Guernsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,438.[2] Its county seat and largest city is Cambridge.[3] It is named from the Isle of Guernsey in the English Channel, from which many of the county's early settlers emigrated.[4]
Guernsey County | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Ohio | |
 Ohio's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 40°03′N 81°30′W / 40.05°N 81.5°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | January 31, 1810[1] |
| Named for | Isle of Guernsey |
| Seat | Cambridge |
| Largest city | Cambridge |
| Area | |
• Total | 528 sq mi (1,370 km2) |
| • Land | 522 sq mi (1,350 km2) |
| • Water | 6.0 sq mi (16 km2) 1.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 38,438  |
| • Density | 73/sq mi (28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 12th |
| Website | www |
Guernsey County comprises the Cambridge, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH Combined Statistical Area.
History
editGuernsey County, located in the Appalachian foothills, was first formed and organized on March 10, 1810, from portions of Muskingum and Belmont counties, after the Ohio Legislature acted. The first county commissioners were sworn in on April 23, 1810. It lost some land area during the formation of neighboring counties until it reached its present boundaries in 1851, after Buffalo, Beaver, Olive, and Seneca townships were gained by Noble county. After dispute whether the county seat should be established in Cambridge or Washington, it was established in Cambridge after two individuals proposed to donate the land and furnish the public buildings if built in Cambridge.[5]
Geography
editAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 528 square miles (1,370 km2), of which 522 square miles (1,350 km2) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km2) (1.1%) is water.[6]
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 3,051 | — | |
| 1820 | 9,292 | 204.6% | |
| 1830 | 18,036 | 94.1% | |
| 1840 | 27,748 | 53.8% | |
| 1850 | 30,438 | 9.7% | |
| 1860 | 24,474 | −19.6% | |
| 1870 | 23,838 | −2.6% | |
| 1880 | 27,197 | 14.1% | |
| 1890 | 28,645 | 5.3% | |
| 1900 | 34,425 | 20.2% | |
| 1910 | 42,716 | 24.1% | |
| 1920 | 45,352 | 6.2% | |
| 1930 | 41,486 | −8.5% | |
| 1940 | 38,822 | −6.4% | |
| 1950 | 38,452 | −1.0% | |
| 1960 | 38,579 | 0.3% | |
| 1970 | 37,665 | −2.4% | |
| 1980 | 42,024 | 11.6% | |
| 1990 | 39,024 | −7.1% | |
| 2000 | 40,792 | 4.5% | |
| 2010 | 40,087 | −1.7% | |
| 2020 | 38,438 | −4.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2020 [2] | |||
2000 census
editAs of the census[11] of 2000, there were 40,792 people, 16,094 households, and 11,233 families living in the county. The population density was 78 inhabitants per square mile (30/km2). There were 18,771 housing units at an average density of 36 units per square mile (14/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.28% White, 1.53% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 0.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 96.7% spoke English, 1.3% Spanish and 1.1% German as their first language.
There were 16,094 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,110, and the median income for a family was $35,660. Males had a median income of $30,142 versus $20,804 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,542. About 12.90% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
editAs of the 2010 United States Census, there were 40,087 people, 16,210 households, and 10,949 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 76.8 inhabitants per square mile (29.7/km2). There were 19,193 housing units at an average density of 36.8 units per square mile (14.2 units/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 96.0% white, 1.5% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 22.3% were German, 15.2% were Irish, 12.4% were English, and 9.6% were American.[14]
Of the 16,210 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.5% were non-families, and 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 40.9 years.[12]
