Most people don’t realize how much of a forerunner Ohio actually was when it comes to American history, culture, and society. From walking on the moon to pouring the first concrete street, Ohio paved the way for America in more ways than one. Here are 12 things they don’t always teach you about Ohio in school:

1. Ohio got its name from the Iroquois word, "O-Y-O," meaning "great river."
Jim Grey/Flickr
The Iroquois Indians settled between the Ohio River and Great Lakes around 1650.
2. Chillicothe was Ohio's first capital.
Mike Dray
(It's also home to the site of The Great Seal of Ohio.)
3. The first concrete street in America was poured in Ohio.
OZinOH/Flickr
It was poured in 1891 near the Logan County Courthouse in Bellefontaine.
4. Ohio is believed to have been the first state to have an African American elected to public office.
Mike Mozart/Flickr
John Mercer Langston, elected clerk of Brownhelm in 1854, is believed to have been the first African American ever elected to public office.
5. The first ever full-time automobile service station opened in Ohio.
William Creswell/Flickr
It opened in 1899.
6. Ohio was the first state to enact laws protecting working women.
Seattle Municipal Archives/Flickr
7. The first ambulance service was established in Cincinnati.
steeleman204/Flickr
It was established in 1865.
8. Akron was the first city to use police cars.
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9. The first professional city fire department was in Cincinnati.
elycefeliz/Flickr
10. Cleveland claims to have erected America’s first traffic light on Aug. 5, 1914.
William F. Yurasko/Flickr
11. 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.
12. Cleveland was the first city to be lighted by electricity.
Joshua Rothhass/Flickr

How many of these did you know about? What other facts could you add to this list? Let us know!

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