User:JackofSpades

Proposed Ohio Article

Before the War
When people use to talk about quintessential Americana, they talked about the Midwest. Before the war, Ohio was the seventeenth state admitted into the Union having been admitted in 1803 and the seventh most populated. Although the state’s economic stability had been hit hard by the swiftly growing rust belt, by outsiders it was still viewed as one of the most ‘average’ states. In national elections it held the distinction of being a swing state and was key to Benjamin Harrison’s victory in 1888.

Doomsday
Ohio was heavily hit on Doomsday. Most of the state’s major population centers, Columbus, Dayton, Cleveland, the Youngstown-Warren area, Cincinnati, Springfield, Miamisburg, Lima and Akron were incinerated during the nuclear exchange. Military bases, such as Lockbourne AFB and Wright-Patterson AFB were also destroyed. Canton, Ohio had been spared due to a malfunction by an ICBM.

Current Situation
For years after the initial destruction, Ohio was thrust into chaos. Between the nuking, Canadians fleeing south over Lake Erie, and the millions of displaced suburban families most thought that the state would be nearly impossible to salvage. As a result, most communications with the state were cut off and civilians were left to assume that the Buckeye State was devoid of life. However, scouts from Kentucky, Superior and Virginia determined otherwise. Ohio’s status can be divided into three sections.

Northwestern Ohio
See the Toledo Confederation

The northwestern sector of the state can safely be considered to be the most stable. Following Doomsday, a multitude of sucessor states were created in the area. Since then, these have either crumbled or been absorbed by a larger power. Currently, the only stable and recognized nation in the area is the Toledo Confederation. Stretching from Southern Michigan and the Indiana border to Port Clinton is a loose federation of survivor groups that have banded together in an attempt to reintroduce stability into the region and revive the 'American Dream'. Most of their efforts focus on restoring infrastrure damaged by the atomic blasts. The former nations that make up Toledo are as follows:
 * The Bishopric of Toledo (actually only controlled the former counties of Putnam and Van Wert)
 * The Union of Bowling Green
 * Port Clinton
 * The Republic of Findlay
 * Montpelier
 * ____________________________

Northeastern Ohio
Northeastern Ohio was one of the most heavily damaged sections of the state during Doomsday, and its position has not improved since then. Facing destroyed infrastructure and near constant raids, nearly all attempts to establish order in the area have failed. The only known remaining institution in the area is the Diocese of Cleveland, which maintains the remaining hospitals and churchs. Very little information can be gathered from the area due to high scout casualties.

Southern Ohio
The survivors of Portsmouth-Iornton are one of the three largest pockets of survivors in the former American state. After a short period of self-governance, the area re-established connections with Kentucky and Virginia. Immediately following this event, both nations competed to woo the survivor groups. In 2007 the survivors of Portsmouth area voted to join Kentucky while the confederation of city states to the east voted to join Virginia in 2008.