Ross County, Ohio#Micropolitan Statistical Area

Ross County was formed by proclamation of Governor St. Clair, August 20, 1798, being the sixth county formed in the Northwest Territory.{{Cite book |last=Howe |first=Henry |title=Historical Collections of Ohio |publisher=C.J. Krehbiel & Co. |year=1888 |volume=2 |location=Cincinnati |publication-date=1890 |pages=491}}

Ross County was described by Ephraim George Squier and Edwin Hamilton Davis as having almost "one hundred enclosures of various sizes, and five hundred mounds" in their book, Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley (1848). They described the Indian-built earthworks as ranging from {{convert|5|to(-)|30|ft}} in size, and enclosures of {{convert|1|to(-)|50|acre}} large. These included Serpent Mound, Fort Ancient, Mound City, and Seip Earthworks (both now part of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park), and Newark Earthworks.{{cite book|last=Squier|first=E.G.|title=Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley|year=1848|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|location=Washington, D.C.|page=57|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/4301/view/1/57/}}

Image:Ohio State Route 180.jpg]]

The Scioto River flows southward through the east-central part of the county. Paint Creek drains the lower central part of the county, flowing eastward to its terminus with the Scioto at a point southeast of Chillicothe. The county terrain consists of frequent wooded hills, with the intermediate level areas devoted to agriculture.[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ross+County,+OH/@39.3421899,-83.2073927,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88470fdf286f6199:0x61e230259a3eb961!8m2!3d39.3584253!4d-82.9931607 Ross County OH - Google Maps (accessed 8 June 2019)] The county's highest point is Farrell Hill, {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}} northeast of Bainbridge.[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=6542 Farrell Hill (PeakBagger.com, accessed 8 June 2019)] The county has a total area of {{convert|693|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|689|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.8|sqmi}} (0.6%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_39.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=February 10, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504223453/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_39.txt|archive-date=May 4, 2014}} Ross County is the second-largest county by land area in Ohio, after Ashtabula County, as well as the fifth-largest by total area.

{{div col}}

• Pickaway County - north
• Hocking County - northeast
• Vinton County - east
• Jackson County - southeast
• Pike County - south
• Highland County - southwest
• Fayette County - northwest

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• Adena State Memorial[https://www.stateparks.com/adena_state_memorial_in_ohio.html Adena State Memorial (Ohio State Parks) accessed 8 June 2019]
• Great Seal State Park[http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/greatseal Great Seal State Park (Ohio Div of Natural Resources) accessed 8 June 2019]
• Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
• Paint Creek State Park (part)
• Pleasant Valley Wildlife Area
• Ross Lake Wilderness Area
• Scioto Trail State Forest
• Scioto Trail State Park (part of American Discovery Trail)
• Tar Hollow State Forest (part)

{{div col end}}

{{US Census population

|1800= 8540

|1810= 15514

|1820= 20619

|1830= 24068

|1840= 27460

|1850= 32074

|1860= 35071

|1870= 37097

|1880= 40307

|1890= 39454

|1900= 40940

|1910= 40069

|1920= 41556

|1930= 45181

|1940= 52147

|1950= 54424

|1960= 61215

|1970= 61211

|1980= 65004

|1990= 69330

|2000= 73345

|2010= 78064

|2020= 77093

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=US Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=February 10, 2015}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=February 10, 2015}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/oh190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=February 10, 2015}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=February 10, 2015}} 2020 [https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 census]

}}

As of the 2000 United States Census,{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} there were 73,345 people, 27,136 households, and 19,185 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|106|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 29,461 housing units at an average density of {{convert|42.7|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 91.74% White, 6.20% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 27,136 households, out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% 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 2.97.

The county population contained 24.00% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 108.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,117, and the median income for a family was $43,241. Males had a median income of $35,892 versus $23,399 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,569. About 9.10% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.10% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 78,064 people, 28,919 households, and 19,782 families in the county.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39141|title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data|access-date=December 27, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031659/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39141|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}} The population density was {{convert|113|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 32,148 housing units at an average density of {{convert|46.6|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39141|access-date=December 27, 2015|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213185222/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39141|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}} The racial makeup of the county was 90.7% white, 6.2% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 27.0% were German, 15.2% were Irish, 12.5% were American, and 10.5% were English.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39141|title=Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=December 27, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213035157/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39141|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}

