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Ohio County is a
county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...
located in the Northern Panhandle of the U.S. state of
West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...
, and forms part of the Wheeling metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,425. Its
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
is Wheeling. The county was formed in 1776 from the District of West Augusta,
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. It was named for the
Ohio River The Ohio River () is a river in the United States. It is located at the boundary of the Midwestern and Southern United States, flowing in a southwesterly direction from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to its river mouth, mouth on the Mississippi Riv ...
, which forms its western boundary with the state of Ohio. West Liberty (formerly Black's Cabin) was designated as the
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
in 1777, serving to 1797.


Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.9%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in West Virginia by area. The highest point of elevation in Ohio County is approximately and located about southwest of West Alexander, Pennsylvania. The county is drained by Wheeling and other small creeks. When Ohio County was formed in 1776, its area was much larger totaling and included portions of what is now Washington and Greene counties in
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
. The formation of the
Mason–Dixon line The Mason–Dixon line, sometimes referred to as Mason and Dixon's Line, is a demarcation line separating four U.S. states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia. It was Surveying, surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason ...
and resolution of border disputes between Pennsylvania and
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
began the first in a long series of reductions in the county's size. In 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into
civil township A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States that is subordinate to a County (United States), county, most often in the northern and midwestern parts of the country. The term town is used in New England town, Ne ...
s, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts. Ohio County was divided into five districts: Center, Clay, Liberty, Madison, Richland, Ritchie, Triadelphia, Union, Washington, and Webster. Centre, Clay, Madison, Union, and Webster Districts all lay within the city of Wheeling, as did part of Washington District.
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
By 1880, part of Ritchie District had also been subsumed by Wheeling. In the 1970s, the ten historic magisterial districts were consolidated into five new districts: Liberty Triadelphia; Madison, Union Clay, Washington District; Titchie Webster Center District, and Triadelphia. These were further consolidated in the 1980s to form District 1, District 2, and District 3.


Major highways

* * * * * *


Adjacent counties

* Brooke County (north) *
Washington County, Pennsylvania Washington County is a County (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 209,349. Its county seat is Washington, Pe ...
(east) * Marshall County (south) * Belmont County, Ohio (west) * Jefferson County, Ohio (northwest) Ohio County is one of four counties in the United States to border a state with which it shares the same name (the other three counties are
Nevada County, California Nevada County ( ) is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California, in the Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 102,241. The county seat is Nevada City, Califor ...
;
Texas County, Oklahoma Texas County is a County (United States), county located in Oklahoma Panhandle, the panhandle of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its county seat is Guymon, Oklahoma, Guymon. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 21,3 ...
; and Delaware County, Pennsylvania).


National protected area

* Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)


Demographics


2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 42,425 people and 18,132 households residing in the county. There were 21,128 housing units in Ohio County. The racial makeup of the county was 92.5%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 3.8%
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% Native American, and 2.6% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.7% of the population. There were 18,132 households, of which 41.6% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 31.8% had a female householder with no spouse present, 20.8% had a male householder with no spouse present. The average household and family size was 2.86. The median age in the county was 42.8 years with 19.7% of the population under 18. The median income for a household was $57,867 and the poverty rate was 15.7%.


2010 census

As of the
census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2010, there were 44,443 people, 18,914 households, and 11,181 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 21,172 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% white, 3.7% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 34.0% were German, 19.1% were Irish, 14.4% were English, 8.5% were Italian, 7.2% were Polish, and 5.7% were American. Of the 18,914 households, 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.9% were non-families, and 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 43.5 years. The median income for a household in the county was $39,669 and the median income for a family was $54,909. Males had a median income of $42,213 versus $28,211 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,950. About 11.9% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.


2000 census

As of the
census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 47,427 people, 19,733 households, and 12,155 families residing in the county. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
was . There were 22,166 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.50%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 3.57%
Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
or
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.09% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.03%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 0.13% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population were
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race. 27.0% were of German, 13.7% Irish, 10.4% English, 8.4% Italian, 8.3% American and 6.7% Polish ancestry. There were 19,733 households, out of which 25.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.30% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.40% were non-families. 33.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.91. In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.30% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 18.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 87.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $30,836, and the median income for a family was $41,261. Males had a median income of $31,132 versus $21,978 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the county was $17,734. About 11.50% of families and 15.80% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.


