The spooky season has finally arrived, and while many Americans share the same traditions, it seems that a few states do things differently. For instance, despite some states being more likely to see ghosts, some others with actual ghost sightings, and some ranking high for ghost towns, today we’re shifting our focus to Ohio. The Buckeye State seems to be obsessed with these entities, as it ranks high when it comes to searching for things about ghosts.
Ohio Ranks #1 in Ghost-Related Searches

According to a new analysis by The Action Network, Ohio is the #1 state in ghost-related searches. In other words, people in the state seem obsessed with them.
The analysis claims there are 70 ghost-related searches per 100,000 residents, bringing the total to 55,370. While this is some neat and unexpected piece of information, despite the searches, the state ranks low in terms of actually seeing ghosts. Right now, it ranks 30th, which is lower than others.
The data shows there have been 2,985 ghost sightings per 100,000 residents, only 67 ghost towns, but searches reach more than 55k. Quite a high number.
On the other hand, it seems there are other states that have actually had ghost-related experiences. Right now, West Virginia is at the top of the ranking as the state most likely to see a ghost. Maine, however, has the most ghost sightings of all. South Dakota has the most ghost towns, while Vermont has the most haunted locations. At the bottom of the list is New Jersey, which is the least likely to have ghost sightings.
One important thing to note is that, despite the high ghost-related searches, this doesn’t mean everyone in Ohio believes in ghosts. This is just what people look up on Google. However, it might just be a surge in interest in supernatural topics, not something that would require the Ghostbusters to roll into town.
Yet, that doesn’t mean Ohio is free of haunted locales or things. As many know, the state has several spooky locations that some people may want to visit during the season. For instance, one of the most famous, which is now open to the public, is the Franklin Castle in Cleveland. You can even stay the night there if you’re brave enough and don’t mind the occasional scare, as some people claim.
Another famous one is the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, which has plenty of events for the spooky season and seems to be a favorite among those who like some paranormal experiences. There are some ghost hunts and walks, which should be fun if you’re trying to do something truly scary for Halloween.