Of the 28,919 households, 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.6% were non-families, and 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 39.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,626 and the median income for a family was $50,081. Males had a median income of $42,721 versus $32,374 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,595. About 13.1% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39141|title=Selected Social Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=December 27, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213034846/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39141|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}

{{See also|Ohio county government}}

County officials are (as of October 2024):

• County Auditor Jeff Lehner
• County Board of Elections
• Traci Henness, Director
• Jessica Ott, Deputy Director
• Beth Neal, Chair
• Eric Rinehart, Member
• Doug Corcoran, Member
• Philip Gray, Member
• Clerk of Courts Jordan Wheeler
• Board of Commissioners
• James "Oody" Lowe
• Jack Everson
• David Glass
• Ross County Court of Common Pleas:
• Judge Michael M. Ater
• Judge Matthew Schmidt
• Probate and Juvenile Court Judge J. Jeffrey Benson
• Magistrate John Di Cesare
• County Coroner Ben Trotter
• County Engineer Charles R. Ortman
• County Prosecutor Jeffrey C. Marks
• County Recorder Anthony “Major” Maughmer
• County Treasurer David Jeffers
• County Sheriff George W. Lavender

Ross is a generally Republican county in Presidential and Congressional elections, although until recent years, Democratic candidates performed fairly well in the county. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964, while Bill Clinton won a plurality in 1996 and Barack Obama came within just 439 votes in 2012.

Ross is part of Ohio's 2nd congressional district, which is held by Republican David Taylor.

{{PresHead|place=Ross County, Ohio|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 3, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|22,801|9,846|418|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|22,278|10,557|530|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|18,652|10,356|1,557|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|15,008|14,569|583|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|16,759|14,455|711|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|17,231|13,978|462|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|13,706|11,662|648|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|10,286|12,649|2,862|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|10,825|10,452|5,896|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|14,563|9,271|279|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|17,015|8,020|513|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|13,251|9,355|1,253|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|11,477|10,743|531|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|15,573|5,879|436|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|11,284|6,873|4,089|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|9,623|12,704|0|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|14,075|9,036|0|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|13,036|7,418|0|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|13,431|8,585|0|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|10,398|9,524|42|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|11,424|9,928|0|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|11,780|12,447|0|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|9,817|12,503|121|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|9,575|10,542|110|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|11,179|6,062|67|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|8,431|6,028|1,194|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|9,330|7,063|133|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|4,857|5,154|159|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|3,600|4,494|1,698|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|5,432|5,325|174|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|5,472|4,387|163|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|5,463|5,035|88|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1896|Republican|5,562|4,967|101|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1892|Republican|4,632|4,489|296|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1888|Republican|4,942|4,584|221|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1884|Republican|4,830|4,723|50|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1880|Republican|4,734|4,551|32|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|4,177|4,431|21|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1872|Democratic|3,650|3,711|5|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|3,230|3,645|0|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1864|Republican|3,380|3,204|0|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1860|Republican|3,043|2,806|577|Ohio}}

{{PresRow|1856|Democratic|2,436|2,681|589|Ohio}}

|}

{{U.S. SenHead|place=Ross County, Ohio|Seat=1|source={{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/ohio-senate-results}}}}

{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|20,402|11,125|1,160|Ohio}}

{{U.S. SenFoot}}

School districts covering portions of Ross County include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st39_oh/schooldistrict_maps/c39141_ross/DC20SD_C39141.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ross County, OH|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-11-21}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st39_oh/schooldistrict_maps/c39141_ross/DC20SD_C39141_SD2MS.txt Text list]

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Adena Local School District
• Chillicothe City School District
• Greenfield Exempted Village School District
• Huntington Local School District
• Logan Elm Local School District
• Miami Trace Local School District
• Paint Valley Local School District
• Southeastern Local School District
• Union-Scioto Local School District
• Waverly City School District
• Zane Trace Local School District

{{div col end}}

Pickaway-Ross lies in the Northern part of the county. Students from the following affiliated Ross and Pickaway county districts attend the vocational school:

• Adena Local School District (Ross County)
• Chillicothe City School District (Ross County)
• Huntington Local School District (Ross County)
• Paint Valley Local School District (Ross County)
• Southeastern Local School District (Ross County)
• Unioto Local School District (Ross County)
• Zane Trace Local School District (Ross County)
• Circleville City School District (Pickaway County)
• Logan Elm Local School District (Pickaway County)
• Westfall Local School District (Pickaway County)

