Ohio is the birthplace of presidents, actors, athletes and historical figures. But who is the most famous person from your county?
The Dispatch set out to find the answer to that question. Some of those answers might spur debate.
Here’s a list of the most famous person who was born and/or raised in each of Ohio’s counties.
Roush is the founder and current CEO of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, also known as RFK Racing, a NASCAR racing team that boasts eight championships in NASCAR’s top three divisions, according to its website. He was raised in Manchester, Ohio.
Downs was a famous talk-show host, game show host, and general TV mainstay during the 20th century, hosting shows like Today and 20/20. He grew up in Lima, Ohio.
Cline is the author of Ready Player One, a New York Times bestseller that was turned into a blockbuster hit movie by Steven Spielberg in 2018. Cline co-wrote the movie’s screenplay. He was born in Ashland in 1972.
Meyer is a college and NFL football coach, most well-known for his six-year stint as Ohio State University’s head football coach. He was raised in Ashtabula.
Burrow is the current NFL quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals. He previously played quarterback for OSU and Louisiana State University. He attended high school in Athens, Ohio.
Armstrong was an American astronaut and the first person to walk on the moon. He was born in Wapakoneta in 1930.
Galloway is a current ESPN analyst and former wide receiver in the NFL. He also played for OSU in college before going on to play for a number of NFL teams. He was born in Bellaire in 1971.
Grant is a former NBA power forward and center who played for five different teams before his retirement in 2006. He grew up in Georgetown, Ohio.
Troutman was an American musician who founded the band Zapp, a group that pioneered the funk genre of music. He was born in Hamilton, Ohio in 1951.
Costello was an NFL linebacker who played for the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants. He went on to coach multiple NFL teams with famous NFL coach Paul Brown. He was born in Delroy in 1932.
Brown is an American actor well-known for voicing Mr. Krabs in Spongebob Squarepants. He has also made appearances in Starship Troopers, John Wick Chapter 4 and The Shawshank Redemption. He was born in Urbana in 1959.
Legend is a Grammy award-winning musician, actor and producer well-known for his single “All Of Me” and his multiple R&B albums. He was born in Springfield, Ohio in 1978.
Grant was the 18th president of the United States and the commanding general of the Union Army during the Civil War. He was born in Point Pleasant, Ohio in 1822.
Hodge is a stand-up comedian and actor who appeared in the sitcoms Nurses and Unhappily Ever After. She was born in Wilmington, Ohio in 1956.
Firestone was the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. He was born in Columbiana in 1868.
Williams was a singer and musician most famously known for her four-octave vocal range. She was born in Coshocton, Ohio in 1957.
Harbaugh is the current assistant head coach of the Michigan Wolverines and the father of John and Jim Harbaugh. He was born in Crestline, Ohio in 1939.
Berry is an actress and model known for her role as Storm in the X-Men movies and as Catwoman in Catwoman. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1966.
Oakley was a famous wild west gunslinger who achieved notoriety in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. She was born in a log cabin in Darke County in 1860.
Hitchcock is an actor, writer and producer who appeared on Glee. He was born in Defiance, Ohio in 1958.
Hayes was an Ohio politician and the 19th president of the United States. He was born in Delaware, Ohio in 1822.
LaForce is a model and reporter, currently covering NBA on TNT. She was born in Vermillion, Ohio in 1988.
Sherman was a Civil War general known for his “march to the sea” where he and his troops employed scorched-earth tactics on their march from Atlanta to Savannah in Georgia. He was born in Lancaster, Ohio in 1820.
Schlichter is a former quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts and the Ohio State Buckeyes (with a notorious gambling problem). He was born in Bloomingburg, Ohio.
Nicklaus is a retired professional golfer considered by many to be one of the greatest golfers of all time. He was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1940.
Mourdock is the former treasurer of state of Indiana and a one-time U.S. Senate hopeful. He was born in Wauseon, Ohio in 1951.
Evans was a restauranter who turned his small diner in Gallipolis into a national restaurant chain that bears his name. He grew up in Gallipolis, Ohio.
Weiland was a musician and the lead singer of rock band Stone Temple Pilots. He was raised in Bainbridge Township, Ohio.
Hayes was a college football coach most well-known for his time as Ohio State University’s head coach from 1951-1978. He was born in Clifton, Ohio in 1913.
