Pickaway County | |
|---|---|
 Pickaway County Courthouse | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOhio | |
 Ohio's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:39°38′N83°02′W / 39.64°N 83.03°W /39.64; -83.03 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | March 1, 1810[1] |
| Named after | Pekowi band |
| Seat | Circleville |
| Largest city | Circleville |
| Area | |
• Total | 507 sq mi (1,310 km2) |
| • Land | 501.32 sq mi (1,298.4 km2) |
| • Water | 5.23 sq mi (13.5 km2) 1.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 58,539 |
| • Density | 120/sq mi (50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Pickaway County is acounty in theU.S. state ofOhio. As of the2020 census, the population was 58,539.[2] Itscounty seat isCircleville.[3] Its name derives from thePekowi band ofShawnee Indians, who inhabited the area. (SeeList of Ohio county name etymologies.)
Pickaway County is part of theColumbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The future state of Ohio was part of theNorthwest Territory, created in 1787. To begin providing local control of this area, several counties were designated, among themWashington (1788) andWayne (1796) Counties. Portions of these counties were partitioned off to createRoss (1798),Fairfield (1800), andFranklin (1803) Counties. An act of the General Assembly of Ohio (January 12, 1810) directed that portions of Fairfield, Franklin, and Ross counties were to be partitioned off to create Pickaway County effective March 1, 1810, withCircleville named as county seat later that year (seeHistory of Circleville).
TheScioto River flows southward through the center of Pickaway County. Big Darby Creek drains the upper western part of the county, discharging into the Scioto atCircleville, and Deer Creek drains the lower western part of the county, flowing southward intoRoss County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills carved with drainages; all available areas (87%)[4] are devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain's highest point (1,090' or 332 m ASL) lies on the county's east border, 2.4 miles (3.9 km) east-northeast of Hargus Lake.[6] The county has a total area of 506.55 square miles (1,312.0 km2), of which 501.32 square miles (1,298.4 km2) is land and 5.23 square miles (13.5 km2) (1.0%) is water.[7]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 7,124 | — | |
| 1820 | 13,149 | 84.6% | |
| 1830 | 16,001 | 21.7% | |
| 1840 | 19,725 | 23.3% | |
| 1850 | 21,006 | 6.5% | |
| 1860 | 23,649 | 12.6% | |
| 1870 | 24,875 | 5.2% | |
| 1880 | 27,415 | 10.2% | |
| 1890 | 26,959 | −1.7% | |
| 1900 | 27,016 | 0.2% | |
| 1910 | 26,158 | −3.2% | |
| 1920 | 25,788 | −1.4% | |
| 1930 | 27,238 | 5.6% | |
| 1940 | 27,889 | 2.4% | |
| 1950 | 29,352 | 5.2% | |
| 1960 | 35,855 | 22.2% | |
| 1970 | 40,071 | 11.8% | |
| 1980 | 43,662 | 9.0% | |
| 1990 | 48,255 | 10.5% | |
| 2000 | 52,727 | 9.3% | |
| 2010 | 55,698 | 5.6% | |
| 2020 | 58,539 | 5.1% | |
| US Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2020[2] | |||
As of the2010 United States Census, there were 55,698 people, 19,624 households, and 14,286 families in the county.[12] The population density was 111.1 people per square mile (42.9 people/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 94.5% white, 3.4% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 27.0% wereGerman, 16.3% wereAmerican, 14.9% wereIrish, and 11.1% wereEnglish.[14]
Of the 19,624 households, 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.2% were non-families, and 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.03. The median age was 38.5 years.[12]
The median income for a household in the county was $49,262 and the median income for a family was $58,811. Males had a median income of $44,224 versus $35,077 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,432. About 9.5% of families and 12.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.[15]
As of the2000 United States Census,[16] there were 52,727 people, 17,599 households, and 13,287 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 105.2 people per square mile (40.6 people/km2). There were 18,596 housing units at an average density of 37.1 units per square mile (14.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.95%White, 6.43%Black orAfrican American, 0.28%Native American, 0.22%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.15% fromother races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 17,599 households, out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.50% weremarried couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.50% were non-families. 20.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.02.
The county population contained 24.30% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 122.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 125.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,832, and the median income for a family was $49,259. Males had a median income of $36,265 versus $26,086 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,478. About 7.60% of families and 9.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.