The median income for a household in the county was $37,573 and the median income for a family was $48,445. Males had a median income of $37,642 versus $29,348 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,187. About 13.6% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.[15]
Politics
editGuernsey County has been dominated by Republican Party candidates in presidential elections, with Democrats only winning the county in six presidential elections from 1856 on. The most recent of these Democrats to win the county was Bill Clinton in 1996.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 13,314 | 75.54% | 4,154 | 23.57% | 158 | 0.90% |
| 2020 | 13,407 | 73.41% | 4,577 | 25.06% | 280 | 1.53% |
| 2016 | 11,445 | 68.75% | 4,359 | 26.18% | 843 | 5.06% |
| 2012 | 8,993 | 53.37% | 7,450 | 44.22% | 406 | 2.41% |
| 2008 | 9,197 | 52.93% | 7,625 | 43.88% | 553 | 3.18% |
| 2004 | 9,962 | 55.84% | 7,768 | 43.54% | 110 | 0.62% |
| 2000 | 8,181 | 53.02% | 6,643 | 43.05% | 606 | 3.93% |
| 1996 | 5,970 | 39.52% | 6,731 | 44.55% | 2,407 | 15.93% |
| 1992 | 5,749 | 35.17% | 6,428 | 39.32% | 4,171 | 25.51% |
| 1988 | 8,507 | 58.42% | 5,926 | 40.69% | 130 | 0.89% |
| 1984 | 10,252 | 66.81% | 4,967 | 32.37% | 125 | 0.81% |
| 1980 | 8,180 | 58.08% | 5,121 | 36.36% | 783 | 5.56% |
| 1976 | 7,746 | 49.90% | 7,573 | 48.78% | 205 | 1.32% |
| 1972 | 9,648 | 66.00% | 4,757 | 32.54% | 214 | 1.46% |
| 1968 | 7,336 | 49.44% | 5,815 | 39.19% | 1,686 | 11.36% |
| 1964 | 6,429 | 40.35% | 9,503 | 59.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 10,396 | 61.41% | 6,532 | 38.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 10,224 | 66.51% | 5,149 | 33.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 9,749 | 59.52% | 6,631 | 40.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 7,651 | 53.21% | 6,639 | 46.17% | 90 | 0.63% |
| 1944 | 8,878 | 57.69% | 6,512 | 42.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 10,125 | 53.76% | 8,710 | 46.24% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 8,532 | 42.51% | 11,404 | 56.82% | 134 | 0.67% |
| 1932 | 8,750 | 48.33% | 9,026 | 49.85% | 330 | 1.82% |
| 1928 | 11,174 | 74.10% | 3,709 | 24.60% | 197 | 1.31% |
| 1924 | 8,997 | 59.56% | 3,604 | 23.86% | 2,505 | 16.58% |
| 1920 | 8,764 | 54.36% | 6,888 | 42.72% | 470 | 2.92% |
| 1916 | 4,228 | 44.76% | 4,312 | 45.65% | 906 | 9.59% |
| 1912 | 3,426 | 37.68% | 2,726 | 29.98% | 2,940 | 32.34% |
| 1908 | 5,210 | 53.92% | 3,449 | 35.69% | 1,004 | 10.39% |
| 1904 | 5,427 | 62.89% | 2,448 | 28.37% | 755 | 8.75% |
| 1900 | 5,014 | 59.44% | 3,120 | 36.99% | 301 | 3.57% |
| 1896 | 4,337 | 55.78% | 3,258 | 41.90% | 180 | 2.32% |
| 1892 | 3,439 | 53.53% | 2,510 | 39.07% | 476 | 7.41% |
| 1888 | 3,560 | 54.40% | 2,520 | 38.51% | 464 | 7.09% |
| 1884 | 3,409 | 55.18% | 2,570 | 41.60% | 199 | 3.22% |
| 1880 | 3,318 | 55.78% | 2,568 | 43.17% | 62 | 1.04% |
| 1876 | 3,106 | 55.60% | 2,460 | 44.04% | 20 | 0.36% |
| 1872 | 2,629 | 57.78% | 1,901 | 41.78% | 20 | 0.44% |
| 1868 | 2,743 | 58.46% | 1,949 | 41.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 2,677 | 57.52% | 1,977 | 42.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 2,510 | 55.18% | 1,933 | 42.49% | 106 | 2.33% |
| 1856 | 2,392 | 52.76% | 1,932 | 42.61% | 210 | 4.63% |
Communities
editCity
edit- Cambridge (county seat)
Villages
editTownships
editCensus-designated places
editUnincorporated communities
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Ohio County Profiles: Guernsey County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
- ^ a b 2020 census
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 145.
- ^ Williams, T. F. (1990). The household guide and instructor, with biographies: history of Guernsey County, Ohio. Heritage collection from Unigraphic. Biography and history. Ohio Genealogical Society. Mt. Vernon, IN : Evansville, IN: Windmill Publications, Inc.; Whipporwill Publications. pp. 429–430. OCLC 21320147.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
- ^ "TOWNSHIP WEBSITES - Ohio Township Association". July 15, 2016. Archived from the original on July 15, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
Further reading
edit- Thomas William Lewis, History of Southeastern Ohio and the Muskingum Valley, 1788-1928. In Three Volumes. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.