Spread across 62.2 square miles of rolling hills and varied terrain in Ohio is the city of Akron. Founded in 1825, it’s now a world-renowned center of polymer research and development. It has also been nicknamed “the Rubber Capital of the World,” due to the presence of B.F. Goodrich Tire, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Firestone Tire and General Tire. Today, manufacturing, education, healthcare, and biomedical research are the main drivers of the city’s economy. Its median age is 36.5 (2022).

Nestled along the southern shore of Lake Erie in northeastern Ohio is the city of Cleveland, stretching across 82.4 square miles. It was founded in 1796, and its median age today is 36.3 (2022). Healthcare, biomedical, manufacturing, financial services, and higher education are the primary drivers of its economy.

Dayton is probably most well-known as being the home of brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright, and as a result, the “Birthplace of Aviation.” In addition to the Wright brothers’ invention of powered flight, the western Ohio city is also known for its many patents, inventions, and inventors. Founded in 1796, Dayton now covers 56.9 square miles, and has a median age of 33.5 (2022). Healthcare, defense, and aerospace are its main industries.

Toledo, Ohio, lies at the western tip of Lake Erie across 83.8 square miles. It was founded in 1833 on the west bank of the Maumee River. The first of many glass manufacturers arrived in the 1880s, and Toledo eventually gained a nickname: “Glass City.” Its median age is 35.4 (2022). Healthcare, automotive, bioscience, medical technology, logistics, and manufacturing fuel its economy.

Named for Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, Ohio’s capital, Columbus, was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. It lies over 226.3 square miles of mostly flat terrain today, and has a median age of 32.4 (2022). The city has a diverse economy based on sectors including government, education, insurance, technology, and medical research.

Cincinnati is a city in southwestern Ohio, sitting on the hilly banks of the Ohio River across the state of Kentucky. It was settled in 1788, and has grown to encompass 79.6 square miles. Government, education, and wholesale and retail trade fuel its economy. Its median age is 32.4 (2022).