Clermont County, Ohio

Clermont County, Ohio
Location in the state of Ohio
Ohio's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 6, 1800
Named for	Derived from the French term for "clear mountains and hills".
Seat	Batavia
Largest city	Milford*
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	459.77 sq mi (1,191 km²) 452.10 sq mi (1,171 km²) 7.67 sq mi (20 km²), 1.67%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	197,363 436.5/sq mi (169/km²)
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.clermontcountyohio.gov
Footnotes: *Based on population just within the county.

Clermont County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States, just east of Cincinnati. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 197,363, which is an increase of 10.9% from 177,977 in 2000. Its county seat is Batavia. The county is named either for a place in France or for the French for "clear mountain", though there are no mountains there.

Clermont County is part of the Cincinnati–Middletown, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Established in December 1800, Clermont County is the eighth oldest of Ohio's 88 counties, and is the eleventh oldest county in the Northwest Territory. Clermont is a French word meaning "clear mountain," which described the area when it was first viewed by French explorers in the 1600s.

The first village and the first Clermont County seat, was the Village of Williamsburg, established in 1796. In 1823, New Richmond became the county seat, and in 1824, it moved to Batavia, which remains the county seat today.

Clermont County has a rich historical past. A number of Native American tribes called this area home, including the Shawnee, Miami, Delaware, Mingo, Ottawa, Cherokee, and Wyandot. The last Native American village in the county was located two miles south of Marathon in Jackson Township, along the mouth of Grassy Run on the East Fork of the Little Miami River. The Wyandot lived there until 1811. That location was the site of the largest frontier battle in Clermont County, the Battle of Grassy Run, where pioneer Simon Kenton clashed with Native American warrior, Tecumseh, on April 10, 1792.

This area was also home to President and military hero, General Ulysses S. Grant, born in Point Pleasant on April 27, 1822. He became commander-in-chief of the U.S. Army during the Civil War, and was the eighteenth president of our country. His birthplace in Point Pleasant (originally a one room cabin) continues to welcome visitors today. In 1890, General Grants birthplace was removed from its original location, and traveled by boat to be viewed by citizens, along various waterways. It was also taken to the Chicago Worlds Fair, before making its way back to Clermont County.

There are numerous sites along the Ohio River in New Richmond, Moscow, and other communities that were prominent in the Underground Railroad.

In 1905, John M. Pattison of Owensville, became the first Clermont Countian to be elected governor of Ohio. Pattison also lived in Milford, residing in a mansion that is known as Promont. That structure is now a museum that houses a library and other historical memorabilia. It is located at 906 Main Street in Milford.

Among other notable Clermont County citizens is Hugh Nichols of Batavia who was the first Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court in 1914.

A stone dairy house, built in 1800, is thought to be the oldest standing structure in Clermont County. It is located beside Harmony Hill on South Third Street in Williamsburg. Harmony Hill (one of the areas first farms) was built by William Lytle, who was one of the first surveyors of the county.

The last covered bridge in Clermont County proudly stands on Stonelick Williams Corner Road, near US 50; it was built in 1878.

Clermont County has many other fascinating historical facts including: the Bullskin Trail (once a major pathway for Native Americans) runs north and south through the county along State Route 133, and was also used by frontiersmen Simon Kenton and Daniel Boone on hunting and warfare expeditions; John Hunt Morgan and his Confederate raiders invaded the county in 1863; George Washington once owned three parcels of land in Clermont County.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 459.77 square miles (1,190.8 km²), of which 452.10 square miles (1,170.9 km²) (or 98.33%) is land and 7.67 square miles (19.9 km²) (or 1.67%) is water. Clermont County is considered to be part of Appalachian Ohio.

Adjacent counties

• Warren County (north)
• Clinton County (north)
• Brown County (east)
• Bracken County, Kentucky (south)
• Pendleton County, Kentucky (southwest)
• Campbell County, Kentucky (southwest)
• Hamilton County (west)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1810	9,965		—
1820	15,820		58.8%
1830	20,466		29.4%
1840	23,106		12.9%
1850	30,455		31.8%
1860	33,034		8.5%
1870	34,268		3.7%
1880	36,713		7.1%
1890	33,553		−8.6%
1900	31,610		−5.8%
1910	29,551		−6.5%
1920	28,291		−4.3%
1930	29,786		5.3%
1940	34,109		14.5%
1950	42,182		23.7%
1960	80,530		90.9%
1970	95,725		18.9%
1980	128,483		34.2%
1990	150,187		16.9%
2000	177,977		18.5%
2010	197,363		10.9%
Population 1810-2007.

As of the census of 2000, there were 177,977 people, 66,013 households, and 49,047 families residing in the county. The population density was 394 people per square mile (152/km²). There were 69,226 housing units at an average density of 153 per square mile (59/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.13% White, 0.91% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.7% were of German, 16.7% American, 12.0% Irish and 11.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 66,013 households out of which 38.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 21.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 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 $49,386, and the median income for a family was $57,032. Males had a median income of $40,739 versus $27,613 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,370. About 5.30% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.70% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Seal of the Clermont County Clerk of Courts

The Clermont County Courthouse.

As of March 2010, the Clermont County Commissioners are: Bob Proud, Ed Humphrey, and Archie Wilson.

Map of Clermont County, Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels

Main article: Ohio county government

Localities

Municipalities

Amelia Batavia Bethel Chilo Felicity

Loveland Milford Moscow Neville

New Richmond Newtonsville Owensville Williamsburg

Townships

Batavia Franklin Goshen Jackson

Miami Monroe Ohio Pierce

Stonelick Tate Union

Washington Wayne Williamsburg

Census-designated places

Cherry Grove Day Heights

Mount Carmel Mount Repose

Mulberry Summerside

Withamsville

See also

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

External links

• Clermont County Clerk of Courts Public Records
• Clermont County Government's website