Ohio County, West Virginia facts for kids

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Ohio County

U.S. county

West Virginia Independence Hall

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia

West Virginia's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

West Virginia

Founded

October 7, 1776

Largest city

Wheeling

Area

• Total

109 sq mi (280 km²)

• Land

106 sq mi (270 km²)

• Water

3.2 sq mi (8 km²) 2.9%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

42,425

• Estimate

(2021)

41,776

• Density

389.2/sq mi (150.3/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

1st

Ohio County is a county located in the Northern Panhandle of the U.S. state of West Virginia, and forms part of the Wheeling metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,425. Its county seat is Wheeling. The county was formed in 1776 from the District of West Augusta, Virginia. 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.

Geography

According to the United States 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. 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. The county is drained by Wheeling and other small creeks.

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.

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. 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.

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

I‑70
I‑470
US 40
US 250
WV 2
WV 88

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 population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	5,212	—
1800	4,740	−9.1%
1810	9,182	93.7%
1820	9,182	0.0%
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%
2020	42,425	−4.5%
2021 (est.)	41,776	−6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 44,443 people, 18,914 households, and 11,181 families residing in the county. 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). 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, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

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 Education 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 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)

Towns

Villages

Magisterial districts

District 1
District 2
District 3

Unincorporated communities

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 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, 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.

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)