Monroe County, Ohio

Monroe County is a county located on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Ohio, across the Ohio River from West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,642,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Ohio. Its county seat is Woodsfield.[2] The county was created in 1813 and later organized in 1815.[3]

Not to be confused with Monroe, Ohio.
Monroe County
U.S. county
Monroe County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°44′N 81°05′W
Country United States
State Ohio
FoundedMarch 1, 1815
Named forJames Monroe
SeatWoodsfield
Largest villageWoodsfield
Area
 • Total457 sq mi (1,180 km2)
 • Land456 sq mi (1,180 km2)
 • Water1.7 sq mi (4 km2)  0.4%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
13,654
 • Density32/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.monroecountyohio.net

History

Monroe County was formed on January 28, 1813 from portions of Belmont, Guernsey and Washington counties. It was named after James Monroe, the U.S. Secretary of State when the county was formed, and later fifth President of the United States.[4] When organized, the county's eastern border was with the state of Virginia. This portion of the state seceded from Virginia during the American Civil War, being admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia. The largely rural county reached its peak of population in the 19th century, before urbanization drew people into and near cities for work and other opportunities. It is still a center of Amish population and farms.

In 1891, West Virginia's Sistersville Field was discovered to extend into Monroe County. By 1901, 300 wells near Woodsfield, Ohio, were producing 55,000 barrels of oil a month.[5]

On or about December 20, 2011, ExxonMobil, a New Jersey petroleum company, via its subsidiary XTO Energy, acquired 20,056 acres of Monroe County Utica Shale gas leases from Beck Energy.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 457 square miles (1,180 km2), of which 456 square miles (1,180 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.4%) is water.[7] It is bordered by the Ohio River to the east. The terrain is hilly in this area, with waterways cutting through some hills of the Appalachian Plateau, which extends from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, which flows southwest to the south of this county.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18204,645—
18308,76888.8%
184018,521111.2%
185028,35153.1%
186025,741−9.2%
187025,7790.1%
188026,4962.8%
189025,175−5.0%
190027,0317.4%
191024,244−10.3%
192020,660−14.8%
193018,426−10.8%
194018,6411.2%
195015,362−17.6%
196015,268−0.6%
197015,7393.1%
198017,38210.4%
199015,497−10.8%
200015,180−2.0%
201014,642−3.5%
2019 (est.)13,654[8]−6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2019[1]

2000 census

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 15,180 people, 6,021 households, and 4,413 families living in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile (13/km2). There were 7,212 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.72% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,021 households, out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.70% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.70% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% 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 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 27.20% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,467, and the median income for a family was $36,297. Males had a median income of $33,308 versus $19,628 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,096. About 11.00% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 11.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,642 people, 6,065 households, and 4,183 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 32.1 inhabitants per square mile (12.4/km2). There were 7,567 housing units at an average density of 16.6 per square mile (6.4/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 98.1% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.4% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 34.8% were German, 14.5% were Irish, 10.6% were English, and 9.6% were American.[16]

Of the 6,065 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.0% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 44.7 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $37,030 and the median income for a family was $43,261. Males had a median income of $39,261 versus $24,922 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,738. About 12.3% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Politics

As was typical for Appalachian counties, Monroe County voted Democratic in most elections -- all but 7 times from 1856 until 2008. In 2012, it voted Republican for the first time since 1972. In 2016, it took a sharp turn to the right, voting for Donald Trump by a large margin. In the 2014 gubernatorial election, Monroe was one of two counties to vote for Democrat Ed FitzGerald over Republican John Kasich (along with Athens County). However, in 2018 it voted for Republican Mike DeWine over Democrat Richard Cordray.

