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Ohio inventions and firsts · Achievement · 1870

Ohio State University founded

Founded March 22, 1870 as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College; renamed The Ohio State University in 1878.

At a glance

Year
1870
Company
Ohio State University
Place
Columbus, Franklin County ZIP 43210 · Columbus · Franklin County

The story

In 1862 Congress passed the Morrill Act, giving states land to fund colleges for farming and mechanical trades. Ohio used it to found the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, established on March 22, 1870, in Columbus.

The school opened to 24 students on September 17, 1873. Edward Orton Sr. was its first president. In 1878 it was renamed The Ohio State University.

The main campus, about 2.5 miles north of downtown Columbus, covers 1,764 acres. Ohio Stadium opened in 1922 and the Wexner Center for the Arts in 1989.

Today more than 60,000 students attend the Columbus campus, and about 65,405 across all campuses, making it one of the largest universities in the country.

Timeline

  • 1870-03-22: The Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College is established under the Morrill Act. (Columbus, OH) source
  • 1873-09-17: The college opens its doors to 24 students. (Columbus, OH) source
  • 1878: The school is renamed The Ohio State University. (Columbus, OH) source
  • 1922: Ohio Stadium is completed. (Columbus, OH) source
  • 1989: The Wexner Center for the Arts is completed. (Columbus, OH) source

What it changed

  • 24 students at the opening in 1873; over 60,000 at Columbus today.
  • Campus covers 1,764 acres.

Why it matters

Ohio's flagship land-grant university.

Places in Ohio to see

Further reading

Sources

Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.