Ohio

Ohio is one of the great industrial states because of its strategic position, abundant natural resources, fertile soils, inexpensive energy, and well-developed transportation infrastructure. More than half of the country's population lives within 500 miles (800 km) of its boundaries, and local businesses rely on coal, oil, natural gas, clay, salt, limestone, sandstone, shales, and gypsum. Most of the raw materials utilized in Ohio's industries originate from the state's resources, and manufacturing has historically employed a significant fraction of the labor force. Still, actual heavy industrial output has dropped since the 1970s.