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[18][19]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 76.3% 5,463 22.4% 1,605 1.3% 91
2016 71.0% 4,868 24.3% 1,662 4.7% 323
2012 52.3% 3,548 44.8% 3,035 2.9% 199
2008 43.9% 3,066 53.1% 3,705 3.0% 211
2004 44.3% 3,424 54.9% 4,243 0.8% 62
2000 44.2% 3,145 50.7% 3,605 5.1% 365
1996 26.6% 1,856 56.2% 3,914 17.2% 1,197
1992 24.0% 1,823 55.8% 4,235 20.2% 1,533
1988 37.2% 2,557 62.1% 4,269 0.7% 48
1984 47.3% 3,302 51.8% 3,611 0.9% 65
1980 45.0% 2,870 49.7% 3,166 5.3% 337
1976 38.3% 2,728 60.2% 4,296 1.5% 108
1972 59.1% 3,721 39.5% 2,483 1.4% 88
1968 42.3% 2,686 48.9% 3,105 8.9% 563
1964 28.9% 1,944 71.1% 4,776
1960 56.6% 4,106 43.4% 3,144
1956 59.2% 3,738 40.8% 2,578
1952 52.1% 3,493 47.9% 3,213
1948 39.9% 2,574 60.0% 3,873 0.1% 7
1944 50.3% 3,617 49.7% 3,574
1940 52.3% 4,534 47.7% 4,138
1936 36.9% 3,211 61.6% 5,368 1.5% 130
1932 34.0% 2,767 64.6% 5,263 1.4% 116
1928 60.7% 4,287 38.7% 2,729 0.6% 43
1924 40.6% 2,674 56.8% 3,742 2.6% 173
1920 41.9% 2,825 57.3% 3,861 0.7% 50
1916 30.6% 1,504 67.6% 3,322 1.8% 87
1912 21.8% 1,055 66.1% 3,199 12.1% 587
1908 32.7% 1,974 65.7% 3,961 1.6% 95
1904 40.2% 2,222 57.3% 3,169 2.5% 140
1900 33.3% 2,103 65.7% 4,143 1.0% 64
1896 32.1% 2,001 67.0% 4,180 0.9% 58
1892 29.1% 1,630 68.5% 3,838 2.4% 137
1888 29.0% 1,621 69.6% 3,886 1.3% 74
1884 29.0% 1,645 70.7% 4,010 0.4% 20
1880 29.3% 1,600 68.7% 3,751 2.0% 109
1876 27.7% 1,462 72.1% 3,805 0.2% 10
1872 30.7% 1,307 67.7% 2,878 1.6% 67
1868 29.8% 1,443 70.2% 3,397
1864 31.0% 1,440 69.0% 3,201
1860 28.6% 1,335 67.4% 3,147 4.0% 190
1856 24.0% 1,016 66.3% 2,812 9.7% 413

Government
Main article: Ohio county government

Monroe County has three County Commissioners who oversee the various County departments, similar to 85 of the other 88 Ohio counties. Current Commissioners are: Mick Schumacher (R), Tim Price (D), and Carl Davis (D).[20]

Monroe County is served by the Monroe County District Library from its administrative offices in Woodsfield, Ohio; it also offers a bookmobile service.

In 2005, the library loaned more than 141,000 items to its 6,000 cardholders. Total holding are over 64,000 volumes with over 140 periodical subscriptions.[21] This library is a member of the SOLO Regional Library System.

Education

Monroe County contains the following schools through the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District:

Communities
Map of Monroe County, Ohio with municipal and township labels

Villages

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns
  • Agin
  • Aitch
  • Benwood
  • Bingham
  • Brister
  • Burkhart
  • Carrick
  • Cline
  • Doherty
  • Edwina
  • Ethel
  • Griffith
  • Hartshorn
  • Irish Ridge
  • Jolly
  • Masterton
  • Monroefield
  • Morton
  • Oak
  • Poulton
  • Quarry
  • Rings Mill
  • Sprague
  • Switzer
  • Twilight

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Ohio: Individual County Chronologies". Ohio Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  4. "Monroe County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  5. Spencer, Jeff; Camp, Mark (2008). Ohio Oil and Gas (Images of America). Charleston: Arcadia Publishing. p. 9. ISBN 9780738551715.
  6. Correction: Exxon Buys 25K Acres of Utica Shale Leases in OH, Marcellus Drilling News
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  11. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  15. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  16. "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 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  17. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  18. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  19. "Ohio Historical Election Results". Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  20. "Government-Monroe County Commissioners". Monroe County Ohio Homepage. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  21. "2005 Ohio Public Library Statistics:Statistics by County and Town". State Library of Ohio. Archived from the original on September 24, 2006. Retrieved October 3, 2006.
  22. THE BLUE BOOK OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. 1889. p. 508.
  23. 'Illinois Blue Book 1933-1934,' Biographical Sketch of W. C. Chynoweth, pg. 170-171
  24. "Montana Governor Samuel Vernon Stewart". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 10, 2012.

Further reading
  • Thomas William Lewis, History of Southeastern Ohio and the Muskingum Valley, 1788-1928. In Three Volumes. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.

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