingston and the tomato's importance to Ohio's economy. In 1965, Ohio was the second leading producer of tomato juice in the United States, ranking behind only California. In 2002, Ohio farmers harvested 6,300 acresof tomatoes, averaging almost 24 tons of tomatoes per acre.
	In 1933, the Ohio General Assembly made the Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) the official state Bird. In the 1700s, Ohio was 95% forested, with very little appropriate habitat for cardinals. As forests were cleared, the habitat became more suitable for cardinals. By the late 1800s, cardinals had expanded into the modified habitat of Ohio and could be found in all parts of the state. Today, cardinals live in all of Ohio's 88 counties, and can be found in both rural and urban settings.
	The Ohio Burgee (as the swallowtail design is properly called) was designed by John Eisemann. The large blue triangle represents Ohio's hills and valleys, and the stripes represent roads and waterways. The 13 stars grouped about the circle represent the original states of the union; the 4 stars added to the peak of the triangle symbolize that Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the union. The white circle with its red center no only represents the "O" in Ohio, but also suggests Ohio's famous nickname, "The Buckeye State." The Flag was officially adopted in 1902.
	The Red Carnation was designated the official state Flower in 1904. It was chosen to honor President William McKinley, an Ohioan, who was assassinated in 1901. McKinley liked to wear red carnations stuck in his buttonhole on the lapel of his jacket.
	Isoletus was a trilobite that lived between 430 and 480 million years ago. At this point in time, an ocean covered much of what is now Ohio. One of the largest trilobites, some Isoletus specimens reached nearly 30 inches in length. It was designated the state Fossil in 1985.
	Flint was adopted as the official state Gemstone in 1965. A variety of quartz, flint is a hard and durable mineral. Large quantities of this gem exist, especially in the eastern and central parts of the state. Flint Ridge, in Licking and Muskingum Counties, was a major source of flint for Ohio's Indians. The Hopewell people traded flint with other Native Americans across the United States.
	Buckeye Chuck, a "resident" of Marion, has been predicting the arrival of spring since the 1970's. In 1979, the Ohio Legislature made him the official state Groundhog.
	The Ladybug was designated as the official Insect of Ohio in 1975. Although the State Legislature never designated a particular species of ladybug, the Convergent Ladybird Beetle (Hippodamia convergens) is the one generally considered as an Ohio native. Ladybugs exist in all of Ohio's 88 counties.
	In 1988, the Ohio General Assembly made the White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Ohio's official state Mammal.
	In the early 1950's, the Ohio Legislature sponsored a contest for selecting a state Motto. The winning entry was sent in by twelve-year-old James Mastronardo, and, on October 1, 1959, "With God All Things Are Possible" became the official motto for the state of Ohio.
	Ohio is commonly referred to as the Buckeye State due to the prevalence of Ohio Buckeye trees within the state's borders.
	In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Ohio's flag, the General Assembly adopted a Pledge to the flag in 2002. The pledge states, I salute the flag of the state of Ohio and pledge to the Buckeye State respect and loyalty. According to the Legislature, Ohio residents should recite the state pledge upon completing the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States.
	In 1938, the State of Ohio set the Third Friday of Every October as Ohio Poetry Day. This was the first poetry day established by a state government in the United States. Tessa Sweazy Webb spent thirteen months lobbying the Ohio General Assembly to create Ohio Poetry Day. She argued, "For each living reader a living poet, for each living poet a living reader."
	The Newark Earthworks were some of the largest geometric earthworks ever built, originally covering more than four square miles. The Hopewell people built these enclosures sometime between 100 B.C. and 400 A.D. Although much of the Newark Earthworks were destroyed by the growth of the city of Newark, concerned citizens succeeded in preserving two major parts of the site. In 2005, fourth grade students at William E. Miller Elementary School in Newark asked the State of Ohio to recognize the Newark Earthworks as Ohio's official Prehistoric Monument, and, on June 7, 2006, Governor Bob Taft formally declared the Newark Earthworks to be Ohio's prehistoric monument.
	In 1995, the Ohio Legislature designated the Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor) Ohio's official Reptile due to the snake's prevalence in the state. The black racer lives in Ohio's eastern and southern counties. The closely related blue racer (Coluber constrictor foxi) lives in the northern and western portions of the state. Both snakes provide valuable assistance to Ohio farmers by killing various types of rodents that can cause damage to crops.
	"Hang on Sloopy" became the official state Rock Song in November 1985. Composed by Celina-born guitarist Rick Derringer, it was first recorded by The McCoys, a rock band from Dayton, in 1965. Now a favorite of the Ohio State University Marching Band, it was first performed at the Ohio State-Illinois football game on October 9, 1965.
	The current design of the Great Seal of the State of Ohio was officially adopted in 1967 and modified in 1996. In the foreground, a sheaf of wheat represents Ohio's agricultural strength. A bundle of 17 arrows symbolizes Ohio's status as the 17th state admitted to the Union. Thirteen rays around the sun represent the thirteen original colonies shining over the first state in the Northwest Territory. The background contains a portrayal of Mount Logan, with a three-quarter sun rising behind it--symbolizing that Ohio was the first state west of the Allegheny Mountains. The Scioto River flows between the mountain and the cultivated fields in the foreground.
	In 1969, the Ohio Legislature adopted "Beautiful Ohio" as Ohio's state Song. Mary Earl, whose real name was Robert A. "Bobo" King, composed the music. Ballard MacDonald wrote the original lyrics to the 1918 song. In 1989, with the permission of the Ohio Legislature, Wilbert B. McBride altered the lyrics. MacDonald's Lyrics Long, long time ago Someone I know Had a little red canoe, In it room for only two. Love found its start Then in my heart, And like a flower grew. CHORUS: Drifting with the current down a moonlit stream, While above the Heavens in their glory gleam, And the stars on high Twinkle in the sky, Seeming in a paradise of love divine, Dreaming of a pair of eyes that looked in mine. Beautiful Ohio, in dreams again I see Visons of what used to be. McBride's Lyrics I sailed away; Wandered afar; Crossed the mighty restless sea; Looked for where I ought to be. Cities so grand, mountains above, Led to this land I love. CHORUS: Beautiful Ohio, where the golden grain Dwarf the lovely flowers in the summer rain. Cities rising high, silhouette the sky. Freedom is supreme in this majestic land; Mighty factories seem to hum in tune, so grand. Beautiful Ohio, thy wonders are in view, Land where my dreams all come true!
	In 1953, the Ohio Legislature designated the Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra) as Ohio's official state Tree. The tree is called the buckeye because its nuts resemble the shape and color of a deer's eye. The buckeye is relatively common in Ohio, growing especially well along rivers and streams and in floodplains.
	In 1986, the Ohio General Assembly made the White Trillium Ohio's official Wildflower. Also known as the wake robin, the snow trillium, the great white trillium, or the large white trillium, the General Assembly selected this flower because it exists in all of Ohio's 88 counties.