Nationwide

Nationwide insurance began as Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and became incorporated in December of 1925 in Columbus, Ohio. The company began by selling insurance only to farmers, believing that the risk and therefore the policy cost would be lower that way. Gradually, Farm Bureau expanded from underwriting small towns in the 1920s and early 30s to larger cities and expanding their coverage to include fire insurance in 1934.

Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company expanded and grew steadily through the 1930s and 1940s and begins issuing property insurance policies and expanding coverage to include more urbanites and metropolitan area clients after the acquisition of a failing fire insurance company. By 1943 State Farm was operating in 12 states as well as the District of Columbia in the United States.

From 1943 into the early 50s Farm Bureau made strides in expansion, moving into twenty new states with their bold westward expansion. Consequently, the company believed they had outgrown their original name and changed the name to Nationwide Insurance. Following this new change was a furthering of these efforts to expand to the rest of the country.

By 1965 Nationwide Insurance represented clients in 32 states and the District of Columbia, and switched its headquarters due to the extensive growth the company underwent in the years prior and the lack of room to support that growth. Nationwide acquires Farmland Insurance, America's number one agricultural insurer and a 100 year old company in 1982, providing more room for growth.

Amongst many other philanthropic promotions produced by Nationwide recently, the company grabbed national attention when they announced that they would build a stadium for a professional sports team in their home of Columbus Ohio in 1997. The stadium was built in 2007 and continues to provide entertainment and act as a city centerpiece for Columbus.