Ohio University established a regional campus in Chillicothe in 1966. The university has over 2,500 students enrolled as of 2010, ranging from traditional-aged students and non-traditional learners.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohio.edu/chillicothe/profilefactsheet.cfm|title=Profile Fact Sheet|website=www.ohio.edu|access-date=September 9, 2018|archive-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909073911/https://www.ohio.edu/chillicothe/profilefactsheet.cfm|url-status=dead}}

Image:Map of Ross County Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG

• Chillicothe (county seat)

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

• Adelphi
• Bainbridge
• Clarksburg
• Frankfort
• Kingston
• South Salem

{{div col end}}

• Andersonville
• Bourneville
• Richmond Dale or Richmondale

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

• Alma
• Anderson
• Austin
• Brownsville[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Brownsville,+Huntington+Township,+OH+45601/@39.2606363,-83.0592139,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8847056cf1bb4015:0xc0f52a0b7abe25c6!8m2!3d39.2606206!4d-83.0504591 Brownsville, Huntington Twp OH - Google Maps (accessed 8 June 2019)]
• Denver
• Fruitdale
• Greenland
• Hallsville
• Harper
• Higby
• Hopetown
• Humboldt
• Ingham{{cite web |title=Ingham – OpenStreetMap |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/12779852780 |access-date=2025-04-24}}
• Kinnikinnick
• Knockemstiff
• Lattaville
• Lickskillet[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Lickskillet,+Liberty+Township,+OH+45601/@39.2500822,-82.8183719,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8847af45f18a840b:0xd367d87d28274c79!8m2!3d39.2500665!4d-82.8096171 Lickskillet, Liberty Twp OH - Google Maps (accessed 8 June 2019)]
• Londonderry
• Lyndon
• Massieville
• Metzger[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Metzger,+Green+Township,+OH+45601/@39.3936902,-82.9644894,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88470ba960f1af91:0xd8ee61065720ea13!8m2!3d39.3936745!4d-82.9557346 Metzger, Green Twp - Google Maps (accessed 8 June 2019)]
• Mooresville
• Musselman
• Nipgen
• North Fork Village
• Pleasant Grove[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pleasant+Grove,+Twin+Township,+OH+45601/@39.2286927,-83.140883,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88471ba4c88a1a7b:0x5ca59b3d63e47616!8m2!3d39.2286769!4d-83.1321282 Pleasant Grove, Twin Twp OH - Google Maps (accessed 8 June 2019)]
• Pleasant Valley[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pleasant+Valley,+Union+Township,+OH+45601/@39.3725792,-83.0489371,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88470dcdeb53c161:0xe12e461bd4e46781!8m2!3d39.3725635!4d-83.0401823 Pleasant Valley, Union Twp OH - Google Maps (accessed 8 June 2019)]
• Pride
• Roxabell
• Schooley
• Slate Mills
• Spargursville
• Storms
• Summithill
• Tucson
• Vigo
• Yellowbud

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

• Buckskin
• Colerain
• Concord
• Deerfield
• Franklin
• Green
• Harrison
• Huntington
• Jefferson
• Liberty
• Paint
• Paxton
• Scioto
• Springfield
• Twin
• Union

{{div col end}}

• Clyde Beatty (1903-1965) - lion tamer and animal trainer
• Blue Jacket (1743-1810) - Shawnee War Chief
• William Granville Cochran (1844-1932) - Illinois state judge and legislator
• Esther Housh (1840–1898) - social reformer, author, editor
• Donald Ray Pollock (1954) - author
• John Purdue (1802-1876) - founding benefactor of Purdue University
• Frederick Madison Roberts (1879-1952) - great-grandson of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson, first African-American elected to office on the West Coast (elected to California Assembly in 1918), and "dean of the assembly" who helped found the University of California at Los Angeles.
• Tecumseh (1768-1813) - Native American Shawnee Leader

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Ross County, Ohio

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|http://www.pickawayross.com/Default.aspx}}
• [http://www.co.ross.oh.us/ Ross County Government website]
• [http://www.rosscountycommissioners.com/ Ross County Commissioners]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Ross County, Ohio

|North = Pickaway County

|Northeast = Hocking County

|East = Vinton County

|Southeast = Jackson County

|South = Pike County

|Southwest = Highland County

|Northwest = Fayette County

}}

{{Ross County, Ohio}}

{{Ohio}}

{{coord|39.33|-83.06|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OH_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Appalachian Ohio

Category:1798 establishments in the Northwest Territory

Category:Populated places established in 1798