1. In 1809, Ohio became the 17th state to join the United States. At the time, the state consisted of just 3 counties, but has since grown to 88 counties.

2. On February 4, 1945, Ohioan Major Bill Hendricks became the first pilot to exceed the speed of sound. He achieved the feat in the Bell X-1 aircraft, breaking the sound barrier at a speed of 670 miles per hour.

3. Ohio native Toni Morrison, an acclaimed author and Nobel Prize winner, was born on February 4, 1931. Her works include "Beloved" and "Song of Solomon."

4. The Ohio State University's campus was officially established on February 4, 1870, with the signing of the Morrill Act by President Ulysses S. Grant. The Morrill Act established the system of land grant colleges, which provided federal funding to universities for the study of agriculture, engineering, and other practical subjects.

5. On February 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson was elected President of the United States. Although he was not an Ohioan, Jefferson's presidency would have a significant impact on the state, especially with his emphasis on westward expansion and the Louisiana Purchase.