Geography of Ohio

Ohio's very diversity underscores the dramatic changes over the past century. In 1900 it was predominantly agricultural; by 1950 it was at the center of industrial America. External forces, within the United States and overseas, have brokered further changes, often profound. In A Geography of Ohio, twenty-one scholars describe and discuss the state's evolution.Ohio's geography is divided into four areas: physical, cultural, urban, and economic. Section one provides a foundation for the book by covering the landforms, climate, soils, and resources. Next, human activity and culture are richly depicted -- portraying the aboriginal peoples and the impact of the Europeans.In the urban landscape chapters, the authors examine Ohio's cities, smaller communities, and place-names. Following an overview of current urban growth, seven vignettes illustrate how particular cities have coped with the collapse of the manufacturing base.Energy production and consumption, agriculture, transportation, recreation, and tourism are examined in the last section. In particular, the automobile, soft drink, and steel industries are closely scrutinized.A Geography of Ohio is a revised and updated edition of The Changing Heartland: A Geography of Ohio (Ginn Press), fully incorporating the 1990 census data and the most recent demographic data. It is the essential text for an understanding of Ohio's geography and history.