11 Things Ohio Did First

If you think Ohio is a follower, think again. From important steps in American history to common objects and services we take for granted every day, Ohio was often at the forefront of many significant changes in society. The following are 11 things that you may not have known Ohio was the first to do, establish or utilize.

Ohio was the first state to enact laws protecting working women.

Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr

Ohio is home to the first interracial and coeducational college in the United States.

Ralph Repo/Flickr (Pictured: Oberlin College, founded in 1833.)

3 )Ohio is believed to have been the first state to have an African American elected to public office.

Julian Carvajal/Flickr (John Mercer Langston, elected clerk of Brownhelm in 1854, is believed to have been the first African American ever elected to public office)

The first ever full-time automobile service station opened in Ohio in 1899.

William Creswell/Flickr

Cleveland claims to have erected America’s first traffic light on Aug. 5, 1914.

William F. Yurasko/Flickr

The first concrete street in America was poured in 1891 near the Logan County Courthouse in Bellefontaine.

OZinOH/Flickr

Cleveland also claims the site of the first pedestrian button for the control of a traffic light.

bankbryan/Flickr (The 1948 demonstration took place at East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue.)

Akron was the first city to use police cars.

Seluryar/Flickr

In 1865, the first ambulance service was established in Cincinnati.

steeleman204/Flickr

The first professional city fire department was in Cincinnati.

elycefeliz/Flickr

Cleveland was the first city to be lighted by electricity.

Joshua Rothhaas/Flickr

Were you aware of all of these? Which of these surprised you?

Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr

Ralph Repo/Flickr

(Pictured: Oberlin College, founded in 1833.)

Julian Carvajal/Flickr

(John Mercer Langston, elected clerk of Brownhelm in 1854, is believed to have been the first African American ever elected to public office)