Which U.S. State is Known as the 'Buckeye State'?

Ohio, sometimes known as the “Buckeye State,” is one of the most important and historically significant states in all of America. This common nickname has deep connections with the natural and cultural landscape of the state. Buckeye refers to the Ohio buckeye tree, which is a native tree whose nuts are shiny brown like the eye of a buck, hence the term "buckeye." The term evolved over time from just being a tree to representing the people, pride, and traditions of Ohio in general. 

The first recorded use of the term in reference to Ohio was likely in 1840 during the presidential campaign of William Henry Harrison. Many Ohio State University students are also well acquainted with the term and image of the buckeye due to the culture surrounding college football game days. The buckeye, and the buckeye state, is and will always be a part of our identity. Today, the name "Buckeye State" honors Ohio, which connects the people, heritage, and community.

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Ohio: Buckeye State

Ohio is known as the “Buckeye State” for a reason; this name indicates, among other things, natural heritage and cultural pride. The name is derived from the Ohio buckeye tree, with distinctive nuts like the eye of a deer, which led to the term “buckeye.” The trees were once plentiful throughout the state, and settlers thought the wood itself came in handy. Eventually, the word “buckeye” came to signify the identity of a person from Ohio.

Buckeye pride had a big voice on the national stage in the 1840 presidential bid of William Henry Harrison, also an Ohio native. The nickname for Ohio can be found in old traditions, especially at Ohio State University, where the name “Buckeyes” appears on everything from students to athletic teams, and the whole state celebrates its past, natural beauty, and indomitable mindset of its people.

Why Ohio Is Known as the Buckeye State?

Origin of the Name

Ohio is known as the Buckeye State because of the native Ohio buckeye tree. This tree produces nuts that resemble a deer's eye, also called "buckeyes." Early settlers saw that the trees were widely spread throughout the region and adopted the name as an emblem of the state’s natural identity.

Emerging Symbolism

As Ohio developed, buckeye trees transitioned from a landscape feature to a symbol of strength and regional pride. Settlers harvested buckeye wood for a variety of tools and crafts, adding to their cultural identity. The buckeye nut also became a good luck charm, often carried in pockets or hand-crafted tokens, as yet another rationale behind the Ohio identity.

A Political History

In the 1840 presidential campaign of William Henry Harrison, an Ohioan, the moniker gained national popularity. His supporters latched onto the buckeye motif and constructed log cabins out of buckeye wood to point out Harrison's modest, frontier-appropriate values. The buckeye identification for Ohio as a whole was truly starting to take root across the United States.

Ohio State University Connection

The nickname is most prominently viewed today through the Ohio State University, whose athletic teams are popularly known as the Buckeyes. The university's mascot, Brutus Buckeye, along with the team's winning tradition in college sports, continues to fuel the world's popularity and continues to have great symbolic meaning to Eli, with pride and unity across Ohio.