Why The Thrillist Ranking Of Ohio Is Wrong

Ohio is underrated, and it’s time we set the record straight.

Last year, Thrillist published “The Definitive and Final Ranking of All 50 States.” Ohio came in at #48, and we couldn’t disagree more. Determining factors for the rankings supposedly included things such as each state’s contributions to the country and natural beauty—however, we think the LeBron commentary was wildly insufficient for ranking Ohio as #48. (Also, the fact that Florida ranks dead last and the state-that-shall-not-be-named ranks as #1 raises a whole other giant, flashing, red flag for this list. But that’s besides the point.)

Here’s why we think this particular ranking of Ohio is, well, bogus:

First of all, our state’s natural beauty is downright stunning—you just have to spend more than five minutes in the state and know where to find it.

Janice Williams/Flickr (Pictured: Ash Cave at Hocking Hills State Park.)

Ted/Flickr (Pictured: Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.)

Erik Drost/Flickr (Pictured: The Judith and Maynard H. Murch Canopy Walk at Holden Arboretum.)

And don’t even get me started on our contributions to America and the rest of the world. FYI, we’ve produced more U.S. presidents than any other state.

Stefan Fussan/Flickr OK, so technically we’re currently tied with Virginia for which state has the most—but give it time and that will change.

We paved the way for mankind…

Kanijomen/Flickr Thanks, Neil.

…and we continure to do so.

memepix.com Joke about it all you want, but we know the truth of the matter: We’re smart. We’re REALLY smart.

In fact, our state capital is currently the smartest city in the U.S. (and one of the smartest in the world.)

Canadian Pacific/Flickr The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), a New York-based think tank, named the world’s top 7 most intelligent communities in January of 2015. Columbus was recognized for its 2007-2009 brain gain, economic and employment growth and technological advances. To read more about this recognition, click here.

Also, we’re home to some pretty amazing places you literally won’t find anywhere else in the world, such as the Roller Coaster Capital of the World….

inabeanpod/Flickr (AKA, Cedar Point Amusement Park.)

…The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…

Brook Ward/Flickr (Located in Cleveland, Ohio.)

…The Pro Football Hall of Fame…

JW Ogden/Flickr (Located in Canton, Ohio.)

…and the largest accessible glacial grooves in the world.

Britt Reints/Flickr Few people are aware that the largest accessible glacial grooves in the world are located on Kelleys Island.

And lastly, we stand apart from the rest. We dare to be different…

Erik Drost/Flickr (Ohio’s state flag is the only state flag that’s not in the shape of a rectangle.)

…and we’re “the heart of it all. "

Jimmy Emerson/DVM (Without us, the nation would have no heart. AMERICA WOULD HAVE NO HEART.)

What do you think of Ohio’s ranking on this list? What else do you love about the Buckeye State?

Janice Williams/Flickr

(Pictured: Ash Cave at Hocking Hills State Park.)

Ted/Flickr

(Pictured: Brandywine Falls at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.)

Erik Drost/Flickr

(Pictured: The Judith and Maynard H. Murch Canopy Walk at Holden Arboretum.)

Stefan Fussan/Flickr

OK, so technically we’re currently tied with Virginia for which state has the most—but give it time and that will change.

Kanijomen/Flickr

Thanks, Neil.

memepix.com

Joke about it all you want, but we know the truth of the matter: We’re smart. We’re REALLY smart.

Canadian Pacific/Flickr

The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), a New York-based think tank, named the world’s top 7 most intelligent communities in January of 2015. Columbus was recognized for its 2007-2009 brain gain, economic and employment growth and technological advances. To read more about this recognition, click here.

inabeanpod/Flickr

(AKA, Cedar Point Amusement Park.)

Brook Ward/Flickr

(Located in Cleveland, Ohio.)

JW Ogden/Flickr

(Located in Canton, Ohio.)

Britt Reints/Flickr

Few people are aware that the largest accessible glacial grooves in the world are located on Kelleys Island.

(Ohio’s state flag is the only state flag that’s not in the shape of a rectangle.)

Jimmy Emerson/DVM

(Without us, the nation would have no heart. AMERICA WOULD HAVE NO HEART.)

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