Jefferson County, Ohio

Jefferson County
Jefferson County
U.S. county
	Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
	Ohio's location within the U.S.
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Country	United States ;
State	Ohio
Founded	July 29, 1797
Seat	Steubenville
Area
• Total	411 sq mi (1,060 km2)
• Land	408 sq mi (1,060 km2)
• Water	3.4 sq mi (9 km2)
Population (2020)
• Total	65,249
• Density	160/sq mi (60/km2)

File:JeffersonCOOH.png

Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 65,249. The county seat is Steubenville. The county was named after Thomas Jefferson, who was then Vice President of the United States.

History[edit | edit source]

Jefferson County was formed on July 29, 1797, from parts of Washington County. It was named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, who was serving as Vice President of the United States at the time. The county played a significant role in the early development of the Ohio River Valley and was a key area during the American Civil War.

Geography[edit | edit source]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 411 square miles (1,064 km²), of which 408 square miles (1,057 km²) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) (0.8%) is water. The county is part of the Appalachian Plateau and features a mix of rolling hills and valleys.

Adjacent counties[edit | edit source]

Columbiana County (north)
Hancock County, West Virginia (northeast)
Brooke County, West Virginia (east)
Ohio County, West Virginia (southeast)
Belmont County (south)
Harrison County (west)
Carroll County (northwest)

Demographics[edit | edit source]

As of the 2020 census, there were 65,249 people, 27,000 households, and 17,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 160 people per square mile (62/km²). The racial makeup of the county was predominantly White, with smaller percentages of African American, Native American, and other races.

Economy[edit | edit source]

The economy of Jefferson County has historically been based on coal mining, steel production, and agriculture. In recent years, there has been a shift towards service industries, healthcare, and education. The county is home to several large employers, including Franciscan University of Steubenville and Trinity Health System.

Education[edit | edit source]

Jefferson County is served by several school districts, including Steubenville City School District, Indian Creek Local School District, and Edison Local School District. Higher education institutions in the county include Franciscan University of Steubenville and Eastern Gateway Community College.

Transportation[edit | edit source]

Major highways in Jefferson County include U.S. Route 22, State Route 7, and State Route 43. The county is also served by the Jefferson County Airpark, a public-use airport.