Pickaway County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,539.[2] Its county seat is Circleville.[3] Its name derives from the Pekowi band of Shawnee Indians, who inhabited the area. (See List of Ohio county name etymologies.)

Pickaway County
Pickaway County Courthouse
Pickaway County Courthouse
Flag of Pickaway County
Official seal of Pickaway County
Map of Ohio highlighting Pickaway County
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Map of the United States highlighting Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°38′N 83°02′W / 39.64°N 83.03°W / 39.64; -83.03
Country United States
State Ohio
FoundedMarch 1, 1810[1]
Named forPekowi band
SeatCircleville
Largest cityCircleville
Area
 • Total507 sq mi (1,310 km2)
 • Land501.32 sq mi (1,298.4 km2)
 • Water5.23 sq mi (13.5 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total58,539 Increase
 • Density120/sq mi (50/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.pickaway.org

Pickaway County is part of the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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The future state of Ohio was part of the Northwest Territory, created in 1787. To begin providing local control of this area, several counties were designated, among them Washington (1788) and Wayne (1796) Counties. Portions of these counties were partitioned off to create Ross (1798), Fairfield (1800), and Franklin (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, with Circleville named as county seat later that year (see History of Circleville).

Geography

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The Scioto River flows southward through the center of Pickaway County. Big Darby Creek drains the upper western part of the county, discharging into the Scioto at Circleville, and Deer Creek drains the lower western part of the county, flowing southward into Ross 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]

Adjacent counties

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Main highways

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Protected areas

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Lakes

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  • Deer Creek Lake (part)
  • Hargus Lake

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18107,124
182013,14984.6%
183016,00121.7%
184019,72523.3%
185021,0066.5%
186023,64912.6%
187024,8755.2%
188027,41510.2%
189026,959−1.7%
190027,0160.2%
191026,158−3.2%
192025,788−1.4%
193027,2385.6%
194027,8892.4%
195029,3525.2%
196035,85522.2%
197040,07111.8%
198043,6629.0%
199048,25510.5%
200052,7279.3%
201055,6985.6%
202058,5395.1%
US Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2020 [2]

2010 census

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As of the 2010 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% were German, 16.3% were American, 14.9% were Irish, and 11.1% were English.[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 the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.[15]

2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States Census,[16] there were 52,727 people, 17,599 households, and 13,287 families in the county. The population 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 or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $17,478. About 7.60% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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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.

United States presidential election results for Pickaway County, Ohio[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
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%

Economy

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Manufacturing makes up a significant proportion of area industry and employment; in the 2010 census, 3075 county residents (13.4%) were employed in manufacturing.[18] Circleville is home to the largest DuPont chemical plant in Ohio. Opened in the 1950s, it produces Mylar and Tedlar plastic films, the latter used extensively in the production of photovoltaic modules.[19][20]

Other manufacturing concerns in Circleville or surrounding Pickaway County include Aleris, 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. The PPG Industries Circleville plant is the company's center for polymer 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; the State of Ohio; and Wal-Mart Stores.[18]

Businesses that formerly operated include the Jefferson-Smurfit paper mill,[24] a 300-acre site, that is being redeveloped.[25] American Electric Power (AEP) owned the Picway Power Plant in the northern part of Pickaway County. The coal-fired power plant operated from 1926 to 2015.[26] A GE 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]

Government

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Education

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Teays Valley Local School District

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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.[28]

Circleville City Schools

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  • Circleville High School - 559 students
  • Circleville Middle School (grades 6–8) - 487
  • Circleville Elementary (grades K-5) - 1,029

Logan Elm Local Schools

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Logan Elm consists of the area in Southeastern Pickaway County.

  • Logan Elm High School - 559 students
  • George McDowell-Exchange Middle School (grades 7–8) - 299
  • Salt Creek Intermediate School (grades 5–6) - 262
  • Washington Elementary (grades K-4) - 212
  • Pickaway Elementary (grades K-4) - 188

Westfall Local Schools

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Westfall lies in the Western part of the county.

  • Westfall High School - 422 students
  • Westfall Middle School (grades 6–8) - 335
  • Westfall Elementary (grades K-5) - 588

Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center

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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:

  • Circleville City School District (Pickaway County)
  • Logan Elm Local School District (Pickaway County)
  • Westfall Local School District (Pickaway County)
  • Adena Local School District (Ross County)
  • Chillicothe City School District (Ross County)
  • Huntington Local School District (Ross County)
  • Paint Valley Local School District (Ross County)
  • Southeastern Local School District (Ross County)
  • Unioto Local School District (Ross County)
  • Zane Trace Local School District (Ross County)

Communities

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Map of Pickaway County, Ohio with municipal and township labels

City

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Villages

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Notable residents

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Other notable aspects

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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.[30] They are not named after the German dictator Adolf 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.[30][31]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ohio County Profiles: Pickaway County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  2. ^ a b 2020 census
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ About Pickaway County (accessed 10 June 2019)
  5. ^ a b Pickaway County OH - Google Maps (accessed 10 June 2019)
  6. ^ Pickaway County High Point - PeakBagger.com (accessed 10 June 2019)
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  8. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  10. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  13. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  14. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  15. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Demographics and Income plus other local statistics for Pickaway County P3 Ohio". Pickawayprogress.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  19. ^ Murphy, Kristi (May 22, 2012). "DuPont celebrates Tedlar expansion". The Circleville Herald. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  20. ^ "News & Events for Pickaway Progress Business Development Project Central Ohio". Pickawayprogress.com. January 18, 2010. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  21. ^ a b Murphy, Kristi (August 22, 2013). "GE plant to add 50 jobs". The Circleville Herald. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  22. ^ "Plastic Injection Molding from 100 tons to 3000 tons in Florida, Kentucky and Ohio". Fpe-inc.com. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  23. ^ "Circleville OH - Life At PPG - College Recruiting". Ppg.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  24. ^ Gaines, Sallie L. (December 2, 1998). "Smurfit To Shutter 5 Mills, Cut 1,660 Jobs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  25. ^ "Projects - Green Investment Group". Greeninvgroup.com. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  26. ^ "Picway". AEP. Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  27. ^ Gearino, Dan (April 12, 2017). "GE Lighting to close Circleville plant, costing 148 jobs". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  28. ^ "Enrollment Numbers". www.tvsd.us. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  29. ^ Ohio Townships
  30. ^ a b "Life in Ohio, a Continuing Series". July 30, 2013.
  31. ^ "Hitlers were county pioneers". September 11, 2011.
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39°38′N 83°02′W / 39.64°N 83.03°W / 39.64; -83.03