Adams

Formed July 10, 1797 (4^th county)

Adams County (27,474), West Union (3,007)                

The domed tan brick and stone courthouse was built in 1911 and sits on a square at Main, Cross, Mulberry, and Market streets.  Ohio State Highway 41 is Main Street in the town.  The courthouse was remodeled and enlarged in 1975.  T. S. Murray & Company are the architects of this Greek Revival and Federalist courthouse.  The building features a tower with a working clock and columns.  The grounds have Liberty bells, military guns, and a gazebo.  A Government Center is across the street.  There were 1815 and 1876 versions earlier.  Adams County was organized on July 10, 1797 from Hamilton County as the 4^th county.  It is named for United States President John Adams.  Manchester was the original county seat of Adams County.  The county seat name is presumably a geographical or historical term. 

Adams County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  One Common Pleas Court Judge serves Adams County.  The county is on the southwest border with Kentucky.  The Ohio River is its southern border.  Cincinnati, Ohio is west and Columbus, Ohio is north of the county.  The county center is 8.6 miles North-Northeast of West Union nearer Unity.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Pike and Scioto counties and Kentucky and Brown and Highland counties. 

The area of the county is 583.9 square miles.  It is 10 out of 88 in the state.  It ranks 78 out of 88 in population in the state.  It has a density of 47.1 persons per square mile making it 82 out of 88 in the state.  Adams County has 31.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 52 crosses the county from east to west following the Ohio River from Scioto County to Brown County.  The county looks like an upside-down bowl of ice cream with a scoop taken out.  West Union is located in the southwest quarter of the county.  West Union is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 10.9% of the county population.