Ohio

Ohio’s current immigrant population much more diverse, still well below national level

Published

2 years ago

January 13, 2024

Ohio’s current immigrant population much more diverse, still well below national level

The proportion of immigrants in the United States is at its highest level in over a century, but that’s not the case in Ohio.

Around 15% of the national population is comprised of immigrants, compared to around 5% in Ohio, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The proportion of Ohio’s population that is foreign-born today is far lower than in 1870, when around 14% of Ohioans were immigrants, census data shows.

However, Ohio’s immigrant communities today are far more diverse — representing a larger swath of the globe — than at any previous point in history since the federal government began collecting birthplace data in 1850, the data shows.

As immigration once again shapes up to be a major election issue in 2024, Ohio historians told The Dispatch that current political debates around immigration mirror those from the past.

“I worry as a historian because the rhetoric around (immigration) is often so divisive, and it lacks the larger historical awareness of how we’ve had these conversations before — and the country hasn’t fallen apart,” said Kevin Adams, history department chair at Kent State University.

Ohio’s immigration history

Some of Ohio’s early “immigrants” were members of Native American tribes who were displaced into the area from the east by warfare and European diseases, according to Becky Odom, a curator at The Ohio History Connection. These included tribes like the Lenape (Delaware), who were later uprooted again as white settlers moved into Ohio.

Following Ohio’s statehood in 1803, immigrants from Germany, Great Britain and Ireland made up the bulk of foreign-born Ohioans, according to Ben Baughman, another curator for the Ohio History Connection. Germans and Irish people played important roles in the construction of Ohio’s extensive canals, which served as thoroughfares for commerce long before the coming of interstate highways.

By 1860, nearly half of all immigrants living in Ohio were German, with the rest mostly coming from elsewhere in northwestern Europe, according to census data.

But in the late 19th century, immigration to the U.S. underwent a dramatic shift, with more southern and eastern Europeans arriving.

“The new immigration was really important in places like Cleveland, especially as various European ethnic groups showed up … (building) communities rooted around … factories … their own churches, their own parishes — we get increasing numbers of Jews and Eastern Orthodox Christians,” said Adams.

By 1910, nearly 15% of Americans and almost 13% of Ohioans were foreign-born, a figure that does not include children of immigrants born locally.

But the U.S. began to restrict immigration in the 1910s, culminating in country-specific quotas that were set in 1924, according to Adams. The quotas, which were influenced by eugenics and “scientific racism,” severely restricted immigration from much of the world besides northwestern Europe and — unintentionally — overland immigration from Latin America, he said.

The quota system was finally dismantled by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which allowed a much broader range of people to immigrate.

Since 1970, the U.S. has experienced a dramatic rebound in immigration, but the rebound has been slower and smaller in Ohio, according to census data. The proportion of immigrants in the state grew from 2.4% in 1990 to 4.9% in 2022, according to the census’ American Community Survey.

Nationally, around half of foreign-born U.S. residents today come from Latin America, followed by Asia (around 31%), Europe (approximately 11%) and Africa (around 5%).

Most of Ohio’s foreign-born residents come from Asia, with India the top country of origin. African and Latin American immigrants together make up over one-third of Ohio’s immigrants.

Persecution, opportunity and anti-immigrant sentiment

The factors that draw immigrants to Ohio — such as economic opportunity, freedom from persecution and war abroad — have remained fairly constant over the centuries, according to Odom, the Ohio History Connection curator.

“For us as students of history, history is very cyclical. … There are always going to be people in the world who see this state and this country as a place of opportunity,” she said.

Baughman, her colleague, said that anti-immigration sentiment is as old as immigration itself.

Baughman pointed to examples of anti-German riots led by the “Know-Nothing Party” in Cincinnati in 1855, followed by rising anti-Irish and anti-Chinese sentiment in the late 1800s.

Amidst the Great Migration following World War I, Black migrants from the American South to northern states like Ohio encountered opposition similar to immigrants from abroad, said Odom.

Adams said that labor groups were historically more critical of immigration than they are today, because they sometimes saw immigrants as competitors with American workers.

“In the early 1970s … folks on the left — union folks and African American civil rights groups — were interested in discussing immigration restriction, whereas those on the right, who were interested in capitalist market development and anti-union politics, were in favor of immigration,” he said.

Brian Hayashi, who is a professor of American history at Kent State, said he sees common intellectual roots between current opposition to immigration and the anti-immigrant fervor of the early 20th century.

“There is a desire to understand the United States as a nation of northern and western European people and values … But the problem is the United States isn’t that country anymore, and arguably, it hasn’t been since about 1880,” Hayashi said.

Peter Gill covers immigration, New American communities and religion for the Dispatch in partnership with Report for America. You can support work like his with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America at:bit.ly/3fNsGaZ.

pgill@dispatch.com

@pitaarji

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Ohio

Ohio tied for No. 4 in 2025 anti-LGBTQ incidents, GLAAD report shows

Published

6 hours ago

February 11, 2026

Press Room

Ohio tied for No. 4 in 2025 anti-LGBTQ incidents, GLAAD report shows

Megan Henry
| Ohio Capital Journal

Ohio and Washington tied fourth in the nation for having the most anti-LGBTQ+ incidents last year with 50, according to a new report from GLAAD, a LGBTQ+ advocacy organization.

