Ohio Facts: Geography
Close-up view of a map showing Ohio among its neighboring states.

Ohio Facts: Geography

We highlight some of the unique location and geographic characteristics of our state.

Location and Size

Ohio is a state comprised of 44,825 square miles in the Midwest region of the United States. It is bordered on the north by Michigan and Lake Erie, on the east by Pennsylvania, on the southeast by West Virginia, on the south by Kentucky, and on the west by Indiana.

  • Geographical center: Centerburg, Knox County (40°18’16” N, 82°41’44” W)
  • Northernmost point: Conneaut, Ashtabula County (42°19’24” N, 80°31’11” W)
  • Southernmost point: Burlington, Lawrence County (38°25’9” N, 82°34’50” W)
  • Easternmost point: Masury, Trumbull County (41°11’13” N, 80°31’6” W)
  • Westernmost point: Elizabethtown, Hamilton County (39°6’43” N, 84°49’12” W)

Time Zone

Ohio is in the Eastern time zone and observes Daylight Saving Time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

Elevation

Ohio’s average elevation is 850 feet.

  • Highest point: Campbell Hill, Bellefontaine, Logan County, 1,550 feet
  • Lowest point: Extreme southwest corner of the state at the Ohio River, 455 feet

Land Features

Ohio’s geography consists of mostly plains, though some regions have rolling hills, twisting river valleys, and sandy beaches. The Till Plains comprise most of the state’s western half while the rugged Appalachian Plateau covers almost the entire eastern half of the state. In the southern and southeastern regions, arches, caves, caverns, rock formations, and cliffs are common.

More than 50 different types of minerals can be found in Ohio, including calcite, quartz, flint, gypsum, gold, hematite, salt, and sulfur. Ohio is also a major producer of different types of rock, including coal, clay, limestone, gypsum, shale, sandstone, sand, and gravel.

Waterways

Ohio has more than 3,300 named rivers and streams and 60,000 lakes, rivers, and ponds. Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes, makes up most of Ohio’s northern border. The Ohio River runs along the state’s southeastern and southern borders.

  • Major lakes in Ohio include Pymatuning Lake, Grand Lake, and Mosquito Creek Lake.
  • Major rivers in Ohio include the Scioto, Muskingum, Cuyahoga, Maumee, Hocking, Olentangy, Grand, Licking, and Mahoning Rivers and Big Walnut, Big Darby, and Paint Creeks.

Weather and Climate

Ohio experiences four seasons, each with distinct weather patterns. Conditions can vary widely within seasons but are typical for the American Midwest. Summers are usually hot and humid while winters are cold and wet. Most plants and trees go dormant in the fall and regrow their leaves and flowers in the spring. Common severe weather includes thunderstorms and tornadoes in the summer and snow and ice accumulations in the winter. Regional flooding and flash-flooding are possible year-round.

  • Highest average temperature: 85.3°F in July
  • Lowest average temperature: 36.2°F in January
  • Average annual precipitation: 37.57 inches