Noble County, Ohio

Noble County
County
The Noble County Courthouse in Caldwell in 2007
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°46′N 81°27′W / 39.77°N 81.45°W / 39.77; -81.45
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Founded	April 1, 1851[1]
Named for	either James Noble or Warren P. Noble
Seat	Caldwell
Largest village	Caldwell
Area
• Total	405 sq mi (1,050 km2)
• Land	398 sq mi (1,030 km2)
• Water	6.6 sq mi (17 km2)  1.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	14,115
• Estimate  (2021)	14,176
• Density	35/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	noblecountyohio.gov

Noble County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,115,^[2] making it the fourth-least populous county in Ohio. Its county seat is Caldwell.^[3] The county is named for Rep. Warren P. Noble of the Ohio House of Representatives, who was an early settler there.^[4]

Noble County was formed on March 11, 1851, from portions of Guernsey, Morgan, Monroe and Washington counties.^[5] It was the last and youngest county to be formed in the state.^[6][7] It was named for either James Noble or Warren P. Noble, each of whom was an early settler in this region.^[8]

Noble County was home to the first North American oil well, the Thorla-McKee Well, which struck oil in 1814.^[9] For a time this was a center of oil production in the state.

In 1925, a United States Navy dirigible, USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), was caught in a storm over Noble County. It broke into several pieces, resulting in the deaths of 14 persons on board; 29 survived.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 405 square miles (1,050 km²), of which 398 square miles (1,030 km²) is land and 6.6 square miles (17 km²) (1.6%) is water.^[10]

• Guernsey County (north)
• Belmont County (northeast)
• Monroe County (east)
• Washington County (south)
• Morgan County (west)
• Muskingum County (northwest)

• Wayne National Forest (part)

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	20,751		—
1870	19,949		−3.9%
1880	21,138		6.0%
1890	20,753		−1.8%
1900	19,466		−6.2%
1910	18,601		−4.4%
1920	17,849		−4.0%
1930	14,961		−16.2%
1940	14,587		−2.5%
1950	11,750		−19.4%
1960	10,982		−6.5%
1970	10,428		−5.0%
1980	11,310		8.5%
1990	11,336		0.2%
2000	14,058		24.0%
2010	14,645		4.2%
2020	14,115		−3.6%
2021 (est.)	14,176	[11]	0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14] 1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[2]

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,058 people, 4,546 households, and 3,318 families living in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (14 people/km²). There were 5,480 housing units at an average density of 14 units per square mile (5.4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.55% White, 6.69% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.03% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,546 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.50% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.60% under the age of 18, 11.70% from 18 to 24, 31.80% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 130.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 140.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,940, and the median income for a family was $38,939. Males had a median income of $30,911 versus $20,222 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,100. About 8.30% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.90% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 14,645 people, 4,852 households, and 3,394 families living in the county.^[16] The population density was 36.8 inhabitants per square mile (14.2/km²). There were 6,053 housing units at an average density of 15.2 units per square mile (5.9 units/km²).^[17] The racial makeup of the county was 96.1% white, 2.5% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.4% of the population.^[16] In terms of ancestry, 25.9% were German, 13.1% were Irish, 9.1% were American, and 9.0% were English.^[18]

Of the 4,852 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.0% were non-families, and 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 48.6 years.^[16]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,500 and the median income for a family was $44,773. Males had a median income of $42,456 versus $29,551 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,029. About 11.6% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.^[19]

