Regions
The state has several popular land regions, including the Ohio Huron-Erie Plains, Till Plains, Glaciated Allegheny Plateaus, Appalachian Plateaus, and Bluegrass Section.
Agriculture in Ohio
Agriculture continues to be Ohio’s top industry for revenue generated in the Buckeye State. The agriculture industry is in the state is around $8.7 billion-dollar. There are approximately 80,000 farms in the state, covering 14.9 million acres of Ohio. The average size farm comprises 206 acres.
Ohio’s most valuable crops are soybeans, corn, and dairy products. The state also grows substantial quantities of wheat, oats, and hay. Most of the cropland is in the western area of the state.
Wildlife
Ohio wildlife is abundant within the state on both land and water. The state features distinct habitats, including forests, prairies, wetlands, and The Great Lakes.
Its primary wildlife includes whitetail deer, turkey, dove, and ducks. The state also has fox, mink, muskrat, beaver, and river otters.
In abundance, there are rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill sunfish among Ohio’s lakes, rivers, and streams. With over 400 lakes with public access, 60,000 stream miles, and 200,000 freshwater acres, the state makes for ample fishing and recreational opportunities year-round.
Main Rivers
The main rivers in the state are the Ohio River, Wabash River, Scioto River, Great Miami River, and Maumee River.
Major Lakes
Lake Erie, the largest lake in Ohio, is located on the northern border of Ohio. The surface area of this lake is approximately 6.3 million acres (9,940 square miles).
Other large lakes include Pymatuning Lake and Grand Lake St. Mary’s, which exceed 30,588 surface area acres.
State Parks
Ohio has 75 state parks and eight national parks.
National Parks
- Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
- First Ladies National Historic Site
- Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
- James A. Garfield National Historic Site
- Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial
- William Howard Taft National Historic Site
| State Summary | |
| Nickname | Buckeye State |
| Neighboring States | Ontario Canada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana |
| Regions | Huron-Erie Plains, Till Plains, Glaciated Allegheny Plateaus, Allegheny Plateaus, Bluegrass section |
| State Flower | Carnation |
| State Bird | cardinal |
| Big Game | white-tailed deer and turkey |
| Small Game | squirrel, grouse, rabbit, quail ducks, geese, and mourning dove |
| Freshwater Fish | smallmouth bass, yellow perch, rainbow fish, blue gill |
| Hunting Information | https://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/hunting-fishing-boating/hunting-resources |
| Total acreage | 28.6 million |
| Total public land acreage | 298,500 acres |
| Average annual rainfall | 37.57 inches |
| Farmland by acreage | 14.9 million |
| Woodlands by acreage | 7.6 million |
| Coastline | 312 miles (Lake Erie coastline) |
| Conservation program | https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/woodland-management/landowner-assistance-NRCS-programs |
| Primary Crops | Soybeans and corn |
| Main Rivers | Ohio River, Wabash River, Scioto River, Great Miami River, Maumee River |
| Largest Lake | Lake Erie |
| Other Lakes | Pymatuning Lake, Grand Lake St. Mary’s, Mosquito Creek Lake, Indian Lake |
| Major Rivers | Ohio River, Wabash River, Scioto River, Great Miami River, Maumee River |
| Other Tributaries | Tennessee, Cumberland, Kanawha, Muskingum, Miami, Wabash |
Our Rural Real Estate Offices
Mossy Oak Properties Ohio began with the goal of becoming a trusted resource for folks looking to buy or sell rural land for sale in Ohio. Our land brokers and agents understand what people are looking for in rural property because we share the same lifestyle and love for the land as you do. We understand the importance of honor and integrity and that buying or selling land is an emotional and life-changing experience for consumers.
Only Mossy Oak Properties Ohio can provide the powerful combination of brand strength, local expertise, quality service, and national exposure. Whether you want to buy or sell rural real estate, a Mossy Oak Properties land specialist is a must-have on your team.
Find an Ohio land real estate agent and let us help you buy land for sale in Ohio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Ohio land appealing to buyers from neighboring states?
Ohio is widely known as one of the best whitetail deer states in the country. The mix of rich farm dirt and heavily wooded hills in the southeast creates the perfect environment to grow massive deer.
Ohio farm dirt in the northwest grows incredible crops and usually costs less than similar land in Illinois or Iowa. The state does not force out of state hunters to enter a lottery for deer tags which makes buying hunting land here extremely easy.
Southeast Ohio hill country offers cheap recreational land that costs much less than other famous Midwest hunting states. Ohio also sits right in the middle of the region making it a very easy drive for buyers coming from Pennsylvania Indiana Michigan Kentucky and West Virginia.
What are typical land prices in Ohio by region and type?
According to the 2025 Western Ohio Cropland Values and Cash Rents Survey by the Ohio State University Extension farm dirt prices have climbed steadily. Average farm dirt in western Ohio sits around $11,856 per acre while top producing crop dirt in places like Hancock Wood and Paulding counties reaches up to $15,000 per acre.
Southeast Ohio hill country recreational dirt in Coshocton Muskingum and Noble counties runs $2,500 to $5,000 per acre for great timber and hunting spots. Properties sitting right on the Ohio River in Scioto Lawrence and Gallia counties always command higher prices.
Northeast Ohio farm dirt near big cities runs $5,000 to $9,000 per acre. Overall Ohio dirt gives buyers the exact same farming quality as Illinois but at a nice discount.
What property taxes should Ohio rural landowners expect?
Ohio has a fantastic tax break program for farmers called the Current Agricultural Use Value. According to the 2026 Ohio Department of Taxation guidelines this program allows working farm dirt to be taxed based on what crops it can grow rather than its full selling price. This gives farmers a massive break on their yearly tax bill.
The state updates these values every year using crop and soil data from the Ohio State University Extension. If you ever stop farming the land or sell it to a housing developer you will get hit with a penalty charge that forces you to pay back the tax savings from the previous three years.
Because of this program the overall property tax burden for rural Ohio farm dirt is very fair and generally cheaper than Illinois.
