Ohio's UFO hotspots, mapped
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We're far away from Area 51, but Ohioans reported seeing their fair share of unidentified flying objects in recent years.
Why it matters: Discussion and reports of UFOs — or the more modern term, UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomenon) — have become more mainstream as lawmakers and others push for answers.
Zoom in: Residents in the Columbus metro area reported 751 sightings between 2000 and 2023, according to the National UFO Reporting Center.
- That's 34.7 sightings per 100,000 residents, which is more or less the national rate (34.3).
The intrigue: Sightings are more common in rural, southern Ohio counties.
- These happen to feature less light pollution, but it's also near where the Mothman was first spotted. Just sayin'.
- The UFO capital of Ohio appears to be Guernsey County, with a chart-topping 151 sightings per 100,000 residents.
🤔 Our theory: That county is located at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 77.
- Maybe it's just aircraft following the highways?
An interactive map of UFO sightings across the U.S.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say Guernsey County is at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 77, not 70 and 71.