Belmont County, Ohio

Belmont County, Ohio


Seal
Motto: Meliorem lapsa locavit
(Latin, "He has planted one better than the one fallen")[1]
Map of Ohio highlighting Belmont County
Location in the state of Ohio
Map of the United States highlighting Ohio
Ohio's location in the U.S.
Founded March 1, 1815
Named for "beautiful mountain" in French
Seat St. Clairsville
Largest city Martins Ferry
Area
 • Total 541 sq mi (1,401 km2)
 • Land 532 sq mi (1,378 km2)
 • Water 9.1 sq mi (24 km2), 1.7%
Population
 • (2010) 70,400
 • Density 132/sq mi (51/km²)
Congressional district 6th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.belmontcountyohio.org

Belmont County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 70,400.[2] Its county seat is St. Clairsville.[3] The county was created in 1801 and later organized in 1815.[4] It takes its name from the French for "beautiful mountain".[5]

Belmont County is part of the Wheeling, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the only Belmont County nationwide.

History

In 1976, Belmont County became the first American county to elect a female sheriff, Katherine Crumbly.[6]

In 1987, Michael A Massa, a county resident, created and dedicated the County's first Official Seal and Flag to the people of Belmont County (photo of county seal featured above the county map- see vignette at above right). The citizens of the county held an informal election to select the winning seal and flag, and the event was featured nationally on the Paul Harvey Show.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 541 square miles (1,400 km2), of which 532 square miles (1,380 km2) is land and 9.1 square miles (24 km2) (1.7%) is water.[7]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
181011,097—
182020,32983.2%
183028,62740.8%
184030,9017.9%
185034,60012.0%
186036,3985.2%
187039,7149.1%
188049,63825.0%
189057,41315.7%
190060,8756.0%
191076,85626.3%
192093,19321.3%
193094,7191.6%
194095,6140.9%
195087,740−8.2%
196083,864−4.4%
197080,917−3.5%
198082,5692.0%
199071,074−13.9%
200070,226−1.2%
201070,4000.2%
Est. 201469,461[8]−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2013[2]

2000 census

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 70,226 people, 28,309 households, and 19,250 families residing in the county. The population density was 131 people per square mile (50/km²). There were 31,236 housing units at an average density of 58 per square mile (22/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.98% White, 3.64% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 0.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.2% were of German, 12.5% Irish, 12.0% American, 10.3% English, 10.2% Italian and 9.0% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 28,309 households out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.80% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 18.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,714, and the median income for a family was $37,538. Males had a median income of $31,211 versus $19,890 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,221. About 11.70% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 70,400 people, 28,679 households, and 18,761 families residing in the county.[14] The population density was 132.3 inhabitants per square mile (51.1/km2). There were 32,452 housing units at an average density of 61.0 per square mile (23.6/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 94.0% white, 4.0% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.6% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 26.0% were German, 17.9% were Irish, 12.4% were English, 10.1% were Italian, 9.0% were Polish, and 6.2% were American.[16]

Of the 28,679 households, 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.6% were non-families, and 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 43.4 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,320 and the median income for a family was $47,214. Males had a median income of $42,022 versus $26,926 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,266. About 12.1% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Politics

Presidential election results[18]
Year Republican Democrat
2012 52.88% 16,758 44.67% 14,156
2008 47.40% 15,422 50.10% 16,302
2004 46.78% 15,589 52.75% 17,576
2000 41.89% 12,625 53.02% 15,980

Government

Almost all of the county's government offices are located in the Belmont County Courthouse.[19]

Belmont County has a 3-member Board of County Commissioners that administer and oversee the various County departments, similar to all but 2 of the 88 Ohio counties. The elected commissioners serve four-year terms. Belmont County's elected commissioners are: Matt Coffland (D), Mark Thomas (D), and Ginny Favede (D).[20]

Belmont County's county flag was designed in 1988 by local state official Michael Massa. Local citizens voted in a nationally covered election to choose it from a group of three designs by Massa. The seal (minus a Latin phrase) is featured on the county's flag.[21]

Corrections

Belmont County is serviced by several detentional centers located around St. Clairsville. The Belmont Correctional Institution is located on 158 acres (0.64 km2) between St. Clairsville and Bannock on State Route 331. The facility currently houses 2,698 inmates.[22] The Belmont County Jail is located in St. Clairsville and is located near Belmont College and Ohio University Eastern Campus. The facility contains 144 beds and also houses the county sheriff's offices.[23] The county is also serviced by Sargus Juvenile Detention Center, a 17-bed facility that also services surrounding counties.[24] Sargus Center is located next door to the county jail.

Education

K-12

Belmont County is served by the following local school districts

A small part of the county is served by the following schools of the multicounty Switzerland of Ohio Local School District:

Higher education

Communities

Map of Belmont County, Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels

Cities

Villages

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Belmont County Flag". Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ↑ "Ohio: Individual County Chronologies". Ohio Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Belmont County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  6. ↑ "Past Belmont County Sheriffs - Belmont County Sheriff's Office". Belmont County Sheriff's Office.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  11. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  13. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  15. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. 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. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  17. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  18. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2016-03-27.
  19. ↑ "Ohio Secretary of State 2006 Unofficial Election Statistics". Archived from the original on 9 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-05.
  20. ↑ "Belmont County Board of Commissioners". Belmont County Ohio Government Homepage. October 1, 2014.
  21. ↑ Ohio County Flags: Belmont County, The Ohio Channel, 2007. Accessed 2007-09-11.
  22. ↑ "Belmont Correctional Institution". state.oh.us.
  23. ↑ "Belmont County Sheriff's Office". Belmont County Sheriff's Office.
  24. ↑ "Belmont County Juvenile Court". belmontcountyjuvenilecourt.com.
  25. ↑ "Kansas Governor Walter Roscoe Stubbs". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 29, 2012.

Further reading

External links

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Coordinates: 40°01′N 80°59′W / 40.02°N 80.99°W / 40.02; -80.99

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