Noble County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections, although Bill Clinton narrowly won it in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Noble County, Ohio^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,050	81.66%	1,069	17.29%	65	1.05%
2020	5,135	80.89%	1,170	18.43%	43	0.68%
2016	4,549	75.33%	1,221	20.22%	269	4.45%
2012	3,563	60.48%	2,131	36.17%	197	3.34%
2008	3,450	55.75%	2,474	39.98%	264	4.27%
2004	3,841	58.73%	2,654	40.58%	45	0.69%
2000	3,435	57.36%	2,296	38.34%	257	4.29%
1996	2,183	39.59%	2,366	42.91%	965	17.50%
1992	2,223	37.79%	2,201	37.41%	1,459	24.80%
1988	3,155	59.44%	2,079	39.17%	74	1.39%
1984	3,853	67.70%	1,777	31.22%	61	1.07%
1980	3,025	57.38%	1,944	36.87%	303	5.75%
1976	3,007	52.48%	2,612	45.58%	111	1.94%
1972	3,274	68.22%	1,449	30.19%	76	1.58%
1968	2,615	53.06%	1,726	35.02%	587	11.91%
1964	2,250	43.48%	2,925	56.52%	0	0.00%
1960	3,951	65.99%	2,036	34.01%	0	0.00%
1956	3,861	66.52%	1,943	33.48%	0	0.00%
1952	4,046	66.33%	2,054	33.67%	0	0.00%
1948	3,494	58.79%	2,425	40.80%	24	0.40%
1944	4,130	64.89%	2,235	35.11%	0	0.00%
1940	4,922	61.84%	3,037	38.16%	0	0.00%
1936	4,384	52.70%	3,865	46.46%	70	0.84%
1932	3,950	49.25%	3,966	49.45%	104	1.30%
1928	4,462	66.45%	2,190	32.61%	63	0.94%
1924	4,284	60.78%	2,485	35.26%	279	3.96%
1920	4,197	59.06%	2,909	40.94%	0	0.00%
1916	2,290	50.33%	2,175	47.80%	85	1.87%
1912	1,804	40.05%	1,842	40.90%	858	19.05%
1908	2,707	54.27%	2,154	43.18%	127	2.55%
1904	2,700	58.90%	1,671	36.45%	213	4.65%
1900	2,704	54.55%	2,173	43.84%	80	1.61%
1896	2,559	51.86%	2,318	46.98%	57	1.16%
1892	2,307	50.69%	2,026	44.52%	218	4.79%
1888	2,515	53.18%	2,087	44.13%	127	2.69%
1884	2,385	52.27%	2,061	45.17%	117	2.56%
1880	2,316	50.55%	2,044	44.61%	222	4.85%
1876	2,225	50.86%	2,096	47.91%	54	1.23%
1872	2,016	54.78%	1,627	44.21%	37	1.01%
1868	2,204	56.24%	1,715	43.76%	0	0.00%
1864	2,211	56.23%	1,721	43.77%	0	0.00%
1860	1,944	52.02%	1,647	44.07%	146	3.91%
1856	1,603	51.81%	1,337	43.21%	154	4.98%

Noble County has a three-member Board of County Commissioners that oversee and administer the various County departments, similar to all but two of the 88 Ohio counties. Noble County's elected commissioners are:

• County Commissioners: Floyd Allen Fraley (R), Gary Saling (R), and Ty Moore (R).^[21]

Noble County is served by the Caldwell Exempted Village School District and Noble Local School District.

• Batesville
• Belle Valley
• Caldwell (county seat)
• Dexter City
• Sarahsville
• Summerfield

• Ava
• Carlisle
• Crooked Tree
• Dudley
• Dungannon
• East Union
• Elk
• Fulda
• Gem
• Harriettsville
• Hiramsburg
• Honesty
• Hoskinsville
• Keith
• Kennonsburg
• Middleburg
• Moundsville
• Mount Ephraim
• Olive Green
• Rochester
• Sharon
• South Olive
• Steamtown
• Whigville

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Noble County, Ohio

• Thomas William Lewis, History of Southeastern Ohio and the Muskingum Valley, 1788-1928. In Three Volumes. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.

• Unofficial county information website Archived August 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
• Noble County Sheriff's Office
• [1]

39°46′N 81°27′W / 39.77°N 81.45°W / 39.77; -81.45