Ohio is a state with some distinct regional land use patterns. Agricultural land use is centered in the northwest; rolling hills and woodlands are in the southeast; and the major metropolitan areas are in the northeast, central and southwestern parts of the state.
Indicators about land use are not the only information presented in the table below. Also included are indicators for activities that are land-based, such as recreation and agriculture. In addition, some statistics relevant to wildlife habitat are presented below because habitat is a type of land use.
| LAND/HABITAT/NATURAL RESOURCES | ||
|---|---|---|
| INDICATOR | VALUE | DATA SOURCE |
| Ohio land area (square miles) | 40,952.6 | U.S. Bureau of Census, 1990 census |
| Number of designated state or federal "wilderness areas" in Ohio | 2 | ODNR, Division of Forestry (Shawnee Wildnerness Area within Shawnee State Forest and West Sister Island) |
| 1989: 183 1990: 187 1991: 196 1992: 197 1993: 200 |
Ohio Dept. of Agriculture, 1991 Annual Report | |
| Urban land use in Ohio | 1900: 1.5% 1985: 8.5% |
Ohio State University Extension Service, 1989. Information Package Bulletin 698. |
| Cropland in Ohio | 1900: 46.2% 1985: 48.1% |
Ohio State University Extension Service, 1989. Information Package Bulletin 698. |
| Pasture in Ohio | 1900: 47.8% 1985: 10.5% |
Ohio State University Extension Service, 1989. Information Package Bulletin 698. |
| Acreage of wetlands in Ohio (percent of total land area) in 1993 | 701,000 (2.6%) | ODNR, 1993. Ohio Wetlands Inventory. |
| Number of properties in Ohio in identified flood flood prone areas | 278,000 | ODNR, 1994. Division of Water |
| Number of townships with rural zoning | 619 | Ohio State University Extension Service, 1989. Information Package Bulletin 698. |
| 1940: 244,000 1950: 208,000 1960: 149,000 1970: 118,000 1980: 95,000 1990: 84,000 1991: 80,000 1992: 78,000 1993: 76,000 |
Ohio Dept. of Agriculture, 1991 Annual Report. | |
| Number of federally-listed endangered and threatened species in Ohio | 20 | ODNR, Division of Widlife |
| Number of state and federal endangered plant and animal species in Ohio | 337 | ODNR, Division of Wildlife |
| Change in wetlands since 1700 | -90% | Ohio EPA, 1992 Ohio Water Resources Inventory |
| Change in woodlands since 1750 | -60% | ODNR, 1994. Forests of Ohio (Note: the percentage of forestland in Ohio reached a low about 1940 but has increased steadily since then) |
| Change in forest since 1979 | +3% | ODNR, 1994. Forests of Ohio |
| Amount of forest land in Ohio | 1940: 3.2 million acres 1991: 7.86 million acres |
ODNR, 1994. Forests of Ohio (Note: the percentage of forestland in Ohio reached a low point about 1940, but has increased steadily since then) |
| Percent of forested land in Ohio, 1991 | 30% | ODNR, 1994. Forests of Ohio |
| Change in total woodland in Ohio farms from 1978 to 1987 | -15% | ODNR, 1994 . Ohio Wildlife Population Status and Hunting Forecast |
| Total outdoor recreation acreage (percent of total acreage) | 1,417,557 (5.4%) | ODNR, 1993 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan |
| State-held lands for recreation | 490,151 acres | ODNR, 1993 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan |
| Federal-held lands for recreation | 316,852 acres | ODNR, 1993 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan |
| State and federal outdoor recreation acres per 1,000 people | 74.87 | ODNR, Division of Real Estate and Land Management (estimated) |
| PA : 823 MI: 809 WV: 779 KY: 269 IN: 154 OH: 131 |
ODNR, 1993 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan | |
| Change in state park usage from 1984-1994 | +43% | ODNR, Division of Parks and Recreation |
| Number of state nature preserves open to the public | 36 | ODNR, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves |
| Miles of bike and hiking trailes in Ohio | 3,736 | ODOT, Ohio Statewide Bicycle Plan, 1995 |
| Number of bald eagles located in mid-winter 1993 survey | 76 | ODNR, 1994 . Ohio Wildlife Population Status and Hunting Forecast (a record number) |
| Number of breeding sites for bald eagles | 1979: 4 1994: 26 |
ODNR, 1994 . Ohio Wildlife Population Status and Hunting Forecast |
| Five year averages:
1952-56: 85798.6 |
ODNR, 1994 . Ohio Wildlife Population Status and Hunting Forecast (Note: waterfowl includes ducks, geese, coot, and swans) | |
| Ohio species of fish that are endangered, threatened, extirpated, extinct, or declining | 40% | Ohio EPA, 1992 Ohio Water Resources Inventory |
| Ohio species of fish that were endangered, threatened, extirpated, extinct or declining prior to 1980 | 30% | Ohio EPA, 1992 Ohio Water Resources Inventory |
| Number of residential, retail, and other building permits granted in Ohio, 1994 | 39,596 | U.S. Bureau of Census, 1990 census |
| Number of new housing rental unit developments built in Ohio, 1994 | 38,394 | U.S. Bureau of Census, 1990 census |
| Number of new oil and gas wells drilled in 1993 (percent change from 1992) | 882 (-6.7%) | ODNR, 1994, Division of Oil and Gas |
| Number of active oil and gas wells | 64,622 | ODNR, 1994, Division of Oil and Gas |
| State average soil erosion for agricultural land types in tons/acre/year | cultivated cropland 1982: 3.9 1987: 3.7 1992: 3.3
uncultivated cropland
pasture |
Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service), Natural Resource Inventory (1982, 1987, 1992) |
| Natural Resource Extraction | coal (million tons/year) 1960: 34 1970: 55 1992: 29 limestone (million tons/year) 1960: 35 1970: 46 1992: 53 sand & gravel (million tons/year) 1960: 33 1970: 41 1992:45 oil (million bbls/year) 1960: 5.4 1970: 9.9 1985: 15 1993:8.0 gas (bcf/year) 1960: 39 1970: 74 1985: 182 1993: 136 |
Statistical Abstract of Ohio 1969; Ohio Almanac 1970; 1992 Statistical Abstract of U.S.; 1993, 1994, 1995 Ohio Geology |