Jefferson_County,_Ohio
Jefferson County, Ohio
County in Ohio, United States
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,249.[2] Its county seat is Steubenville.[3] The county is named for Thomas Jefferson, who was vice president at the time of its creation.[4]
Jefferson County | |
|---|---|
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio | |
Ohio's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 40°23′N 80°46′W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | July 29, 1797[1] |
| Named for | Thomas Jefferson |
| Seat | Steubenville |
| Largest city | Steubenville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 411 sq mi (1,060 km2) |
| • Land | 408 sq mi (1,060 km2) |
| • Water | 2.6 sq mi (7 km2) 0.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 65,249  |
| • Density | 160/sq mi (60/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
Jefferson County is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV–OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Pittsburgh–New Castle–Weirton, PA–WV–OH Combined Statistical Area.[5]
Jefferson County was organized on July 29, 1797, by proclamation of Governor Arthur St. Clair, six years before Ohio was granted statehood. Its boundaries were originally quite large, including all of northeastern Ohio east of the Cuyahoga River, but it was divided and redrawn several times before assuming its present-day boundaries in 1833, after the formation of neighboring Carroll County.
In 1786, the United States built Fort Steuben to protect the government surveyors mapping the land west of the Ohio River. When the surveyors completed their task a few years later, the fort was abandoned. In the meantime, settlers had built homes around the fort; they named their settlement La Belle. When the county was created in 1797, La Belle was selected as the County seat. The town was subsequently renamed Steubenville, in honor of the abandoned fort.
During the first half of the 19th century, Steubenville was primarily a port town, and the rest of the county consisted of small villages and farms. However, in 1856, Frazier, Kilgore and Company erected a rolling mill (the forerunner of steel mills) and the Steubenville Coal and Mining Company sank a coal shaft, resulting in Jefferson County becoming one of the leading centers of the new Industrial Revolution.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 411 square miles (1,060 km2), of which 408 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (0.6%) is water.[6]
Adjacent counties
- Columbiana County (north)
- Hancock County, West Virginia (northeast)
- Brooke County, West Virginia (east)
- Ohio County, West Virginia (southeast)
- Belmont County (south)
- Harrison County (southwest)
- Carroll County (northwest)
Major highways
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 8,766 | — | |
| 1810 | 17,260 | 96.9% | |
| 1820 | 18,531 | 7.4% | |
| 1830 | 22,489 | 21.4% | |
| 1840 | 25,030 | 11.3% | |
| 1850 | 29,133 | 16.4% | |
| 1860 | 26,115 | −10.4% | |
| 1870 | 29,188 | 11.8% | |
| 1880 | 33,018 | 13.1% | |
| 1890 | 39,415 | 19.4% | |
| 1900 | 44,357 | 12.5% | |
| 1910 | 65,423 | 47.5% | |
| 1920 | 77,580 | 18.6% | |
| 1930 | 88,307 | 13.8% | |
| 1940 | 98,129 | 11.1% | |
| 1950 | 96,495 | −1.7% | |
| 1960 | 99,201 | 2.8% | |
| 1970 | 96,193 | −3.0% | |
| 1980 | 91,564 | −4.8% | |
| 1990 | 80,298 | −12.3% | |
| 2000 | 73,894 | −8.0% | |
| 2010 | 69,709 | −5.7% | |
| 2020 | 65,249 | −6.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2020 [2] | |||
2000 census
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 73,894 people, 30,417 households, and 20,592 families living in the county. The population density was 180 inhabitants per square mile (69/km2). There were 33,291 housing units at an average density of 81 units per square mile (31/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.49% White, 5.68% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 0.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 96.5% spoke English, 1.1% Spanish and 1.0% Italian as their first language.
