What States Border Ohio

Michigan and Ohio share a border on Ohio's northern edge. Most of this boundary runs through Lake Erie, separating the two states by water. A small land border exists in the northwest corner near Toledo.

The Ohio-Michigan border stretches about 60 miles across the northern part of the state. Lake Erie creates a natural water boundary for most of this distance. Ohio counties along this border include Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Erie, and Ashtabula. The land portion of the border in the northwest was once disputed in the Toledo War of 1835-36, which Michigan ultimately lost.

Pennsylvania borders Ohio on the eastern side. The boundary follows a straight north-south line from Lake Erie down to the Ohio River.

The Ohio-Pennsylvania border runs for about 90 miles. This straight-line border was surveyed in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Ohio counties along this border include Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, and Jefferson. Major cities near this border include Youngstown in Ohio and Erie in Pennsylvania.

West Virginia and Ohio are separated entirely by the Ohio River on Ohio's southeastern edge. The river winds along this boundary, creating one of the most recognizable borders in the eastern United States.

The Ohio-West Virginia border follows the Ohio River for about 260 miles. The entire border is a water boundary with no land connection between the states. Ohio counties along this border include Jefferson, Belmont, Monroe, Washington, Athens, Meigs, and Gallia. The Parkersburg-Marietta area sits along this river border.

Kentucky borders Ohio to the south, with the Ohio River forming the complete boundary. This river border stretches across the entire southern edge of the state.

The Ohio-Kentucky border runs along the Ohio River for about 190 miles from West Virginia in the east to Indiana in the west. Like the West Virginia border, this is entirely a water boundary. Ohio counties along this border include Lawrence, Scioto, Adams, Brown, Clermont, and Hamilton. Cincinnati sits right on this border, directly across from northern Kentucky cities like Covington and Newport.

Indiana forms Ohio's western border along a straight north-south line. This boundary runs from Lake Michigan in the far northwest down to the Ohio River in the south.

The Ohio-Indiana border extends for about 175 miles. The straight-line border was established when Ohio became a state in 1803. Ohio counties along this border include Williams, Defiance, Paulding, Van Wert, Mercer, Darke, Preble, and Butler. The border passes through mostly flat agricultural land.

Lake Erie forms Ohio's northern boundary from Indiana in the west to Pennsylvania in the east. The lake has shaped Ohio's economy and geography for centuries.

Ohio's Lake Erie coastline stretches about 312 miles including islands and bays. Major cities on this shoreline include Toledo, Sandusky, Lorain, and Cleveland. Ohio counties with Erie shoreline include Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Erie, Lorain, and Cuyahoga. The Bass Islands and other Ohio islands in Lake Erie extend the state's water territory. Cleveland sits on the lake's southern shore and was historically a major port city.