Ohio University (referred to as OHIO or abbreviated as OU) is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an 1,800-acre (7.3 km) campus. Founded in 1804, it is the oldest university in the Northwest Territory and ninth oldest public university in the United States. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 called for educational institutions as part of the settlement and eventual statehood of the Ohio Territory: "Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." In 1797, settlers from Marietta traveled up the Hocking River to establish a location for the school, choosing Athens due to its location directly between Chillicothe (the original capital of Ohio) and Marietta. Originally chartered in 1802 as the American Western University, Ohio University was founded on February 18, 1804, when its charter was approved by the Ohio General Assembly. Its founding came 11 months after Ohio was admitted to the Union. The first three students enrolled in 1808. Ohio University graduated two students with bachelor's degrees in 1815.