Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,249. Its county seat is Steubenville. The county is named for Thomas Jefferson, who was vice president at the time of its creation.
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.
History
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.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.6%) is water.
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
Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,894 people, 30,417 households, and 20,592 families living in the county. The population density was 180 people per square mile (70/km2). There were 33,291 housing units at an average density of 81 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. The population density was . There were 32,826 housing units at an average density of . 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. 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.
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.
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.
Politics
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 in four decades to win the county, since the county voted for President Nixon in the 1972 presidential election.
Government
The county commissioners are Thomas Graham, Dave Maple, and Tony Morelli.
Transportation
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.
Education
Colleges and universities
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Community, junior, and technical colleges
Eastern Gateway Community College
Trinity Health System School of Nursing
Public school districts
Buckeye Local School District
Edison Local School District
Indian Creek Local School District
Steubenville City School District
Toronto City School District
High schools
Buckeye Local High School
Catholic Central High School
Edison High School
Indian Creek High School
Jefferson County Christian School
Steubenville High School
Toronto High School
Communities
thumb|200px|Map of Jefferson County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels
Cities
Steubenville (county seat)
Toronto
Villages
Adena
Amsterdam
Bergholz
Bloomingdale
Dillonvale
Empire
Irondale
Mingo Junction
Mount Pleasant
New Alexandria
Rayland
Richmond
Smithfield
Stratton
Tiltonsville
Wintersville
Yorkville
Townships
Brush Creek
Cross Creek
Island Creek
Knox
Mount Pleasant
Ross
Salem
Saline
Smithfield
Springfield
Steubenville
Warren
Wayne
Wells
Census-designated places
Brilliant
Connorville
East Springfield
Pottery Addition
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.
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Jefferson County.
* majority of municipality in Harrison County
** minority of municipality in Belmont County
† county seat