Glenn was an astronaut, pilot and the first American to orbit the Earth. He was also the third American in space. He was born in Cambridge, Ohio in 1921.
Spielberg is a movie director, producer and screenwriter who first achieved fame with 1975’s Jaws. He has directed a slew of classic American movies like Jurassic Park, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Raiders of the Lost Ark. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1946.
Roethlisberger is a NFL quarterback who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 18 seasons before retiring after the 2021 season. He went to Findlay High School in Hancock County.
Pees is a retired NFL coach who served as the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. He was born in Dunkirk, Ohio in 1949.
Custer was an army officer and cavalry commander who fought in the Civil War and the American Indian Wars. He is remembered for the famous “Custer’s Last Stand” where he and all of his men were killed by Native American forces. He was born in New Rumley, Ohio in 1839.
Brown was a comedian and actor who starred in a number of Golden Age movies like A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Some Like It Hot. He was born in Holgate, Ohio in 1892.
PayCheck was a country music singer who found fame in the 70s outlaw county movement in the genre. He was born in Greenfield, Ohio in 1938.
Smith is a retired professional basketball player and the current assistant head coach for the Minnesota Lynx in the WBNA. She was born in Logan, Ohio in 1974.
Weiss was a minor league baseball pitcher and physician who played in the early 20th century, a time when women in sports were rare. She was born in Berlin Township, Ohio in 1890.
Brown was a football coach and the co-founder of the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. He was born in Norwalk, Ohio in 1908.
Rhodes was a politician who served as the 61st and 63rd governor of Ohio. In 1970, he sent the National Guard to quell anti-Vietnam War protestors at Kent State University which resulted in troops opening fire on students, killing four of them. He was born in Coalton, Ohio in 1909.
Martin was a musician, comedian and actor known for his crooning voice, movie stardom from 1950-1970 and his membership in the Rat Pack. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio in 1917.
Lynde was a comedian and actor known for his style and his roles in Bewitched and Bye Bye Birdie as well as his frequent appearances on Hollywood Squares. He was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio in 1926.
Shula was an NFL player and the winningest NFL coach of all time with 347 wins as head coach of the then-Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins. He was born in Grand River, Ohio in 1930.
Bare is a Grammy award-winning country music singer and songwriter who consistently appeared on country music charts throughout the mid to late 20th century. He was born in Ironton, Ohio in 1935.
Newton is a singer and actor who has performed in Las Vegas since 1963. He was raised in Newark.
Peale was a clergyman and author most well-known for his book, The Power of Positive Thinking. He attended Bellefontaine High School.
Morrison was a novelist and editor whose most famous work was her novel Beloved about an escaped slave haunted by the ghost of her dead daughter. She is also a Nobel Prize and Medal of Freedom recipient. She was born in Lorain, Ohio in 1931.
Steinem is a journalist and activist who co-founded Ms. magazine and was a major figure in second-wave feminism during the 60s and 70s. She was born in Toledo in 1934.
LeBeau is a former NFL player and coach who served in a number of coaching roles with the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans. He was born in London in 1937.
Warner was one of the founding members of Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., which is now Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. He was raised in Youngstown, Ohio.
Thomas was a politician, author and minister who gained notoriety when he ran for the U.S. presidency six times under the Socialist Party of America’s ticket in the early 20th century. He was born in Marion in 1884.
Dunn was an actor, comedian and stuntman who starred in the Jackass TV show and film series. He was born in Medina in 1977.
Bierce was a journalist and Civil War veteran most well-known for his book The Devil’s Dictionary and his short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” He was born in Meigs county in 1842.
Derringer is a musician and producer who co-founded and sang for The McCoys, a rock band whose hit “Hang On Sloopy” topped the charts in October 1965. “Hang on Sloopy” is the official rock song of the state of Ohio and the unofficial fight song of the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was born in Celina in 1947.
Carter is a former NFL football player and a current analyst for NFL Network’s Good Morning Football. He was born in Troy in 1965.
Kirby was an HIV and AIDS activist who was photographed in the final moments of his life by Therese Frare. The photo of Kirby was published in Life magazine and attracted international attention. He was born and raised in Stafford, Ohio.
Wright was one half of the Wright Brothers, bicycle mechanics who designed, built and flew the world’s first airplane in the early 20th century. He was born in Dayton in 1871.