Cincinnati had seven incidents, and Columbus and Dayton both had five.

GLAAD’s Anti-LGBTQ Extremism Reporting Tracker (ALERT) documented 1,042 anti-LGBTQ incidents in 2025 nationwide from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31. About half of the incidents targeted transgender and gender non-conforming people and about a quarter of the incidents happened in June.

“We must join together in a united call against the violence and harassment that too many LGBTQ Americans face,” GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. “Instead of growing divides that lead to this violence, politicians should recognize that all Americans deserve freedom, fairness, and safety.”

ALERT tracked these incidents through self-reports, media, social media posts and data sharing from partner organizations and law enforcement.

California had the most incidents with 198, followed by New Hampshire with 72, and Texas with 66.

Breaking down Ohio’s incidents

Several incidents in Ohio involved the Dayton Street Preachers hosting anti-LGBTQ+ protests at universities, events, street corners, concerts, Pride events, or outside the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

Many incidents involved White Lives Matter and Continental Resistance placing anti-LGBTQ+ stickers in cities last summer.

In September, a man threatened on social media to kill a transgender councilwoman in St. Marys in western Ohio. The FBI investigated the threat and arrested the man.

In another incident, a man set fire to LGBTQ flags hanging in front of Cincinnati homes in July.

In April, a man checked out 100 books on LGBTQ+, Jewish, and Black history from a library in Beachwood and set them all on fire.

Ohio had 19 incidents involving propaganda distribution, 11 involved a protest, five were vandalism or property damage, three were arsons, two were a bomb or shooting threat, and two were verbal or written threat.

Ohio anti-LGBTQ bills

The ACLU is currently tracking 366 anti-LGBTQ bills in the United States. Republican lawmakers in Ohio have introduced bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

Ohio House Bill 190 would prohibit school employees from calling a student a name that is not listed on their birth certificate and ban them from using pronouns that do not align with their biological sex.

Ohio Republican state Reps. Johnathan Newman and Josh Williams introduced the bill, which has only had one committee hearing.

Ohio House Bill 172 would not allow minors 14 and older to receive mental health services without parental consent. Currently, mental health professionals are permitted to provide outpatient mental health services to minors 14 and older on a temporary basis without parental consent.

Newman introduced this bill, which has has had three committee hearings so far – meaning it could be up for a committee vote soon.

Ohio House Bill 249 would ban drag performers from performing anywhere that isn’t considered a designated adult entertainment facility. Ohio states Reps. Angie King, R-Celina, and Williams introduced this bill, which has had two hearings so far.

Ohio Equal Rights has started collecting signatures to get two amendments on the November ballot – including one that would get rid of the ban on same-sex marriage in the Ohio Constitution.

Ohio’s constitution includes a ban on same-sex marriage after 61.7% of Ohio voters approved an amendment in 2004 that says marriage is only between one man and one woman. The United States Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in 2015 through the Obergefell case originating out of Ohio.

Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on X.

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Ohio

Senate Bill 294 could impact Ohio’s energy rates, will overhaul energy siting policy

Published

19 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Press Room

Senate Bill 294 could impact Ohio’s energy rates, will overhaul energy siting policy

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Ohio lawmakers are considering legislation that would formally define the state’s energy siting policy, prioritizing affordable, reliable, and clean energy sources while reducing reliance on foreign competitors.

Senate Bill 294, sponsored by Senators George Lang and Mark Romanchuk would enact a new section of Ohio law governing how energy projects are evaluated by the Ohio Power Siting Board.

The bill declares that, in all cases involving applications for utility facility certificates, the state must emphasize energy security through cost stability, grid reliability, domestic production, and infrastructure independence.

Under the legislation, Ohio would be required to favor energy sources that meet newly defined standards for affordability, reliability, and cleanliness. An “affordable energy source” is defined as one with stable and predictable costs that provides cost-effective heating, cooling, and electricity generation, while delivering savings comparable to certain federally recognized energy sources over the past five years. Advanced nuclear energy technologies are explicitly excluded from the bill’s definition of affordability.

“The ultimate mission is to lower energy costs in the State of Ohio,” Senator Lang told ABC 6 Tuesday. “Energy is so critical to our economy. Right now, if you look at what advanced manufacturing needs, we need to dominate in the advanced manufacturing market if we’re going to succeed.”

SB 294 outlines what qualifies as a “reliable energy source,” requiring energy resources to be available at all times with minimal interruptions. For power generation, qualifying sources must maintain a minimum capacity factor of 50%, be fully dispatchable, and have the ability to ramp production up or down within an hour to stabilize the electric grid. The bill further states that reliable sources must be able to complement renewable energy during periods of low availability.

SB 294 defines “clean energy sources” as those that meet federal air quality standards under the Clean Air Act, including nuclear energy and natural gas. The bill references federal law in determining which energy sources qualify and allows hydrocarbons to be considered clean if they comply with national ambient air quality standards. Opponents took to the podium during Tuesday’s Ohio Senate Energy Committee hearing.

