Jefferson

Formed July 29, 1797 (5th county)

Jefferson County (65,247), Steubenville (18,167)

The Neo-Classical masonry structure was constructed in 1874.  It is on Dean Martin Boulevard at Virginia Avenue.  Ohio State Highway 7 is Dean Martin Boulevard.  The current facility was remodeled in 1950.  Charles Wallace Heard & Walter Blythe are the architects.  A golden Lady Justice sits on top and veteran memorials are on the grounds.  The county was formed on July 29, 1797 from Washington County as the 5th county with Steubenville as the only county seat.  Jefferson County is named for United States President Thomas Jefferson.  He is also the namesake of the county seat of Ashtabula County.  The county seat is named for Baron Von Steuben.  Jefferson County is the birthplace of 1 Ohio Governor, Thomas W. Bartley. 

Jefferson County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Six Common Pleas Court Judges serve Jefferson County.  Jefferson County is on the eastern border with West Virginia.  The Ohio River forms its eastern border.  Youngstown, Ohio is north and Columbus, Ohio is west of the county.  The county center is 8.9 miles West of Steubenville nearer Wintersville.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Columbiana County and West Virginia and Belmont, Harrison, and Carroll counties. 

The area of the county is 409.6 square miles.  It is 66 out of 88 in the state.  It ranks 38 out of 88 in population in the state.  It has a density of 159.3 persons per square mile making it 32 out of 88 in the state.  Jefferson County has 56.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 22 passes east to west in the county from West Virginia to Harrison County.  United States Highway 250 clips the southwest tip from Harrison County, west, to Belmont Count, south.  The county resembles a sea horse with its tail missing.  Steubenville is located on the eastern border of the county.  Steubenville is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 27.8% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced STUE-BEN-VIL.  This county is in the Weirton-Steubenville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Location in State and Municipalities

Amsterdam

Bergholz

Bloomingdale

Dillonvale

Empire

Irondale

Mingo Junction

Mount Pleasant

New Alexandria

Rayland

Richmond

Smithfield

Steubenville

Stratton

Tiltonsville

Toronto

Wintersville

Adena

Yorkville