Native Americans in Ohio

Before Ohio became a state in 1803, there were four major Ohio Indian tribal divisions that made their homes along four major river areas:

1. the Delawares in the Muskingum Valley,
2. the Shawnees on the Scioto River,
3. the Ottawas, Hurons or Wyandots in the Maumee Valley, then called the Miami of the Lakes, and
4. the Miamis in the Miami Valley area.

According to the 1990 census, the Native American population of Ohio was 20,400. The 2000 Census shows an increase of the Native American population in Ohio from 20,400 to 24,486.

Ohio's Native People in the 1600-1700s

Reading Resources

• Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
• Fools Crow by James Welch
• From the Glittering World by Irvin Morris
• House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday
• Remnants of the First Earth by Ray Young Bear
• Track by Louise Erdrich
• Skins by Adrian C. Louis
• Spider Woman's Granddaughters, ed. Paula Gunn Allen
• Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier

Internet Resources

• National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)
• The Smithsonian Institution
• Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
• American Indian Library Association
• Miami Valley Council for Native Americans
• US Dept. of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Native News Network

Did You Know?

• Paleo-Indians are believed to have lived in Ohio from 13,000 to 7,000 BC?
• Archaic people lived in Ohio from 8,000 to 500 BC?
• The Adena people lived in Ohio from around 800 BC to 100 AD?
• The Hopewell culture thrived from around 100 BC to 400 AD?
• The Woodland cultures started to appear between 800 BC and 1200 AD?
• The Whittlesey and Sandusky people appear from 1000 AD to 1650 AD?
• Native Americans in Ohio after 1650 AD are known as Historic Native people?

Source: One State-Many Nations: Native Americans of Ohio

The Asian/Hispanic/Native American Center

The AHNA Center in 154 Millett holds a variety of articles, magazines, books and videos specific to Asian, Hispanic, and Native American culture and interests. Please contact any of the Center staff for information or assistance. Contact the AHNA Center »