What States Does The Ohio River Run Through? - What States (2024)

ByMeg WSNovember 19, 2021December 19, 2022

The Ohio River runs through six states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

But there is so much more to learn about the Ohio River, one of the most famous things about Ohio.

Did you know that the state of Ohio doesn’t actually own the Ohio River? Or that the Ohio River is the main drinking water source for more than five million people? While it’s by no means the longest or largest in the U.S., the Ohio is a major river artery of the east-central United States.

In this article we’ll explore not only the answer to the question, what states does the Ohio River run through?, but will also take a look at some fascinating geographical aspects and facts that make this river special.

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What States Does the Ohio River Run Through?

The Ohio River runs through or along the border of six states:

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• West Virginia

The river starts where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet, and that point is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Where Does the Ohio River Start and End?

The Ohio River begins in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and stretches for 981 miles until it ends at Cairo, Illinois. This is where the Ohio River drains into the Mississippi.

One of the most interesting things to know about the Ohio River is that it’s the largest tributary of the Mississippi River in the United States. Of course, this ranking is based on volume.

Which State Has the Legal Ownership of the Ohio River?

Out of the six states that the river runs through, Kentucky has ownership of the Ohio River.

It goes without saying that the other states have claimed ownership of different stretches of the river since the late 1700s.

Of course, that was all because the Ohio River was a major trade route. Yet, in 1792, the government decided that it was Kentucky that owned the Ohio River along the state’s border with Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana.

The reason behind this decision is that this boundary was the low point of the river’s northernmost bank.

About two centuries later, the State of Ohio sought to gain the claim to the Ohio River a second time. In 1966, the state made a point that the course of the river had fluctuated since 1792, making the aforementioned low point near the south bank of the river today.

However, the United States Supreme Court didn’t change the legal ownership of the Ohio River, so it still belongs to Kentucky until this day.

❓ Trivia Time: Do you know which states the other major US rivers flow through?

• Which states does the Mississippi River flow through?
• Which states does the Colorado River flow through?
• Which states does the Mississippi River flow through?

Quick Facts About the Ohio River

• The Ohio River is around 24-25 feet deep on average [Source]
• The widest point along the Ohio River is around 1 mile near Smithland, Kentucky
• 160 species of fish live in the Ohio River and its smaller branches
• Roughly 8% of the U.S. population resides in the Ohio River Basin
• The first lock and dam to be built on the Ohio River was constructed in 1885
• The Ohio River was naturally shallow, its original depth from 3 to 20 feet
• The Ohio River is home to 38 power generating facilities
• Each year, the river transports more than 184 million tons of cargo
• The Ohio River faces a critical pollution issue caused by abandoned mines, agricultural impact, and urban runoff
• The Ohio River contributes more water to the Mississippi than any other tributary does
• The river drains an area of about 203,900 square miles

FAQs About the Ohio River

❓ Trivia Time: What States Does The Missouri River Run Through?