There were 30,417 households, out of which 26.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.40% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 18.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,853, and the median income for a family was $38,807. Males had a median income of $35,785 versus $20,375 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,476. About 11.40% of families and 15.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.30% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 69,709 people, 29,109 households, and 18,713 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 170.7 inhabitants per square mile (65.9/km2). There were 32,826 housing units at an average density of 80.4 units per square mile (31.0 units/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 91.9% white, 5.6% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 20.0% were German, 17.1% were Irish, 12.9% were Italian, 9.1% were English, 8.3% were Polish, and 4.6% were American.[14]
Of the 29,109 households, 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.7% were non-families, and 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 43.9 years.[12]
The median income for a household in the county was $37,527 and the median income for a family was $47,901. Males had a median income of $43,601 versus $27,965 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,470. About 12.4% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.[15]
Like many Appalachian counties, Jefferson County was a strong Democratic county in the 20th century. However, since the turn of the 21st century, it has become much more competitive and even moved towards the Republicans during the Democratic years of 2008 and 2012. In 2012, Mitt Romney became the first Republican candidate to win the county since it voted for President Nixon in the 1972 presidential election.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 22,828 | 68.30% | 10,018 | 29.98% | 575 | 1.72% |
| 2016 | 21,117 | 65.15% | 9,675 | 29.85% | 1,619 | 5.00% |
| 2012 | 17,034 | 51.34% | 15,385 | 46.37% | 758 | 2.28% |
| 2008 | 17,559 | 48.68% | 17,635 | 48.89% | 877 | 2.43% |
| 2004 | 17,185 | 47.25% | 19,024 | 52.30% | 163 | 0.45% |
| 2000 | 15,038 | 43.42% | 17,488 | 50.49% | 2,110 | 6.09% |
| 1996 | 10,212 | 29.49% | 19,402 | 56.04% | 5,009 | 14.47% |
| 1992 | 10,764 | 27.74% | 20,978 | 54.07% | 7,056 | 18.19% |
| 1988 | 14,141 | 38.73% | 22,095 | 60.52% | 273 | 0.75% |
| 1984 | 17,105 | 42.47% | 22,832 | 56.69% | 340 | 0.84% |
| 1980 | 15,777 | 40.99% | 20,382 | 52.95% | 2,332 | 6.06% |
| 1976 | 14,839 | 39.23% | 22,318 | 59.00% | 668 | 1.77% |
| 1972 | 21,531 | 56.25% | 16,198 | 42.32% | 545 | 1.42% |
| 1968 | 12,949 | 33.53% | 21,917 | 56.76% | 3,749 | 9.71% |
| 1964 | 11,784 | 26.29% | 33,039 | 73.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 21,186 | 44.01% | 26,955 | 55.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 22,162 | 50.52% | 21,703 | 49.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 19,569 | 41.58% | 27,499 | 58.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 14,230 | 37.05% | 23,725 | 61.77% | 454 | 1.18% |
| 1944 | 15,496 | 38.43% | 24,827 | 61.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 16,578 | 35.97% | 29,514 | 64.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 13,044 | 31.87% | 27,472 | 67.11% | 419 | 1.02% |
| 1932 | 14,179 | 44.95% | 16,066 | 50.93% | 1,299 | 4.12% |
| 1928 | 19,175 | 68.09% | 8,711 | 30.93% | 275 | 0.98% |
| 1924 | 14,929 | 67.97% | 3,840 | 17.48% | 3,194 | 14.54% |
| 1920 | 13,038 | 59.76% | 8,064 | 36.96% | 714 | 3.27% |
| 1916 | 6,658 | 53.19% | 5,250 | 41.94% | 609 | 4.87% |
| 1912 | 4,777 | 41.85% | 3,171 | 27.78% | 3,467 | 30.37% |
| 1908 | 7,310 | 57.21% | 4,882 | 38.21% | 585 | 4.58% |
| 1904 | 7,337 | 69.11% | 2,600 | 24.49% | 680 | 6.40% |
| 1900 | 6,470 | 62.25% | 3,575 | 34.40% | 348 | 3.35% |
| 1896 | 6,185 | 60.61% | 3,824 | 37.48% | 195 | 1.91% |
| 1892 | 4,793 | 53.28% | 3,493 | 38.83% | 710 | 7.89% |
| 1888 | 5,106 | 58.08% | 3,293 | 37.46% | 392 | 4.46% |
| 1884 | 4,834 | 58.09% | 3,283 | 39.45% | 204 | 2.45% |
| 1880 | 4,434 | 59.41% | 2,945 | 39.46% | 85 | 1.14% |
| 1876 | 4,067 | 57.84% | 2,922 | 41.56% | 42 | 0.60% |
| 1872 | 3,776 | 63.78% | 2,102 | 35.51% | 42 | 0.71% |
| 1868 | 3,394 | 61.59% | 2,117 | 38.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 3,407 | 66.32% | 1,730 | 33.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 2,682 | 57.96% | 1,163 | 25.14% | 782 | 16.90% |
| 1856 | 2,424 | 51.86% | 1,991 | 42.60% | 259 | 5.54% |
The following are the elected officials, judges, and representatives of Jefferson County as of the 2022 election cycle.[17]
County officials
| Party | Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R | David Maple | Commissioner | |
| R | Tony Morelli | Commissioner | |
| R | Eric Timmons | Commissioner | |
| R | E.J. Conn | Auditor | |
| R | Andrew Plesich | Clerk of Courts | |
| R | Michael Scarpone | Coroner | |
| D | James F. Branagan | Engineer | |
| D | Jane Hanlin | Prosecuting Attorney | |
| R | Scott Renforth | Recorder | |
| D | Fred Abdalla Jr. | Sheriff | |
| D | Raymond M. Agresta | Treasurer | |
Judicial representation
| Party | Name | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D | Joseph J. Bruzzese, Jr. | Court of Common Pleas | |
| D | Michelle G. Miller | Court of Common Pleas | |
| D | Frank W. Noble, Jr. | Court of Common Pleas Probate Court | |
| R | Lisa K. Ferguson | Jefferson County Municipal Court, District I | |
| D | Michael C. Bednar | Jefferson County Municipal Court, District II | |
| R | David J. Scarpone | Jefferson County Municipal Court, District III | |
| D | Cheryl L. Waite | 7th District Court of Appeals | |
| R | Carol Ann Robb | 7th District Court of Appeals | |
| D | David A. D’Apolito | 7th District Court of Appeals | |
| R | Mark A. Hanni | 7th District Court of Appeals | |
Legislative representation
| Party | Name | District | Body | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Ron Ferguson | 96 | Ohio House of Representatives | |
| R | Frank Hoagland | 33 | Ohio Senate | |
| R | Bill Johnson | 6 | U.S. House of Representatives | |
| D | Sherrod Brown | Statewide | U.S. Senate | |
| R | J. D. Vance | Statewide | U.S. Senate | |
Commercial air service is available at nearby Pittsburgh International Airport to the east via U.S. Route 22. The county is served by two general aviation fields, the Jefferson County Airpark and the Eddie Dew Memorial Airpark.
