OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA

'Ohio County' is a county located in the northern panhandle of the U.S. state of West Virginia. Formed from the District of West Augusta, Virginia in 1776. It was named for the Ohio River which forms its western boundary. West Liberty (formerly Black's Cabin) was the county seat from 1777 to 1797. [1] The city of Wheeling has been the county seat since that time. As of 2000, the population was 47,427.

Law and government

Executive

Ohio County is governed by a three member County Commission who each serve in rotating 6-year terms. The terms are designed such that one seat is up for election in even years. There can be only one person elected from each of Ohio County's three magisterial districts. The County Commission annually chooses its own President. The Ohio County Commissioners in 2007 are David Sims (D), Tim McCormick (D), and Randy Wharton (D). Mr. Sims was re-elected to the Commission in November 2006.
Other elected officials include Clerk of County Commission Patty Fahey (D) and Assessor Gregory Kloeppner (D). The County Commission typically appoints a County Administrator to oversee the daily executive duties for the Commission. The current Ohio County Administrator is Greg Stewart.

Judicial

Additionally, Ohio County is part of the First Judicial Circuit of West Virginia which also includes Hancock and Brooke Counties. In West Virginia, Circuit Judges are elected in partisan elections to eight-year terms. The current judges of the First Judicial Circuit are the Hon. Martin J. Gaughan, the Hon. James Mazzone, the Hon. Arthur M. Recht, and the Hon. Ronald E. Wilson.
All four judges' seats will be up for election in November 2008. The Clerk of the Circuit Court is also elected in a partisan election but only to serve a six-year term. The current Clerk of the First Judicial Circuit in Ohio County is Brenda Miller (D).
Ohio County is part of the First Family Court Circuit of West Virginia which also includes Hancock and Brooke Counties. In West Virginia, Family Court Judges were first elected to six-year terms beginning in 2002 and will be elected to eight-year terms beginning in 2008. The current judges of the First Family Court Circuit are the Hon. Joyce Chernenko and the Hon. William Sinclair.
Magistrates are elected in partisan elections serving four-year terms. Vacancies occurring in unexpired terms can be filled by a respective Circuit Court Judge. Unlike Circuit Court judges or Family Court judges, magistrates are not required to be attorneys. Ohio County currently has four magistrates: Rose Humway, Charles W. Murphy, Patricia Murphy, and Harry Radcliffe.

Law enforcement

In West Virginia, a Prosecuting Attorney for each county is elected by partisan election to a four-year term. The current Prosecuting Attorney in Ohio County is Scott Smith (D).
A county Sheriff is likewise elected to a four-year term but is limited to serving only two terms. The Sheriff is also the ex-officio Treasurer for his/her respective county. The current Sheriff of Ohio County is Thomas Burgoyne (D) whom is term limited and cannot seek re-election in November 2008.

State legislators

Ohio County is part of the First Senatorial District of West Virginia which also includes Hancock and Brooke Counties. State Senator Edwin J. Bowman (D-Hancock Co.) and State Senator Andy McKenzie (R-Ohio Co.) currently represent the First Senatorial District. Senator Bowman was re-elected in November 2006. Senator McKenzie's seat is up for election in November 2008.
Ohio County is part of both the Second and Third House of Delegates Districts. In Ohio County, the Second District is comprised by the extreme eastern end of Elm Grove as well as the towns of Triadelphia, Valley Grove, and West Liberty. The Second District is currently represented by Delegate Tim Ennis (D-Brooke Co.) and Delegate Jack Yost (D-Brooke Co.). The Third District is comprised by nearly all of the City of Wheeling and the Village of Bethlehem. The Third District is currently represented by Delegate Tal Hutchins (D-Ohio Co.) and Delegate Orphy Klempa (D-Ohio Co.). All 100 House of Delegates seats are elected every two years.

US Congress

Ohio County is part of the First Congressional District of West Virginia whose seat is currently held by Alan B. Mollohan (D-Fairmont). Similarly, Senators Robert C. Byrd (D-Sophia) and Jay Rockefeller (D-Charleston) represent West Virginia in the US Senate.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 282 km² (109 mi²). 275 km² (106 mi²) of it is land and 7 km² (3 mi²) of it (2.46%) is water. The highest point of elevation in Ohio County is approximately 1420 ft. and located about 1 mile southwest of West Alexander, PA.[2]

Major highways

★

I-70

★

I-470

★

U.S. Highway 40 - National Road

★

U.S. Highway 250

★

West Virginia Route 2

★

West Virginia Route 88

Adjacent counties

★ Brooke County (north)

★ Washington County, Pennsylvania (east)

★ Marshall County (south)

★ Belmont County, Ohio (west)

★ Jefferson County, Ohio (northwest)

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 47,427 people, 19,733 households, and 12,155 families residing in the county. The population density was 172/km² (447/mi²). There were 22,166 housing units at an average density of 81/km² (209/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.50% White, 3.57% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 19,733 households out of which 25.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.30% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.40% were non-families. 33.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, the population was spread out with 21.30% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 18.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 87.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,836, and the median income for a family was $41,261. Males had a median income of $31,132 versus $21,978 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,734. About 11.50% of families and 15.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.10% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities, towns, and villages

