Banking.—On Oct. 31, 1919, there were reported 372 National banks in opera tion, having $65,033,000 in capital, $45, 049,000 in outstanding circulation, and $156,342,000 in United States bonds.
There were also 609 State banks, with $58,417,000 capital and $39,138,000 sur plus; 169 private banks, with $2,657,000 capital, and $990,000 surplus. The ex changes at the United States clearing houses at Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colum bus for the year ending Sept. 30, 1919, aggregated $8,780,512,000.
Education.—School attendance is com pulsory for children from 6 to 15 years. There were in 1919 about 11,000 public elementary schools, with about 30,000 teachers and about 870,000 enrolled pupils. There were over 1,000 public high schools, with nearly 130,000 pupils, and 6,500 teachers. There were 5 State normal schools, with about 1,200 stu dents. The total expenditure for educa tion exceeds $55,000,000 annually. Among the colleges are the University of Cincinnati, at Cincinnati; Western Re serve University, at Cleveland; Ohio State University, at Columbus; Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware; Oberlin College, at Oberlin; St. Xavier College, at Cincinnati, Oxford and West ern Colleges, at Oxford, and the Lake Erie College and Seminary at Paines ville.
Churches.—The strongest denomina tions in the State are the Roman Cath olic; Methodist Episcopal; Presbyterian; Regular Baptist, North; Disciples of Christ; United Brethren; Lutheran, In dependent Synods; Reformed; Congrega tional; German Evangelical Synod; and Christian.
Railways.—The total mileage in 1919 was 9,316. There were in addition over 4,300 miles of electric railway track.
Finances.—The receipts for the fiscal year ending July 1, 1918, were $25,411, 743. The disbursements were $33,199, 499. The cash on hand at the beginning of the year amounted to $7,787,756. There was a balance on July 1, 1919, of $7,375,351. The public debt amounted to $1,665, being a canal loan not bearing interest.
State Government.—The governor is elected for a term of two years. Legis lative sessions are held biennially and limited in length to 60 days each. The
Legislature has 37 members in the Sen ate, and 125 members in the House. There are 22 Representatives in Con gress. The State government in 1921 was Republican.
History .—The site of the present State of Ohio was first explored by La Salle in 1680. About 1750 the English laid claim to the region, and their effort to make good their claim brought on the French and Indian War. In 1763, the whole region was ceded by France to England, and after the Revolutionary War it be came part of the territory of the United States. The Ohio Company, organized in New England in 1787, composed of men who had served in the Revolution ary War, purchased from the govern ment a large tract N. of the Ohio, paying for it in Continental currency. The first permanent settlement was made at Mari etta in 1788. Cincinnati was founded soon after, and the settlement of the S. section of the territory progressed rap idly. In 1791 the Indian became stirred up by the encroachments of the whites, and a war ensued, which at first proved disastrous to the United States troops, but was finally ended in victory by Gen eral Wayne, in 1794. In the treaty of peace that followed, the Indians ceded a large section of territory, in which sev eral new towns were quickly established. Ohio formed part of the Northwest Ter ritory till 1800, when it was organized as a separate Territory, Chillicothe being made the seat of government. In 1802 a constitution was adopted for the "East ern Division of the Territory N. W. of the Ohio," under the name of Ohio, and it was formally admitted into the Union on Feb. 19, 1803. Steamboat navigation on the Ohio began in 1812; excavation of the State canals began in 1825, and was completed in 1844; and the first railroad, begun in 1837, was opened to traffic by 1842. Ohio took an active part in the Civil War, and since the war has given seven Presidents to the Union—Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Harrison, McKinley, Taft, and Harding, all born in this State.