Meigs County, Ohio

Meigs County, Ohio
County courthouse in Pomeroy
Location in the state of Ohio
Ohio's location in the U.S.
Founded	April 1, 1819
Named for	Return J. Meigs, Jr.
Seat	Pomeroy
Largest village	Middleport
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	433.00 sq mi (1,121 km²) 430.10 sq mi (1,114 km²) 2.90 sq mi (8 km²), 0.67%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	23,770 55.3/sq mi (21/km²)
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1820	4,480		—
1830	6,158		37.5%
1840	11,452		86.0%
1850	17,971		56.9%
1860	26,534		47.6%
1870	31,465		18.6%
1880	32,325		2.7%
1890	29,813		−7.8%
1900	28,620		−4.0%
1910	25,594		−10.6%
1920	26,189		2.3%
1930	23,961		−8.5%
1940	24,104		0.6%
1950	23,227		−3.6%
1960	22,159		−4.6%
1970	19,799		−10.7%
1980	23,641		19.4%
1990	22,987		−2.8%
2000	23,072		0.4%
2010	23,770		3.0%

Meigs County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 23,770, which is an increase of 3.0% from 23,072 in 2000. Its county seat is Pomeroy, and it is named for Return J. Meigs, Jr., the 4th Governor of Ohio.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 433.00 square miles (1,121.5 km²), of which 430.10 square miles (1,114.0 km²) (or 99.33%) is land and 2.90 square miles (7.5 km²) (or 0.67%) is water. The Ohio River forms the eastern and southern boundary of the county.

Meigs County lies in the Appalachian Plateau physiographic region of the Appalachian Mountains. The landscape is considered to be anywhere from gently rolling to rugged, typical of a dissected plateau. Elevations range from 1,020 feet (310 m) asl (above sea level) in the southwest to about 535 feet (163 m) asl in the far south central part of the county along the Ohio River. The majority of Meigs County is drained by two subwatersheds of the Ohio River, Shade River and Leading Creek. Another stream of note is Raccoon Creek, which flows through a small area of the northwestern corner of the county.

Coal mining, both strip and underground, has been an important industry in Meigs County since the late 19th century, although mining of all types largely ceased by the 1990s. The effects of mining are still readily seen on the landscape today. Features such as high walls, spoil piles, and irregular topography are still prevalent. Many tributaries in the Leading Creek basin are plagued by acid mine drainage and sedimentation.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009, Gatling, Ohio LLC invested $75 million to open a new coal mine and coal prep plant near Racine. It is capable of employing 120 to 150 miners, and is capable of producing 3.5 million marketable tons of coal per year.

Adjacent counties

• Athens County (north)
• Wood County, West Virginia (northeast)
• Jackson County, West Virginia (east)
• Mason County, West Virginia (southeast)
• Gallia County (southwest)
• Vinton County (west)

Climate

Meigs County's climate is considered humid continental, with warm to hot, humid summers and cool to cold, wet winters. Precipitation averages 41" annually, spread evenly throughout the year. High July temperatures average in the upper 80s F, while lows average in the low to mid 60s F. Temperatures above 90* F in the summer are common. January highs average about 40* F, with lows in the lower 20s. Temperatures around or even below 0* F occur during most winters. Snowfall averages 20–25", falling between late November and the first week of April.

The Ohio River creates a microclimate in its valley where temperatures tend to be moderated by the river, hence resulting in longer growing seasons compared to the rest of the county. Other microclimates, known as frost hollows or frost pockets, exist throughout the county in small isolated valleys. Nocturnal temperatures are often several degrees colder than the surrounding terrain.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 23,072 people, 9,234 households, and 6,574 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile (21/km²). There were 10,782 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.73% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Meigs County Courthouse

There were 9,234 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.90% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,287, and the median income for a family was $33,071. Males had a median income of $30,821 versus $19,621 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,848. About 14.30% of families and 19.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.30% of those under age 18 and 14.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Main article: Ohio county government

Education

Meigs county schools include:

• Meigs Elementary School
• Meigs Middle School
• Meigs High School
• Eastern High School
• Southern High School

Communities

Map of Meigs County, Ohio with municipal and township labels

Villages

Middleport Pomeroy Racine

Rutland Syracuse

Townships

Bedford Chester Columbia Lebanon

Letart Olive Orange Rutland

Salem Salisbury Scipio Sutton

Unincorporated communities

Apple Grove Chester Darwin Langsville

Long Bottom Portland Reedsville Tuppers Plains

Protected areas

• Forked Run State Park
• Shade River State Forest

Notable natives and residents

• Mike Bartrum, an NFL long snapper/tight end
• Ambrose Bierce, an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist and satirist best known for his short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge".
• James Edwin Campbell, a poet, writer and educator
• Norman "Kid" Elberfeld, a Major League Baseball shortstop and manager
• William P. Halliday, steamboat captain, businessman, and railroad executive.
• Samuel Dana Horton, a bimetallism writer
• Reverend Fr. John Joseph Jessing, founder of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio
• Benny Kauff, Major League Baseball player
• Cy Morgan, a Major League Baseball pitcher
• David L. "Dave" Diles, a former American sports broadcaster and journalist

See also

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

External links

• Meigs County genealogy and history