Incorporated communities

★ Village of Bethlehem ★ Village of Clearview ★ Town of Triadelphia	★ Village of Valley Grove ★ Town of West Liberty ★ City of Wheeling (partly in Marshall County)

Unincorporated communities

★ Betty Zane ★ Clinton ★ Eden ★ Elm Grove ★ Greggsville ★ Mount Echo	★ Mozart ★ Overbrook ★ Point Mills ★ Roneys Point ★ Warwood

The Communities of Warwood, Woodsdale, Elm Grove, Betty Zane Addition, Greggsville, North Park, Overbrook, Edgewood and Linwood are all incorporated into the city of Wheeling

Magisterial districts

★ Liberty District (1)

★ Richland District (2)

★ Triadelphia District (3)

Zip codes

★ 26003 - Wheeling (including Bethlehem and Clearview)

★ 26059 - Triadelphia

★ 26060 - Valley Grove

★ 26074 - West Liberty

Telephone information

Prefixes in Ohio County, WV⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾

★ Wheeling Zone 1

★
★ Wheeling Citywide - 215, 218, 230, 280, 281, 312, 331, 551, 639, 650, 780, 830, 905, 907

★
★ Downtown/Bethlehem - 214, 231, 232, 233, 234, 559,

★
★ Elm Grove - 238, 242, 243, 966

★
★ Warwood - 277

★ Wheeling Zone 2

★
★ West Liberty - 217, 336

★ Wheeling Zone 3

★
★ Tridelphia/Valley Grove - 219, 547, 909
^{(1) Source: West Virginia Public Service Commission}

^{(2) Due to Local Number Portability there is no longer a difference between Land-Line, Coaxial, and Wireless exchanges or prefixes. They are now interchangable when a customer takes their number with them to a different telephone service provider.}

Education

Colleges and universities

★ West Liberty State College

★ Wheeling Jesuit University

★ West Virginia Northern Community College

★ West Virginia Business College

Public schools K-12

All public schools within Ohio County operate under the jurisdiction of Ohio County Schools with the consolidated high school housing grades 9-12, middle schools housing grades 6-8, and elementary schools housing grades K-5.

★ Wheeling Park High School

★ Bridge Street Middle School

★ Triadelphia Middle School

★ Warwood Middle School

★ Wheeling Middle School

★ Bethlehem Elementary School

★ Elm Grove Elementary School

★ Madison Elementary School

★ Middle Creek Elementary School

★ Ritchie Elementary School

★ Steenrod Elementary School

★ Warwood Grade School

★ Woodsdale Elementary School

Private and parochial schools

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston operates several K-8 schools and one high school in Ohio County.

★ Wheeling Central Catholic High School

★ Corpus Christi Parish School

★ St. Michael Parish School

★ St. Vincent de Paul Parish School

★ Wheeling Catholic Elementary
Additionally, there are also two highly prestigious private schools in Ohio County.

★ Linsly School

★ Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy

Miscellaneous information

Table games

In 2007, the West Virginia Legislature adopted HB2718 which created Chapter 29-22 C of the West Virginia Code and permits county residents where racetracks are located to vote on expansion to table games. Ohio County was the first county in West Virginia to take action concerning the matter when the Ohio County Commission initiated a special election date of June 9 for the referendum. The ballot initiative successfully passed in Ohio County with 66% of the vote. The measure permits Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center to operate table games such as blackjack and poker. On June 9, Jefferson County voters rejected their ballot measure. On June 30, Hancock County voters approved their ballot measure. Kanawha County has scheduled a special election for August 11. While the West Virginia Family Foundation vowed to challenge the constitutionality of HB 2718 [3], it announced on August 7 that it would not file any appeal on the matter. [4]

Metro government

In 2006, the West Virginia Legislature adopted a new section to the West Virginia code - Chapter 7A - which provided for the consolidation of cities, cities with counties, or counties with counties.^[1]Interest has been expressed by some Ohio County residents and officials and has become the main political endeavour of a local council of churches called "Hopeful City". As of March 2007, no official action has been taken in Ohio County on this matter. Other municipalities in West Virginia are considering consolidation including Beckley-Raleigh County and Fairmont-Marion County.^[2]
1. West Virginia Code - 7A
2. Wheeling Intellgencer - March 4, 2007

Historic Politicians from Ohio County

Main articles: Historic Politicians from Ohio County, West Virginia

Prominent historic politicians from Ohio County include nine U.S. Congressmen, one U.S. Senator, one
Governor of West Virginia, four justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, two Presidents of the West Virginia Senate, and four Speakers of the West Virginia House of Delegates.

★ George W. Atkinson (R) - Governor of West Virginia (1897-1901);

★ Nathan B. Scott (R) - U.S. Senator (1899-1911)

★ Walter L. Fisher (R) - United States Secretary of the Interior (1911-1913)

External links

★ Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, Inc. Website

★ Ohio County Schools Website

★ Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston: Catholic Schools Website

★ Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy Website

★ Linsly School Website

★ Ohio County Sheriff's Department Website

★ Ohio County Public Library Website

★ Ohio County Economic Development Home Page

★ ''History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia'' compiled by the Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer

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