Ohio's Economy SS Weekly Wk 27 (Third Grade)

Ohio's Economy SS Weekly Wk 27

Ohio's Economy

• Agriculture, industry and natural resources in Ohio are very important parts of our state and national economy. We grow and make products like rubber, steel, soybeans and coal because we know people all over the United States need them. We depend on people in other states for things that we don't make or grow in Ohio. We all work together!

• Different kinds of industries are located all over our state. From forests to manufacturing, from mining to agriculture, Ohio has it all!

Agriculture

No matter where you live in Ohio, industry is nearby. Industry gives jobs to the people of our state and provides goods and services to Ohio, our country and the world. Look at the map that shows where agriculture (farming) happens in our state. Thousands of years ago, the glaciers covering Ohio receded (pulled back). This left lots of rich soil that was perfect for farming. Many people immigrated to our state in the 1800's just for the chance to farm Ohio's rich soil. Farming communities sprang up along rivers so farmers could ship their crops to other cities, states, and countries.

Forestry

• Forests were important to settlers because they provided firewood and building materials. Lumber was one of Ohio's very first industries and drew many people to our state. Today over 100,000 people work in the lumber industry producing paper, furniture, firewood and Christmas trees.

• Look at the map that shows where forests are found in Ohio today. The amount of forestland in Ohio went from 93 percent in the 1840's to only 10 percent in 1900. For 150 years, people cleared forests for lumber and made way for farmland to feed a hungry nation. Today, about 30 percent of our state is covered by forest. Concerned citizens and the Ohio Division of Forestry are working to keep our forests healthy. They don't want Ohio's forests to be an opportunity cost. It's important to balance the need for beautiful forests and the need for buildings and paper.

Manufacturing

• To manufacture means to make products, and Ohio is a place where a lot of products are manufactured! If you draw a diagonal line from Cincinnati to Cleveland, you have just marked an area that includes the greatest manufacturing centers in the state. This includes the Cincinnati Dayton area, Columbus and Cleveland. Add in Toledo, and you have an area that has many of the biggest companies in the world-all right here in Ohio. Of course, manufacturing takes place in other parts of our state too. Businesses all over the state make many of the things we need and want.

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Rubber

• In the late 1800's, Akron became a world leader in rubber production. It was even known as the "rubber capital of the world." Companies like B.F. Goodrich and Goodyear Tire are just two of 130 rubber companies that have called Ohio home over the years. Why? Bicycles, toy balloons and automobiles all need rubber.

• Lots of rubber companies meant lots of jobs. Manufacturing jobs have always drawn workers not only from the United States but also from all over the world. About 85,000 rubber pant workers made their homes in Ohio back then, and many of them were immigrants from Europe.

Steel

• Iron ore deposits found in southern and eastern Ohio lit the spark of the steel industry in Ohio. By the 1800's, Ohio was the second largest producer of steel in the United States. Cleveland, Akron, Canton, and Youngstown sent out the word for more steelworkers. The workers came, and these cities grew and prospered. Ohio companies made steel for the car industry and for the US military in World War II. Although the steel industry faced some tough times recently, Ohio factories still make more than 14.5 million tons of steel each year and provide thousands of jobs for Ohio workers.

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Glass

• In 1888, Edward Libbey moved his glass company from Massachusetts to Toledo, Ohio. Why? His workers could use the newly discovered natural gas found near Toledo to power his glass plant. Soon the city was called the "Glass Capital of the World." Today, Libbey Glass is known for its decorative glass, bottles, containers and window glass.

Manufacturing and Trade

• Did you notice that many of the largest manufacturing cities are located near a lake or river? Why do you think that's true? Well, it's all about transportation. Lakes and rivers help companies get their products to consumers. Water transportation also helps get goods that we don't make in Ohio to us. Trade provides jobs for Ohioans and people in other places. Some people make the goods, others pack them for shipping and others get things where they need to go. Once the goods get where they're going, salespeople in stores and markets offer the goods to the people who want and need them. Trade benefits both consumers and producers. Manufacturing and trade have brought many people to Ohio and provided our state with jobs, goods, and services.

Mining

• Ohio has a wealth of minerals. About half of the total mineral production in Ohio is from coal. Coal is mined in the eastern part of Ohio, mostly by strip mining . Strip mining is the process of scraping coal from the top of the ground, rather than digging an underground mine. About 90 percent of our electrical energy in Ohio comes from coal. Where there is coal, there is often oil and gas. That's the case in Ohio. Take a look at the map to see where our oil and gas fields are located. Did you know that salt is mined just under Lake Erie? All of these natural resources give jobs to Ohioans and energy to Ohio and the nation.