Guernsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,438. Its county seat is Cambridge, and it is named for the Isle of

Guernsey Guernsey (; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; french: Guernesey) is an island in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy that is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency. It is the second largest of the Channel Islands ...

in the English Channel, from which many of the county's early settlers emigrated. Guernsey County comprises the

Cambridge, OH Cambridge is a city in and the county seat of Guernsey County, Ohio, United States. It lies in southeastern Ohio, in the Appalachian Plateau of the Appalachian Mountains 74 miles east of Columbus. The population was 10,635 at the 2010 census. I ...

Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH Combined Statistical Area.

History

Guernsey County, located in the Appalachian foothills, was first formed and organized on 10 March 1810 from portions of Muskingum and

Belmont Belmont may refer to: People * Belmont (surname) Places * Belmont Abbey (disambiguation) * Belmont Historic District (disambiguation) * Belmont Hotel (disambiguation) * Belmont Park (disambiguation) * Belmont Plantation (disambiguation) * Belmon ...

counties, after the Ohio Legislature acted. The first county commissioners were sworn in on 23 April 1810. It lost some land area during the formation of neighboring counties until it reached its present boundaries in 1851, after Buffalo,

Beaver Beavers are large, semiaquatic rodents in the genus ''Castor'' native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. There are two extant species: the North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') and the Eurasian beaver (''C. fiber''). Beavers ar ...

Olive The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'', meaning 'European olive' in Latin, is a species of small tree or shrub in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. When in shrub form, it is known as ''Olea europaea'' ...

, and Seneca townships were gained by Noble county. After dispute whether the county seat should be established in Cambridge or Washington, it was established in Cambridge after two individuals proposed to donate the land and furnish the public buildings if built in Cambridge.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.1%) is water.

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 40,792 people, 16,094 households, and 11,233 families living in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 18,771 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.28% White, 1.53% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.30%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.22% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 0.62% of the population were Hispanic or

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race. 96.7% spoke English, 1.3% Spanish and 1.1%

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

as their first language. There were 16,094 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males. The median income for a household in the county was $30,110, and the median income for a family was $35,660. Males had a median income of $30,142 versus $20,804 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,542. About 12.90% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the

2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servin ...

, there were 40,087 people, 16,210 households, and 10,949 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 19,193 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.0% white, 1.5% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.3% were

, 15.2% were Irish, 12.4% were English, and 9.6% were

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

. Of the 16,210 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.5% were non-families, and 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 40.9 years. The median income for a household in the county was $37,573 and the median income for a family was $48,445. Males had a median income of $37,642 versus $29,348 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,187. About 13.6% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Guernsey County has been dominated by Republican Party candidates in presidential elections, with Democrats only winning the county in six presidential elections from 1856 on. The most recent of these Democrats to win the county was Bill Clinton in 1996.

Communities

Map of Guernsey County Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels

City

* Cambridge (county seat)

Villages

Byesville Byesville is a village in Guernsey County, Ohio, United States, along Wills Creek. The population was 2,438 at the 2010 census. History Byesville was platted in 1856, and named for Jonathan Bye, the owner of a local mill. The village was inco ...

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

* Fairview * Lore City * Old Washington * Pleasant City * Quaker City * Senecaville

Townships

* Adams * Cambridge * Center * Jackson *

Jefferson Jefferson may refer to: Names * Jefferson (surname) * Jefferson (given name) People * Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States * Jefferson (footballer, born 1970), full name Jefferson Tomaz de Souza, Brazilian foo ...

* Knox * Liberty * Londonderry *

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States Place names * Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...

* Millwood * Monroe * Oxford * Richland * Spencer * Valley * Washington * Westland * Wheeling * Wills