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Ohio County, West Virginia
West Virginia Independence Hall from southwest
West Virginia Independence Hall
Map of West Virginia highlighting Ohio County
Location in the state of West Virginia
Map of the U.S
West Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded October 7, 1776
Named for Ohio River
Seat Wheeling
Largest city Wheeling
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

109 sq mi (282 km²)
106 sq mi (275 km²)
3.2 sq mi (8 km²), 2.9%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

42,425
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.ohiocountywv.gov

Ohio County is a county located in the Northern Panhandle of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,425.[1] Its county seat is Wheeling.[2] The county was formed in 1776 from the District of West Augusta, Virginia.[3] It was named for the Ohio River, which forms its western boundary with the state of Ohio. West Liberty (formerly Black's Cabin) was designated as the county seat in 1777, serving to 1797.

Ohio County is part of the Wheeling, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 109 square miles (280 km2), of which 106 square miles (270 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (2.9%) is water.[4] It is the third-smallest county in West Virginia by area. The highest point of elevation in Ohio County is approximately 1,420 ft (430 m) and located about 1-mile (1.6 km) southwest of West Alexander, Pennsylvania.[5] The county is drained by Wheeling and other small creeks.[6]

In 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into civil townships, 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.[7] Ohio County was divided into five districts: Center,[lower-roman 1] 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.[8]

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.[8]

Major highways[]

  • I-70 (WV) I-70
  • I-470 (WV) I-470
  • US 40 US 40
  • US 250 US 250
  • [[Template:Infobox road/WV/link WV|Template:Infobox road/WV/abbrev WV]]
  • [[Template:Infobox road/WV/link WV|Template:Infobox road/WV/abbrev WV]]

Adjacent counties[]

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; Texas County, Oklahoma; and Delaware County, Pennsylvania).

National protected area[]

  • Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 5,212
1800 4,740 −9.1%
1810 9,182 93.7%
1820 9,182 0%
1830 15,584 69.7%
1840 13,357 −14.3%
1850 18,006 34.8%
1860 22,422 24.5%
1870 28,831 28.6%
1880 37,457 29.9%
1890 41,557 10.9%
1900 48,024 15.6%
1910 57,572 19.9%
1920 62,892 9.2%
1930 72,077 14.6%
1940 73,115 1.4%
1950 71,672 −2.0%
1960 68,437 −4.5%
1970 64,197 −6.2%
1980 61,389 −4.4%
1990 50,871 −17.1%
2000 47,427 −6.8%
2010 44,443 −6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[1]

2000 census[]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 47,427 people, 19,733 households, and 12,155 families residing in the county. The population density was 447 people per square mile (172/km2). There were 22,166 housing units at an average density of 209 per square mile (81/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.50% White, 3.57% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population were Hispanic 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 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 for the county was $17,734. About 11.50% of families and 15.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 44,443 people, 18,914 households, and 11,181 families residing in the county.[14] The population density was 420.0 inhabitants per square mile (162.2 /km2). There were 21,172 housing units at an average density of 200.1 per square mile (77.3 /km2).[15] 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.[14] 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.[16]

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.[14]

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, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.[17]

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 in 2013 are Orphy Klempa, Tim McCormick, and Randy Wharton, all Democrats. Mr. Klempa was elected in November 2012. The county commission typically appoints a county administrator to oversee the daily executive duties for the Commission. The current county administrator is Greg Stewart. In addition to the three members of the county commission, other elected officials include a county clerk, currently Patty Fahey, and a county assessor, currently Kathie Hoffmann. Both are Democrats.

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 partisan elections to eight-year terms. The current judges of the First Judicial Circuit are Jason A. Cuomo, James Mazzone, David Sims, and Ronald E. Wilson. All are Democrats and were elected in November 2016. The clerk of the circuit court is also elected in a partisan election and serves a six-year term. The current clerk of the First Judicial Circuit in Ohio County is Democrat 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.

Magistrates are elected in 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 Murphy, and Harry Radcliffe (Democrats) and Joseph Roxby (Republican).

In West Virginia, prosecuting attorneys in each county are elected in partisan elections to four-year terms. County sheriffs (who also serve ex-officio as county treasurer) are elected by each county to a four-year term. They are limited to two terms.

Politics[]

In the West Virginia Senate, most of Ohio County is part of the first Senate district, along with Hancock, Brooke, and Marshall counties.

In the West Virginia House of Delegates, parts of Ohio County are represented by the second, third, and fourth House of Delegates districts. The Second District is represented by Delegate Philip Diserio (D-Follansbee). The Third District is represented by Delegate Ryan Ferns (R-Wheeling) and Delegate Erikka Storch (R-Wheeling). The Fourth District is represented by Delegate David Evans (R-Cameron) and Delegate Michael Ferro (D-McMechen). All Delegates to the state House serve two-year terms.

In the United States House of Representatives, Ohio County is part of the West Virginia's 1st congressional district, which includes nearly all of the northern part of the state. The current Representative is David McKinley, a Republican from Wheeling in Ohio County. West Virginia’s two Senators, who represent the entire state, are Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin, a Republican from Charleston and a Democrat from Fairmont, respectively.

Although powerfully Unionist during the Civil War,[18] 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[19] and differences with the Democratic Party’s liberal views on social issues.[20] The trend has been less extreme than in most counties of the state.