“The bill undermines our ability to meet rising demand, adapt to generation retirement and build a resilient grid,” explained Evangeline Hobbs with American Clean Power.

Hobbs testified against SB 294, stating Ohio is in need of policies that expand energy options, not restrict them. “Excluding renewables from the definition of reliable energy, as SB 294 does, undermines the states ability to meet future demand and weakens grid resilience,” she said. “At precisely the moment where Ohio needs every available energy source, this bill would tie the state’s hands.”

Hobbs added if no ‘new clean power’ is added in the state, rates could increase by 140% by 2032.

Critics add SB 294 could raise rates for consumers and harm the environment by defining natural gas as a clean energy source.

“The legislature should not be deciding this. Let the market decide. If power grids are uneconomical, they will not be built,” said Janine Migden-Ostrander, Institute for Energy Democracy Fellow at Pace University.

A key component of the legislation is its emphasis on domestic production. Except for energy generated by nuclear reactions, the bill directs the state to prioritize fuel sources primarily produced within the United States. The proposal also seeks to limit dependence on foreign adversary nations for critical materials and manufacturing by prioritizing secure energy infrastructure.

If passed, SB 294 would not mandate specific energy projects but would guide how the Ohio Power Siting Board evaluates applications for power plants, transmission lines, and other major energy facilities. Supporters say the policy framework is intended to strengthen Ohio’s energy independence while ensuring stable prices and grid reliability for residents and businesses.

During the Ohio Senate Energy Committee hearing Tuesday morning, Chair Brian Chavez denied ABC 6’s request to record the discussions surrounding SB 294.

SB 294 is moving through the Ohio Senate with no set timeline of when this bill could be voted on.

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Ohio

John Carroll University to host Ohio Peace & Conflict Conference Feb. 13; public invited

Published

1 day ago

February 10, 2026

Press Room

John Carroll University to host Ohio Peace & Conflict Conference Feb. 13; public invited

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — John Carroll University will host on Friday (Feb. 13) the 2026 annual Ohio Peace & Conflict Studies Network (OPCSN) Conference, which will bring together faculty, students, and nonprofit organizations from across the state to explore how civic engagement can serve as a powerful form of peacebuilding to create and strengthen democratic practices.

The conference, titled “Strengthening Democracy through Civic Engagement & Peacebuilding,” will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday at John Carroll University, 1 John Carooll Blvd. in University Heights.

The public is invited to participate by registering, through Feb. 11, here. Faculty, staff, administrators, and students from 16 colleges and universities across Ohio have already registered to attend.

Presentations will be centered on the work of Ohio colleges and universities, as well as community organizations engaged in related efforts statewide.

Registration for the conference includes a light breakfast and lunch, with fees set at $35 for members of the general public; $25 for Ohio college and university faculty, staff, and administrators; and $10 for Ohio college students.

John Carroll will be the first Jesuit university to host the OPCSN conference. Over the years, JCU has supported collaboration and growth in the field of peace and conflict studies through hosting an international college and university seminar, developing courses and programs, and training faculty, staff and students in conflict management and sustained dialogue.

The event will be hosted by JCU’s Tuohy Center for Interreligious Understanding, Peace, Justice & Human Rights program; Center for Service Learning & Social Action, and Office of Student Experience & Campus Belonging.

The conference is co-sponsored by Wilmington College’s Peace Resource Center and Community Campus Coalition, with partners that include The Ohio State University’s Divided Community Project and the University of Akron’s Center for Conflict Management.

The annual OPCSN conference convenes Ohio colleges and universities committed to peace studies, justice, and conflict transformation.

This year’s theme focuses on how civic engagement — through local governance, community organizing, dialogue across differences, and media literacy — can strengthen democratic institutions and foster more just and inclusive communities.

Ohio currently has more than 19 colleges and universities with peace and conflict studies programs, making the state one of the foremost regional hubs for peace education in the country.

“Ohio has a long history of innovative statewide work in the field of alternative dispute resolution, conflict management, and peace studies,” said Jennifer Batton, who is Conflict Management Training Instructor at the University of Akron’s Center for Conflict Management and Coordinator for OPCSN, in a release.

“As early as 1989 the Supreme Court of Ohio Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) was created by the Chief Justice to explore how ADR methods could be used across the state and the non-partisan Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management was created to incorporate these methods and programs into education, court and community, and state and local government.

“The OPCSN was built on this foundation, from work supported state-wide in higher education, in order to help students develop the knowledge, skills and abilities to solve their local and global communities’ most pressing problems.”

This year’s OPCSN conference will feature:

An opening panel with representatives from John Carroll University, The Ohio State University, and Kent State University’s Growing Democracy Project
Student poster sessions highlighting civic and peacebuilding initiatives across Ohio
Two rounds of interactive workshops and panels focused on community engagement, dialogue, and democratic participation
A networking luncheon for OPCSN member institutions

For more information, visit ohiopeaceandconflict.org.

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