Clermont County, Ohio

Clermont County, Ohio

Seal
Map of Ohio highlighting Clermont County
Location in the state of Ohio
Map of the United States highlighting Ohio
Ohio's location in the U.S.
Founded December 6, 1800[1]
Seat Batavia
Largest city Milford
Area
 • Total 460 sq mi (1,191 km2)
 • Land 452 sq mi (1,171 km2)
 • Water 7.7 sq mi (20 km2), 1.7%
Population
 • (2010) 197,363
 • Density 437/sq mi (169/km²)
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4

Clermont County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 197,363.[2] Its county seat is Batavia.[3] The county is named for the Clermont Province of France and means "clear mountain."[4] Founded in 1800, it is Ohio's eighth oldest county and the state's furthest county west in Appalachia.

Clermont County is part of the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Established in December 1800, Clermont County is the eighth oldest of Ohio's 88 counties, and is the eleventh oldest county in the Northwest Territory. Clermont is a French word meaning "clear mountain," which described the area when it was first viewed by French explorers in the 1600s. A number of Native American tribes called this area home, including the Shawnee, Miami, Delaware, Mingo, Ottawa, Cherokee, and Wyandot. The last Native American village in the county was located two miles south of Marathon in Jackson Township, along the mouth of Grassy Run on the East Fork of the Little Miami River. The Wyandot lived there until 1811. That location was the site of the largest frontier battle in Clermont County, the Battle of Grassy Run, where pioneer Simon Kenton clashed with Native American warrior, Tecumseh, on April 10, 1792.

The first village and the first Clermont County seat, was the Village of Williamsburg, established in 1796. In 1823, New Richmond became the county seat, and in 1824, it moved to Batavia, which remains the county seat today. Clermont County was home to President and military hero, General Ulysses S. Grant, born in Point Pleasant on April 27, 1822. He became commander-in-chief of the U.S. Army during the Civil War, and was the eighteenth president of our country. His birthplace in Point Pleasant (originally a one room cabin) continues to welcome visitors today. In 1890, General Grant's birthplace was removed from its original location, and traveled by boat to be viewed by citizens, along various waterways. It was also taken to the Chicago Worlds Fair, before making its way back to Clermont County.

A stone dairy house, built in 1800, is thought to be the oldest standing structure in Clermont County. It is located beside Harmony Hill on South Third Street in Williamsburg. Harmony Hill (one of the areas first farms) was built by William Lytle, who was one of the first surveyors of the county. The last covered bridge in Clermont County stands on Stonelick Williams Corner Road, near US 50; it was built in 1878. The Bullskin Trail (once a major pathway for Native Americans) runs north and south through the county along State Route 133, and was also used by frontiersmen Simon Kenton and Daniel Boone on hunting and warfare expeditions. John Hunt Morgan and his Confederate raiders invaded the county in 1863. George Washington once owned three parcels of land in Clermont County.

In 1900, a group of clergy from numerous Protestant congregations and the Catholic Church gathered to create a list of ten places on Earth where the Garden of Eden could have been located. Among the locations named were places in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. Also on the list was Clermont County, Ohio – listed for its many fruiting trees and the early influence of American Indians who built earthen mounds in the form of serpents. Subsequently, prominent men from Hamilton County dedicated Eden Park (Cincinnati) in eastern Cincinnati facing Clermont County to honor the distinction.

In 1905, Democrat John M. Pattison of Owensville, became the first Clermont Countian to be elected governor of Ohio. Pattison lived in Milford, residing in a mansion that is known as Promont, which he used as the official governor's mansion. That structure is now a museum that houses a library and other historical memorabilia. It is located at 906 Main Street in Milford.

Government and politics

Clermont County possesses one of Ohio's most diverse and storied political atmospheres. Clermont traces its roots to when it was named for the Clermont region of France. It was reserved by the State of Virginia to reward its military veterans with land bounties. At its beginning, it included 23 Ohio counties and about 4.2 million acres of densely forested land. The first deed was issued on 20 February 1796. The county's Moscow area became the exiled home of French royalty during the early 1800s, including the exiled King of France Louis-Philippe in 1815, and Marquis de Lafayette in 1825.[5] Bethel was the residence of U.S. Senator Thomas Morris, a member of the Democratic Party, whose Senate career lasted from 1833 to 1839, and who in 1844 was the vice presidential candidate for a third party with the goal of abolishing slavery—approximately 16 years before the first anti-slavery Republican president. Morris had previously served three terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, as Ohio Supreme Court Justice, and four terms in the Ohio Senate. In 1844, Clermont became the site of the village of Utopia, an enclave for Puritan socialist dissidents who espoused the doctrines of François Marie Charles Fourier.[6] Clermont County was the birthplace of Ohio's first Democratic governor of the 20th century in 1847, John Pattison of Milford. During the 1800s, antislavery sentiment remained strong. Democrat Hugh Llewellyn Nichols of Batavia became the first Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court in 1914.