Ohio Route 7 is the main north–south highway through the county.
Colleges and universities
Community, junior, and technical colleges
- Eastern Gateway Community College
- Trinity Health System School of Nursing
Public school districts
High schools
Cities
- Steubenville (county seat)
- Toronto
Villages
Townships
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
- Alikanna
- Altamont
- Annapolis
- Belvedere
- Bradley
- Broadacre
- Calumet
- Chandler
- Circle Green
- Costonia
- Cream City
- Deandale
- Deyarmonville
- Dunglen
- Emerson
- Fairplay
- Fernwood
- Georges Run
- Gould
- Grandview Heights
- Greentown
- Hammondsville
- Herrick
- Holt
- Hopewell
- Jackson Heights
- Knoxville
- McConnelsville
- McIntyre
- Middleburg
- Monroeville
- New Somerset
- Newell
- Olszeski Town
- Osage
- Panhandle
- Parlett
- Piney Fork
- Port Homer
- Pravo
- Ramsey
- Reeds Mill
- Robyville
- Rush Run
- Shady Glen
- Unionport
- Warrenton
- Wolf Run
- Weems
- Yellow Creek
- York
Historical community
Carpenter's Fort, or Carpenter's Station as it was sometimes called, was established in the summer of 1781 when John Carpenter built a fortified house above the mouth of Short Creek on the Ohio side of the Ohio River in Coshocton County, but now in Jefferson County, Ohio, near Rayland, Ohio.[20][21]
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Jefferson County.[22]
* majority of municipality in Harrison County
** minority of municipality in Belmont County
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Population (2010 Census) | Municipal type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Steubenville | 18,659 | City |
| 2 | Toronto | 5,091 | City |
| 3 | Wintersville | 3,924 | Village |
| 4 | Mingo Junction | 3,454 | Village |
| 5 | Tiltonsville | 1,372 | Village |
| 6 | Yorkville** | 1,079 | Village |
| 7 | Smithfield | 869 | Village |
| 8 | Adena* | 759 | Village |
| 9 | Dillonvale | 665 | Village |
| 10 | Bergholz | 664 | Village |
| 11 | Amsterdam | 511 | Village |
| 12 | Mount Pleasant | 478 | Village |
| 13 | Richmond | 481 | Village |
| 14 | Rayland | 417 | Village |
| 15 | Irondale | 387 | Village |
| 16 | Empire | 299 | Village |
| 17 | Stratton | 294 | Village |
| 18 | Pottery Addition | 293 | CDP |
| 19 | New Alexandria | 272 | Village |
| 20 | Bloomingdale | 202 | Village |
- "Ohio County Profiles: Jefferson County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- "Jefferson County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved April 28, 2007.[dead link]
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017 – via National Archives.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- "Elected Officials - Jefferson". Jefferson County Board of Elections. January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- Carroll County Website Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- "TOWNSHIP WEBSITES - Ohio Township Association". July 15, 2016. Archived from the original on July 15, 2016.
- J. A. Caldwell: History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, Historical Publishing Co., Wheeling, W.Va., 1880, p. 605, reprinted 1983.
- Julie Minot Overton, with Kay Ballantyne Hudson and Sunda Anderson Peters eds.: Ohio Towns and Townships to 1900: A Location Guide, The Ohio Genealogical Society, Mansfield, O. (Penobscot Press), 2000, p. 59.
- "2010 U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 13, 2016.