Ohio County, West Virginia

Ohio County is a county located in the northern panhandle of the U.S. state of West Virginia. Formed from the District of West Augusta, VA in 1776, it was named for the Ohio River, which forms its western boundary. West Liberty (formerly Black's Cabin) was the county seat from 1777 to 1797. ^* The city of Wheeling has been the county seat since that time. As of 2000, the population was 47,427.

Law and Government

Executive

Ohio County is governed by a three member County Commission who each serve in rotating 6-year terms. The terms are designed such that one seat is up for election in even years. There can be only one person elected from each of Ohio County's three magisterial districts. The County Commission annually chooses its own President. The Ohio County Commissioners in 2006 are President David Sims (D), Tim McCormick (D), and Randy Wharton (D). The seat currently held by Mr. Sims is up for election in November 2006.

Other elected officials include Clerk of County Commission Patty Fahey (D) and Assessor Gregory Kloeppner (D). The County Commission typically appoints a County Administrator to oversee the daily executive duties for the Commission. The current Ohio County Administrator is Greg Stewart.

Judicial

Additionally, Ohio County is part of the First Judicial Circuit of West Virginia which also includes Hancock and Brooke Counties. In West Virginia, Circuit Judges are elected in partisan elections to eight-year terms. The current judges of the First Judicial Circuit are the Hon. Martin J. Gaughan, the Hon. James Mazzone, the Hon. Arthur M. Recht, and the Hon. Ronald E. Wilson. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is also elected in a partisan election but only to serve a six-year term. The current Clerk of the the First Judicial Circuit in Ohio County is Brenda Miller (D).

Ohio County is part of the First Family Court Circuit of West Virginia which also includes Hancock and Brooke Counties. In West Virginia, Family Court Judges were first elected to six-year terms beginning in 2002 and will be elected to eight-year terms beginning in 2008. The current judges of the First Family Court Circuit are the Hon. Joyce Chernenko and the Hon. William Sinclair.

Magistrates are elected in partisan elections serving four-year terms. Vacancies occurring in unexpired terms can be filled by a respective Circuit Court Judge. Unlike Circuit Court judges or Family Court judges, magistrates are not required to be attorneys. Ohio County currently has four magistrates: Rose Humway, Charles W. Murphy, Patricia Murphy, and Harry Radcliffe.

Law Enforcement

In West Virginia, a Prosecuting Attorney for each county is elected by partisan election to a four-year term. The current Prosecuting Attorney in Ohio County is Scott Smith (D).

A county Sheriff is likewise elected to a four-year term but is limited to serving only two terms. The Sheriff is also the ex-officio Treasurer for his/her respective county. The current Sheriff of Ohio County is Thomas Burgoyne (D).

State Legislators

Ohio County is part of the First Senatorial District of West Virginia which also includes Hancock and Brooke Counties. State Senator Edwin J. Bowman (D-Hancock) and State Senator Andy McKenzie (R-Ohio) currently represent the First Senatorial District. Senator Bowman's seat is up for re-election in November 2006.

Ohio County is part of both the Second and Third House of Delegate Districts. In Ohio County, the Second District is comprised by the extreme eastern end of Elm Grove as well as the towns of Triadelphia, Valley Grove, and West Liberty. The Second District is currently represented by Delegate Tim Ennis (D-Brooke) and Delegate Jack Yost (D-Brooke). The Third District is comprised by nearly all of the City of Wheeling and the Village of Bethlehem, WV. The Third District is currently represented by Delegate L. Gil White (R-Ohio) and Delegate Chris Wakim (R-Ohio). All 100 House of Delegates seats are elected every two years.

US Congress

Ohio County is part of the First Congressional District of West Virginia whose seat is currently held by Alan B. Mollohan (D-Fairmont). Similarly, Senators Robert C. Byrd (D-Sophia) and Jay Rockefeller (D-Charleston) represent West Virginia in the US Senate.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 282 km² (109 mi²). 275 km² (106 mi²) of it is land and 7 km² (3 mi²) of it (2.46%) is water. The highest point of elevation in Ohio County is approximately 1420 ft. and located about 1 mile southwest of West Alexander, PA.^*

Major Highways

I-70
I-470
US 40 - National Road
US 250
WV 2
WV 88

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 47,427 people, 19,733 households, and 12,155 families residing in the county. The population density was 172/km² (447/mi²). There were 22,166 housing units at an average density of 81/km² (209/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.50% White, 3.57% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 19,733 households out of which 25.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.30% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.40% were non-families. 33.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out with 21.30% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 18.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 87.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,836, and the median income for a family was $41,261. Males had a median income of $31,132 versus $21,978 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,734. About 11.50% of families and 15.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities, towns, and villages

Incorporated communities

Village of Valley Grove
Town of West Liberty
City of Wheeling (partly in Marshall County)

Unincorporated communities

Magisterial Districts

Liberty District (1)
Richland District (2)
Triadelphia District (3)

Zip Codes

26003 - Wheeling (including Bethlehem and Clearview)
26059 - Triadelphia
26060 - Valley Grove
26074 - West Liberty

Telephone Information

Land-Line Prefixes in Ohio County, WV

Wheeling / Bethlehem - 214, 232, 233, 234, 238, 242, 243
Warwood - 277
Triadelphia / Valley Grove - 547
West Liberty - 336

Education

Colleges and Universities

West Liberty State College
Wheeling Jesuit University
West Virginia Northern Community College
West Virginia Business College

Public Schools K-12

All public schools within Ohio County operate under the jurisdiction of Ohio County Schools with the consolidated high school housing grades 9-12, middle schools housing grades 6-8, and elementary schools housing grades K-5.

Wheeling Park High School
Bridge Street Middle School
Triadelphia Middle School
Warwood Middle School
Wheeling Middle School
Bethlehem Elementary School
Elm Grove Elementary School
Madison Elementary School
Middle Creek Elementary School
Ritchie Elementary School
Steenrod Elementary School
Warwood Grade School
Woodsdale Elementary School

Private and Parochial Schools

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston operates several K-8 schools and one high school in Ohio County.

Wheeling Central Catholic High School
Corpus Christi Parish School
St. Michael Parish School
St. Vincent de Paul Parish School
Wheeling Catholic Elementary

Additionally, there are also two highly prestigious private schools in Ohio County.

Linsly School
Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy

Miscellaneous Information

The Ohio County Fair is held annually in October at Site 1 in Oglebay Park.
When Ohio County was formed in 1776, it's area was much larger totaling 1,432 mi² and included portions of what is now Washington and Greene Counties in Pennsylvania. The formation of the Mason-Dixon Line and resolution of border disputes between Pennsylvania and Virginia began the first in a long series of reductions in the county's size.^*

External Links

West Virginia counties | Ohio County, West Virginia | Ohio River counties | 1776 establishments | National Road

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