Winston and Weston Doty were twin child actors who starred in multiple movies during the silent film era. They were born in Malta in 1914.
Harding was the 29th president of the United States from 1921-1923 and the sixth president to die in office. He was born in Blooming Grove in 1865.
Basehart was an actor who starred in a number of TV shows like Knight Rider and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea along with appearances in films like Moby Dick. He was born in Zanesville in 1914.
Tuttle was a Civil War general and politician who captured Fort Donelson in Tennessee in 1862. He was born in Summerfield, Ohio in 1823.
Bowersox is a singer and songwriter who was the runner-up on American Idol‘s ninth season. She was born in Elliston, Ohio in 1985.
Kohler was a diplomat who served as the American ambassador to the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. He was born in Oakwood in 1908.
Sheridan was a Civil War officer and later general credited with forcing Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House through a successful cavalry pursuit. He was raised in Somerset, Ohio.
Holmes was a prolific adult film star whose life and exploits inspired the 1997 movie Boogie Nights. He was born in Ashville in 1944.
Jackson was a radio and television quiz show personality who hosted Twenty Questions and Tic-Tac-Dough in the 1950s. He was born in Stockdale in 1918.
Lane was a singer and the frontman of hair-metal band Warrant. The band is most well-known for their 90s hit Cherry Pie. He was raised in Brimfield, Ohio.
Anderson was a writer who published a number of novels and short stories in the 20th century but is most well-known for his short story collection Winesburg, Ohio. He was born in Camden in 1876.
Jagger is an Academy Award winning actor most well-known for his role as Henry King in Twelve O’Clock High. He was born in Columbus Grove in 1903.
Brown is a politician who has served as a U.S. Senator for Ohio since 2007. He was born in Mansfield in 1952.
Beatty was an animal trainer and circus performer who trained and “fought” a slew of animals like lions, tigers and polar bears. He was born in Bainbridge in 1903.
Coleman is a retired mixed martial arts fighter and wrestler who became the UFC’s first heavyweight champion in 1997. He was born in Fremont in 1964.
Rogers was an actor, singer and the namesake of the Roy Rogers fast food chain. He starred in a large number of western television shows and films during the 1950s. He was raised in Portsmouth.
Gruden is a NFL coach and former quarterback who served as the Washington Commanders’ head coach from 2014-2019. He has since moved on to offensive coaching positions at the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Rams. He was born in Tiffin in 1967.
Miller was an actor and TV host who starred in a number of sitcoms like December Bride along with appearances in film. He was born in Sidney in 1924.
Warner, known by his stage name Marilyn Manson, is a rock artist and singer known for his controversial lyrics and dark stage persona. He was born in Canton in 1969.
James is an NBA player for the Los Angeles Lakers and considered by many to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He’s won four NBA championship games and appeared in them 10 times. He was born in Akron in 1984.
McKinley was a politician and the 25th president of the United States. He was the third president to be assassinated while in office. He was born in Niles in 1843.
Lahmers is a reporter and former news anchor for Extra. She was born in Tuscarawas County in 1984.
Blackburn is a former NFL linebacker and current special teams coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. He attended Marysville High School.
Clifton is a sports reporter known for her roles as a Cleveland Cavaliers sideline reporter and as a pregame host for Los Angeles Lakers games on Spectrum SportsNet. She was born in Van Wert, Ohio in 1988.
Nixon was the father of U.S. president Richard Nixon. He was born in Elk Township in 1878.
Daugherty is an actor most well-known for his role as Noel Kahn on Pretty Little Liars. He was born in Mason, Ohio in 1985.
Adkins was a chemist who received a Medal of Merit for his work on chemical agents during World War 2. He was born in Newport in 1892.
Knight was a college basketball coach most well-known for his time as the head coach of the Indiana University Hoosiers from 1971 to 2000. He was raised in Orrville, Ohio.
Roerig is an actor known for his portrayal of Matt Donovan on The CW’s The Vampire Diaries. He was born in Montpelier in 1985.
Hamilton is a retired figure skater who took home a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. He was raised in Bowling Green.
Carl Karcher was the founder of the fast-food chain Carl’s Jr. He was born in Upper Sandusky in 1917.
More:Here are some of Ohio State’s most famous alumni, from authors to athletes to actors
