Monroe

Formed January 29, 1813 (44^th county)

Monroe County (13,383), Woodsfield (2,214)

The Classical Revival tan and red brick courthouse was built in 1908.  It is located on Court Street between Main and Sycamore streets.  Main Street is Ohio State Highway 26 in the town.  Samuel Hannaford and Sons provided the designs.  The structure features faux columns and a dome with a working clock.  The grounds have a military gun and veteran memorials.  The county was created on January 29, 1813 from parts of Belmont, Washington, and Guernsey counties as the 44^th county.  Woodsfield has always been the county seat.  The county is named for United States President James Monroe.  Woodsfield is named for settler, Archibald Woods. 

Monroe County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Three Common Pleas Court Judges serve Monroe County.  The county is on the southeast border with West Virginia.  The Ohio River forms its eastern border.  Columbus, Ohio is west and Youngstown, Ohio is north of the county.  The county center is 5.4 miles Southeast of Woodsfield nearer Laings.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Belmont County and West Virginia and Washington and Noble counties. 

The area of the county is 455.5 square miles.  It is 40 out of 88 in the state.  It ranks 87 out of 88 in population in the state.  It has a density of 29.4 persons per square mile making it 88 out of 88 in the state.  Monroe County has 26.1% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.  The county looks like a bowl of ice cream on its right side and that side eaten away.  Woodsfield is located in the northwest quarter of the county.  Woodsfield is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 16.5% of the county population.

Wilson