The county's progressive history created a climate of political independence. Despite recent Republican dominance at the local office level, Clermont has seen heavy union and non-partisan influence in its politics. Its growing suburbanization, as well as resurgent environmental conservationism, has contributed to this climate.

Members of the Clermont County Board of County Commissioners include Edwin Humphrey, David Uible, and Bob Proud. The Board employs an administrator to run the day-to-day operations of the county; the current administrator is Steve Rabolt. Other elected officers include Linda Fraley (Auditor), Vince Faris (Prosecutor), Tim Rodenberg (Sheriff), Pat Manger, (Engineer), Debbie Clepper (Recorder), Robert True (Treasurer), and Brian Treon (Coroner). The elected Common Pleas Court include: Judge Richard Ferenc, Judge Victor Haddad, Judge Tom Herman, Judge Jerry McBride. The elected Municipal Court include: Judge Tony Brock, Judge James Shriver, and Judge George Pattison. Barbara Wiedenbein is the Clerk of Courts and Tim Rudd is the Municipal Court Clerk. All elected officials, including judges, are affiliated with the Republican Party.

Since January 3, 2013, Ohio's 2nd Congressional district, including Clermont County, is represented by Brad Wenstrup, a resident of Hamilton County.


Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 460 square miles (1,200 km2), of which 452 square miles (1,170 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (1.7%) is water.[7] Clermont County is considered to be part of Appalachian Ohio.[8]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18109,965—
182015,82058.8%
183020,46629.4%
184023,10612.9%
185030,45531.8%
186033,0348.5%
187034,2683.7%
188036,7137.1%
189033,553−8.6%
190031,610−5.8%
191029,551−6.5%
192028,291−4.3%
193029,7865.3%
194034,10914.5%
195042,18223.7%
196080,53090.9%
197095,72518.9%
1980128,48334.2%
1990150,18716.9%
2000177,97718.5%
2010197,36310.9%
Est. 2014201,5602.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2013[2]

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 177,977 people, 66,013 households, and 49,047 families residing in the county. The population density was 394 people per square mile (152/km²). There were 69,226 housing units at an average density of 153 per square mile (59/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.13% White, 0.91% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.7% were of German, 16.7% American, 12.0% Irish and 11.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 66,013 households out of which 38.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 21.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $49,386, and the median income for a family was $57,032. Males had a median income of $40,739 versus $27,613 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,370. About 5.30% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.70% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

According to the County's 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[14] the top employers in the county are:

# Employer # of Employees Location
1 Clermont County 1,409 Batavia
2 Total Quality Logistics 1,302 Union Township
3 American Modern Insurance Group 1,200 Batavia Township
4 Mercy Health Clermont Hospital 825 Batavia Township
5 Milford Exempted Village School District 725 Milford
6 Siemens PLM Software 660 Miami Township
7 West Clermont Local School District 600 Union Township
8 L-3 Fuzing & Ordnance Systems 600 Withamsville
9 Tata Consultancy Services 600 Miami Township
10 Milacron 550 Williamsburg Township

Communities

Map of Clermont County, Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels

Cities

Villages

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

  • Afton
  • Bantam
  • Belfast
  • Blowville
  • Branch Hill
  • Clover
  • Edenton
  • Hamlet
  • Hennings Mills
  • Laurel
  • Lerado
  • Lindale
  • Locust Corner
  • Maple
  • Marathon
  • Modest
  • Monterey
  • Moores Fork
  • Mount Holly
  • Mount Olive
  • Mount Pisgah
  • New Palestine
  • Nicholsville
  • Olive Branch
  • Perintown
  • Point Isabel
  • Point Pleasant
  • Pringle Corner
  • Rural
  • Saltair
  • Shiloh
  • Stonelick
  • Utopia
  • Wiggonsville
  • Williams Corner
  • Willowville
  • Woodville

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ohio County Profiles: Clermont County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ↑ "Clermont County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  5. ↑ Spate House of Moscow, Ohio. Retrieved 18 April 2012. http://www.forgottenoh.com/Counties/Clermont/spate.html
  6. ↑ The Ohio Politics Almanac, Second Edition. Michael F. Curtin. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  8. ↑ http://www.firstohio.com/maps/map_main.aspx?ItemID=2&CatID=2
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  11. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  13. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  14. ↑ Clermont County, Ohio Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, for the Year ended December 31, 2013

External links

 Warren County Clinton County
Hamilton County Brown County
   Clermont County, Ohio  
Pendleton County, Kentucky and Campbell County, Kentucky Bracken County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 39°03′N 84°09′W / 39.05°N 84.15°W