United States presidential election results for Ohio County, West Virginia[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 12,354 62.08% 7,223 36.30% 323 1.62%
2016 11,139 61.16% 5,493 30.16% 1,582 8.69%
2012 10,768 59.96% 6,786 37.79% 405 2.26%
2008 10,694 54.73% 8,593 43.98% 253 1.29%
2004 11,694 57.35% 8,543 41.89% 155 0.76%
2000 9,607 53.48% 7,653 42.60% 704 3.92%
1996 7,267 39.92% 8,781 48.23% 2,158 11.85%
1992 7,421 35.97% 9,522 46.15% 3,690 17.88%
1988 10,341 50.25% 10,121 49.18% 116 0.56%
1984 13,447 56.83% 10,163 42.95% 52 0.22%
1980 11,414 47.81% 10,973 45.96% 1,486 6.22%
1976 12,476 51.36% 11,817 48.64% 0 0.00%
1972 18,435 63.73% 10,491 36.27% 0 0.00%
1968 13,073 43.20% 15,026 49.65% 2,164 7.15%
1964 12,006 36.18% 21,178 63.82% 0 0.00%
1960 17,367 48.52% 18,423 51.48% 0 0.00%
1956 22,165 62.69% 13,191 37.31% 0 0.00%
1952 20,575 55.43% 16,546 44.57% 0 0.00%
1948 15,757 47.54% 16,995 51.27% 395 1.19%
1944 16,165 48.10% 17,445 51.90% 0 0.00%
1940 18,073 45.43% 21,713 54.57% 0 0.00%
1936 13,743 37.39% 22,899 62.30% 116 0.32%
1932 15,836 45.25% 18,625 53.22% 532 1.52%
1928 20,064 60.04% 13,132 39.30% 219 0.66%
1924 14,402 54.09% 8,753 32.87% 3,471 13.04%
1920 15,735 58.62% 10,278 38.29% 829 3.09%
1916 7,349 52.75% 6,074 43.60% 509 3.65%
1912 3,956 28.31% 5,771 41.30% 4,245 30.38%



Education[]

Colleges and universities[]

  • West Liberty University
  • Wheeling Jesuit University
  • West Virginia Northern Community College
  • West Virginia Business College
  • Bethany 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 Education Board of Education Archived 2017-10-15 at the Wayback Machine (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 Grade 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)
  • Wheeling Neighborhoods: Clator, Dimmydale, Downtown, East Wheeling, Edgwood (annexed 1920), Elm Grove (annexed 1920), Fulton (annexed 1920), Grandview, Greggsville, Leatherwood (annexed 1920), Manchester, Morningside, North Park, North Wheeling, Overbrook, Patterson (annexed 1920), Pleasanton (annexed 1920), Pleasant Valley (annexed 1920), Richietown (annexed 1871), Springdale, South Wheeling (annexed 1871), Warwood (annexed 1920), Wheeling Island, Woodsdale (formerly Woodlawn, annexed 1920)

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
  • Point Mills
  • Potomac
  • Roneys Point
  • Shannon
  • Twilight
  • Valley Camp
  • Warwood
  • Whitfield

The Communities of Warwood, Woodsdale, Elm Grove, Betty Zane Addition, Greggsville, North Park, Overbrook, Edgwood and Linwood are all incorporated into the city of Wheeling

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 (1911–1913)

Miscellaneous information[]

Dog Races and Gaming[]

In 2007, the West Virginia Legislature adopted 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,[22] it announced on August 7 that it would not file any appeal on the matter.[23] 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.[24]

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.[25] 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.[26] 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.[27]

Other Topics[]

  • The Ohio County Fair is held annually in October at Site 1 in Oglebay Park.
  • When Ohio County was formed in 1776, its area was much larger totaling 1,432 sq mi (3,710 km2) and included portions of what is now Washington and Greene Counties in Pennsylvania. The formation of the Mason–Dixon line and resolution of border disputes between Pennsylvania and Virginia began the first in a long series of reductions in the county's size.[28]

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
  • List of County Routes in Ohio County, West Virginia

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ Spelled "Centre" before 1890.

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/54/54069.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ "Archived copy". http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html. 
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_54.txt. 
  5. ^ Ohio County High Point Trip Report. Cohp.org (August 20, 2000). Retrieved on December 24, 2010.
  6. ^ Wikisource-logo "Ohio. I. A N. W. county of West Virginia". The American Cyclopædia. 1879. 
  7. ^ Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
  8. ^ a b United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wv190090.txt. 
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  14. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54069. 
  15. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54069. 
  16. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54069. 
  17. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54069. 
  18. ^ Hinkle, Harlan H.; Grayback Mountaineers: The Confederate Face of Western Virginia, p. 197 ISBN 0595268404
  19. ^ Schwartzman, Gabe; ‘How Central Appalachia Went Right’; Daily Yonder, January 13, 2015
  20. ^ Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, New York Times, April 24, 2014
  21. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  22. ^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/2007042411/Friends-and-foes-of-table-games-ramp-up-their-campaigns/. 
  23. ^ [1] Archived February 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ Nov. 1 Target For Casino Regulators. Tracks prepare to get cards shuffling for poker, The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register, September 28, 2007
  25. ^ "West Virginia Code – 7A". http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/07A/masterfrmFrm.htm. 
  26. ^ "The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register | The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register". http://www.news-register.net/community/articles.asp. 
  27. ^ "Charleston Gazette – June 21, 2006". http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/545519/mccabe_wants_cabell_kanawha_putnam_consolidation_by_2010/index.html/. 
  28. ^ History of Wheeling City & Ohio County, West Virginia – Book. Lindapages.com. Retrieved on December 24, 2010.

External links[]

Template:Northern Panhandle of West Virginia

Coordinates: 40°06′N 80°37′W / 40.10, -80.62


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Ohio County, West Virginia. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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