Ohio County is a county located in the Northern Panhandle of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,425. Its county seat is Wheeling. The county was formed in 1776 from the District of West Augusta, Virginia. It was named for the Ohio River, which forms its western boundary with the state of Ohio. West Liberty (formerly Black’s Cabin) was designated as the county seat in 1777, serving to 1797.
Ohio County is part of the Wheeling, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.
| Name: | Ohio County |
|---|---|
| FIPS code: | 54-069 |
| State: | West Virginia |
| Founded: | October 7, 1776 |
| Named for: | Ohio River |
| Seat: | Wheeling |
| Largest city: | Wheeling |
| Total Area: | 109 sq mi (280 km²) |
| Land Area: | 106 sq mi (270 km²) |
| Total Population: | 42,425 |
| Population Density: | 390/sq mi (150/km²) |
Ohio County location map. Where is Ohio County?
Ohio County Road Map
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 109 square miles (280 km), of which 106 square miles (270 km) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km) (2.9%) is water. It is the third-smallest county in West Virginia by area. The highest point of elevation in Ohio County is approximately 1,420 ft (430 m) and located about 1-mile (1.6 km) southwest of West Alexander, Pennsylvania. The county is drained by Wheeling and other small creeks.
In 1863, West Virginia’s counties were divided into civil townships, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts. Ohio County was divided into five districts: Center, Clay, Liberty, Madison, Richland, Ritchie, Triadelphia, Union, Washington, and Webster. Centre, Clay, Madison, Union, and Webster Districts all lay within the city of Wheeling, as did part of Washington District.
By 1880, part of Ritchie District had also been subsumed by Wheeling. In the 1970s, the ten historic magisterial districts were consolidated into five new districts: Liberty Triadelphia; Madison, Union Clay, Washington District; Titchie Webster Center District, and Triadelphia. These were further consolidated in the 1980s to form District 1, District 2, and District 3.
Major highways
- I-70
- I-470
- US 40
- US 250
- WV 2
- WV 88
Adjacent counties
- Brooke County (north)
- Washington County, Pennsylvania (east)
- Marshall County (south)
- Belmont County, Ohio (west)
- Jefferson County, Ohio (northwest)
Ohio County is one of four counties in the United States to border a state with which it shares the same name (the other three counties are Nevada County, California; Texas County, Oklahoma; and Delaware County, Pennsylvania).
National protected area
- Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Ohio County Topographic Map
Ohio County Satellite Map
Ohio County Outline Map