Government

Ohio County is governed by a three-member county commission. The three county commissioners are elected from single-member magisterial districts and serve six-year terms, staggered so that one seat is up for election every even year. The County Commission annually chooses its own President. The Ohio County Commissioners are Commission President Randy Wharton, Zachary Abraham, and Don Nickerson. The county commission typically appoints a
county administrator A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...
to oversee the daily executive duties for the commission. The current county administrator is Randy Russell. In addition to the three members of the county commission, other elected officials include a county clerk, currently Michael E. Kelly, and a county assessor, currently Tiffany Hoffmann. Ohio County is part of the West Virginia's First Judicial Circuit, which also includes nearby Hancock and Brooke counties. In West Virginia, circuit judges are elected in non-partisan elections to eight-year terms. The current judges of the First Judicial Circuit are Jason A. Cuomo, Michael J. Olejasz, David Sims, and Ronald E. Wilson. The clerk of the circuit court is elected in a partisan election and serves a six-year term. The current clerk of the First Judicial Circuit in Ohio County is Brenda Miller. Ohio County is part of the First Family Court Circuit of West Virginia, which covers the same three territories as the First Judicial Circuit. In West Virginia, Family Court judges have been elected to eight-year terms since 2008. The current judges of the First Family Circuit are Joyce D. Chernenko and Heather Wood.
Magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judi ...
s are elected in non-partisan elections serving four-year terms. Vacancies occurring in unexpired terms can be filled by a respective Circuit Court judge. Unlike Circuit Court and Family Court judges, magistrates are not required to be attorneys. Ohio County currently has four magistrates: Charles W. Murphy, Patricia L. Murphy, Joseph E. Roxby, and Janine L. Varner. In West Virginia,
prosecuting attorney A prosecutor is a legal representative of the prosecution in states with either the adversarial system, which is adopted in common law, or inquisitorial system, which is adopted in civil law. The prosecution is the legal party responsible ...
s in each county are elected in partisan elections to four-year terms, currently Scott R. Smith. County sheriffs (who also serve ''
ex-officio An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, or council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term ''List of Latin phrases (E)#ex officio, ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the off ...
'' as county treasurer) are elected by each county to a four-year term, currently Thomas J. Howard. They are limited to two terms.


Proposed metro government

In 2006, the West Virginia Legislature adopted a new section to the West Virginia code – Chapter 7A – which provided for the consolidation of cities, cities with counties, or counties with counties. Interest has been expressed by some Ohio County residents and officials and has become the main political endeavour of a local council of churches called "Hopeful City". As of March 2007, no official action has been taken in Ohio County on this matter. Other municipalities in West Virginia are considering consolidation including Beckley- Raleigh County and Fairmont- Marion County. The most significant proposals under this legislation include a consolidation of Wirt County with Wood County and a population consolidation for Kanawha- Putnam- Cabell counties.


Politics

In the West Virginia Senate, Ohio County is in the first Senate district, along with Hancock, Brooke, and part of Marshall counties. The district is represented by Laura Wakim Chapman (R-Wheeling) and Ryan Weld (R-Wellsburg). In the West Virginia House of Delegates, parts of Ohio County are represented by the third, fourth, and fifth House of Delegates districts. The third district is represented by Delegate Jimmy Willis (R-Brooke County). The fourth district is represented by Bill Flanigan (R-Wheeling). The fifth district is represented by Delegate Shawn Fluharty (D-Wheeling). All delegates to the state House serve two-year terms. In the
United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
, Ohio County is part of the West Virginia's 2nd congressional district, which includes nearly all of the northern part of the state. The current Representative is Alex Mooney, a Republican from Charles Town in Jefferson County. West Virginia's two senators, who represent the entire state, are
Shelley Moore Capito Shelley Wellons Moore Capito ( ; born November 26, 1953) is an American politician and retired educator serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from West Virginia. A member of the ...
and Joe Manchin, a Republican from Charleston and a Democrat from Fairmont, respectively. Although powerfully Unionist during the Civil War, Ohio County politics differs substantially from the two more northerly counties of the Northern Panhandle. The county was a competitive swing county for most of the period between Reconstruction and the end of the twentieth century, voting for the popular vote winner in every election except 1916, 1968 and 1976. Since 2000, like all of West Virginia, its conservative white voters have trended Republican due to a combination of declining unionization and differences with the Democratic Party's liberal views on social issues. The trend in the county has been less extreme than in most counties of the state.


