Mount Gilead, Ohio

Morrow County Courthouse.

Mount Gilead is a village in Morrow County, Ohio, United States.

Mount Gilead's population was 3,290 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morrow County and the center of population of Ohio[1]. The village was established in 1832, eight years after white settlers arrived in the region. Before their arrival, the forest was a hunting area for the Shawnee tribe.

Located in the center of the village is Morrow County's historic World War I Victory Memorial Shaft, unique in the United States, and Mount Gilead State Park is nearby on Ohio State Route 95. Other areas drawing tourism include the Amish farms, shops and stores east of Mount Gilead, near Chesterville and Johnsville. Mount Gilead is also home to the Morrow County Hospital.

Geography

Location of Mount Gilead, Ohio

Mount Gilead is located at 40°33′8″N 82°49′54″W (40.552090, -82.831587)Template:GR. Its elevation is 1,081 feet above sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 8.3 km² (3.2 mi²). 8.2 km² (3.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.31% is water.

Mount Gilead is considered to be a part of "Central Ohio."

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, the Mount Gilead population included 3,290 residents; 1,291 households; and 843 families. The population density was 399.5/km² (1,035.7/mi²). The median age of village residents was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males; for every 100 females age 18 or older, there were 90.5 males.

Mount Gilead State Park.

The racial makeup of the village was 97.78% White, 1.06% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.03% of the population.

The median income for a household in the village was $31,894, and the median income for a family was $42,529. Males had a median income of $35,714 versus $22,425 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,064. About 10.1% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.

Old Morrow County Jail.

Notable Natives

Warren G. Harding, the 29th President of the United States, was born near Blooming Grove, Ohio, northeast of Mount Gilead. As an Ohio Central College student, Harding began to seriously learn the newspaper and printing trade in Mount Gilead by working at the downtown Union Register.

Satirical author Dawn Powell was born and raised in the village.

Other notable persons that resided in Mount Gilead were social reformer Victoria Woodhull, actor Tom Poston, and former Major League Baseball pitcher Tim Belcher.

Victory Memorial Shaft.

Victory Shaft

The Victory Shaft was erected in Mount Gilead's town square in December 1919, following World War I. It was presented as a gift from the federal government to Morrow County citizens to thank them for purchasing more war bonds per capita than any other county. Warren G. Harding, a Senator at the time, was the keynote speaker at the dedication.

External links

• Village website