Prior to 1952, Pickaway County was strongly Democratic in presidential elections, only backing two Republican candidates for president from 1856 to 1948. Starting with the 1952 election, it has become a Republican Party stronghold, with the sole Democrat to win the county in a presidential election since then being Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 in the midst of his statewide & national landslide victory.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 21,607 | 73.46% | 7,397 | 25.15% | 409 | 1.39% |
| 2020 | 20,593 | 72.73% | 7,304 | 25.80% | 417 | 1.47% |
| 2016 | 17,076 | 68.55% | 6,529 | 26.21% | 1,307 | 5.25% |
| 2012 | 14,037 | 58.11% | 9,684 | 40.09% | 433 | 1.79% |
| 2008 | 14,228 | 59.81% | 9,077 | 38.16% | 482 | 2.03% |
| 2004 | 14,161 | 61.97% | 8,579 | 37.54% | 112 | 0.49% |
| 2000 | 10,717 | 60.41% | 6,598 | 37.19% | 425 | 2.40% |
| 1996 | 8,666 | 49.52% | 7,042 | 40.24% | 1,793 | 10.25% |
| 1992 | 8,690 | 45.91% | 5,765 | 30.45% | 4,475 | 23.64% |
| 1988 | 10,796 | 68.36% | 4,905 | 31.06% | 93 | 0.59% |
| 1984 | 11,942 | 73.90% | 4,110 | 25.43% | 108 | 0.67% |
| 1980 | 9,289 | 61.23% | 5,052 | 33.30% | 829 | 5.46% |
| 1976 | 7,695 | 54.79% | 5,907 | 42.06% | 443 | 3.15% |
| 1972 | 9,661 | 74.30% | 2,978 | 22.90% | 363 | 2.79% |
| 1968 | 6,690 | 53.25% | 3,536 | 28.14% | 2,338 | 18.61% |
| 1964 | 5,317 | 42.11% | 7,310 | 57.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 7,821 | 61.63% | 4,870 | 38.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 6,956 | 60.67% | 4,509 | 39.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 6,836 | 57.23% | 5,109 | 42.77% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 4,965 | 48.38% | 5,290 | 51.55% | 7 | 0.07% |
| 1944 | 5,997 | 52.80% | 5,362 | 47.20% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 5,974 | 46.42% | 6,895 | 53.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 4,920 | 38.55% | 7,813 | 61.22% | 30 | 0.24% |
| 1932 | 4,395 | 40.30% | 6,414 | 58.81% | 98 | 0.90% |
| 1928 | 5,871 | 59.87% | 3,894 | 39.71% | 41 | 0.42% |
| 1924 | 4,166 | 46.24% | 4,539 | 50.38% | 304 | 3.37% |
| 1920 | 5,273 | 48.20% | 5,645 | 51.60% | 21 | 0.19% |
| 1916 | 2,629 | 40.37% | 3,820 | 58.66% | 63 | 0.97% |
| 1912 | 2,282 | 36.12% | 3,311 | 52.41% | 724 | 11.46% |
| 1908 | 3,119 | 43.15% | 4,007 | 55.43% | 103 | 1.42% |
| 1904 | 2,976 | 44.63% | 3,492 | 52.37% | 200 | 3.00% |
| 1900 | 3,201 | 43.42% | 4,033 | 54.70% | 139 | 1.89% |
| 1896 | 3,370 | 44.23% | 4,165 | 54.67% | 84 | 1.10% |
| 1892 | 2,953 | 42.89% | 3,759 | 54.60% | 173 | 2.51% |
| 1888 | 3,046 | 43.40% | 3,831 | 54.58% | 142 | 2.02% |
| 1884 | 2,931 | 42.66% | 3,889 | 56.60% | 51 | 0.74% |
| 1880 | 2,910 | 43.63% | 3,753 | 56.27% | 7 | 0.10% |
| 1876 | 2,565 | 43.03% | 3,389 | 56.85% | 7 | 0.12% |
| 1872 | 2,353 | 46.59% | 2,660 | 52.67% | 37 | 0.73% |
| 1868 | 2,176 | 44.40% | 2,725 | 55.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 2,215 | 46.67% | 2,531 | 53.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 2,002 | 42.70% | 2,425 | 51.73% | 261 | 5.57% |
| 1856 | 1,724 | 41.32% | 2,066 | 49.52% | 382 | 9.16% |
Manufacturing makes up a significant proportion of area industry and employment; in the2010 census, 3075 county residents (13.4%) were employed in manufacturing.[18]Circleville is home to the largestDuPont chemical plant in Ohio. Opened in the 1950s, it producesMylar andTedlar plastic films, the latter used extensively in the production ofphotovoltaic modules.[19][20]
Other manufacturing concerns in Circleville or surrounding Pickaway County includeAleris, a producer of rolled and extruded aluminum products,[21] and Florida Production Engineering (FPE), producing plastic injection molded components for the automotive industry.[22]Georgia-Pacific, a manufacturer of paperboard containers and other paper products, has a plant located south of Circleville. ThePPG Industries Circleville plant is the company's center forpolymer resin production, primarily for automotive applications.[23]
Other major employers include Berger Health System; Circleville City,Teays Valley Local and Logan Elm Local School districts; Circle Plastics/TriMold LLC; theState of Ohio; andWal-Mart Stores.[18]
Businesses that formerly operated include theJefferson-Smurfit paper mill,[24] a 300-acre site, that is being redeveloped.[25]American Electric Power (AEP) owned thePicway Power Plant in the northern part of Pickaway County. The coal-fired power plant operated from 1926 to 2015.[26] AGE Lighting plant opened in 1948.[21] The plant closed in 2017.[27] RCA/Thomson Glass operated from 1970 until its closing around 2006.[citation needed]
A list of all school districts covering portions of the county, no matter how slight (even if the schools and administration buildings are in other counties):[28]
Teays Valley is in the northern part of the county. Schools in this district include:
Teays Valley has the largest number of students in the county at 4,374 total students.[29]
Logan Elm consists of the area in Southeastern Pickaway County.
Westfall lies in the Western part of the county.
Pickaway-Ross lies just below the county line in Ross County. Students from the following affiliated Pickaway and Ross county districts attend the vocational school:
Pickaway County is also known for its various places with the name "Hitler", including Hitler Road, Hitler-Ludwig Road, Hitler-Ludwig Cemetery, and Hitler Park.[31] They are not named after the German dictatorAdolf Hitler, but rather they were named after a local historical family named the Hitlers, who have been described by a local paper in 2011 as "fine, upstanding citizens". The family included George Washington Hitler and his son, Gay Hitler, who worked as a local dentist between 1922 and 1946.[31][32]
Places adjacent to Pickaway County, Ohio | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofPickaway County, Ohio,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
39°38′N83°02′W / 39.64°N 83.03°W /39.64; -83.03
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