Education


Colleges and universities

* West Liberty University * Wheeling University * West Virginia Northern Community College


Public schools

All public schools within Ohio County operate under the jurisdiction of Ohio County Schools with the consolidated high school housing grades 9–12, middle schools housing grades 6–8, and elementary schools housing grades K–5. Ohio County Schools has a five-member elected Board of Educatio
Board of Education
(Molly J. Aderholt, Christine N. Carder, David Croft, Sarah C. Koegler, President Zachary T. Abraham, Superintendent Dr. Kimmberly Miller, and an Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones. In addition, the Board of Education has an Attendance Director (Wm. Jeffrey Laird). * Wheeling Park High School * Bridge Street Middle School *Triadelphia Middle School * Warwood Middle School * Wheeling Middle School *Bethlehem Elementary School *Elm Grove Elementary School *Madison Elementary School *Middle Creek Elementary School *Ritchie Elementary School *Steenrod Elementary School *Warwood Elementary School *Warwood Middle School *Woodsdale Elementary School


Private and parochial schools

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston operates several K–8 schools and one high school in Ohio County. * Wheeling Central Catholic High School *Corpus Christi Parish School *Our Lady of Peace School (located in Marshall County but also serves Ohio County students) *St. Michael Parish School *St. Vincent de Paul Parish School *Wheeling Catholic Elementary (closed) Additionally, there are two private schools in Ohio County. * Linsly School * Wheeling Country Day School


Communities


City

* Wheeling (county seat; partly in Marshall County)


Towns

* Triadelphia * West Liberty


Villages

* Bethlehem * Clearview * Valley Grove


Magisterial districts

*District 1 *District 2 *District 3


Unincorporated communities

* Betty Zane * Clinton * Eden * Elm Grove * Greggsville * Mount Echo *
Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...
* Point Mills * Potomac * Roneys Point * Shannon * Twilight * Valley Camp * Warwood * Whitfield


Public attractions

The Ohio County Fair is held annually in October at Site 1 in Oglebay Park.


Dog races and gaming

In 2007, the West Virginia Legislature adopte
HB2718
which created Chapter 29-22 C of the West Virginia Code and permits county residents where racetracks are located to vote on expansion to table games. Ohio County was the first county in West Virginia to take action concerning the matter when the Ohio County Commission initiated a special election date of June 9 for the referendum. The ballot initiative successfully passed in Ohio County with 66% of the vote. The measure permits Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center to operate table games such as blackjack and poker. On June 9, Jefferson County voters rejected their ballot measure. On June 30, Hancock County voters approved their ballot measure. Kanawha County has scheduled a special election for August 11. While the West Virginia Family Foundation vowed to challenge the constitutionality of HB 2718, it announced on August 7 that it would not file any appeal on the matter. According to newspaper accounts, the West Virginia Lottery Commission has set November 1, 2007, as the latest date at which table games will begin preliminary operation at Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center.Nov. 1 Target For Casino Regulators. Tracks prepare to get cards shuffling for poker
, The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register, September 28, 2007.


Notable residents

* George W. Atkinson (R) – Governor of West Virginia (1897–1901); * Nathan B. Scott (R) – U.S. Senator (1899–1911) * Walter L. Fisher (R) –
United States Secretary of the Interior The United States secretary of the interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior. The secretary and the Department of the Interior are responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land along with natura ...
(1911–1913)


See also

* Bear Rock Lakes Wildlife Management Area * Castleman Run Lake Wildlife Management Area * National Register of Historic Places listings in Ohio County, West Virginia


Footnotes


References


External links


Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, Inc. WebsiteOhio County Schools WebsiteOhio County Sheriff's Department WebsiteOhio County Public Library WebsiteOhio County Economic Development Home Page
{{Coord, 40.10, -80.62, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-WV_source:UScensus1990 West Virginia counties on the Ohio River West Virginia placenames of Native American origin 1776 establishments in Virginia