Guernsey County, Ohio

Infobox U.S. County
county = Guernsey County
state = Ohio


founded = January 31 1810cite web|url = http://www.odod.state.oh.us/research/FILES/S0/Guernsey.pdf |title = Ohio County Profiles: Guernsey County |accessdate = 2007-04-28 |publisher = Ohio Department of Development | format = PDF]
seat wl = Cambridge | largest city = Cambridge | area_total_sq_mi = 528
area_total_km2 = 1368
area_land_sq_mi = 522 | area_land_km2 = 1352
area_water_sq_mi = 6
area_water_km2 = 16
area percentage = 1.21%
census yr = 2000
pop = 40792
density_sq_mi = 78
density_km2 = 30
time zone = Eastern
UTC offset = -5
DST offset= -4
web = www.guernseycounty.org/
named for = the Isle of Guernsey
|

Guernsey County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of 2000, the population was 40,792. Its county seat is CambridgeGR|6 and is named for the Isle of Guernsey in the English Channel,cite web|url = http://www.osuedc.org/profiles/profile_entrance.php?fips=39059&sid=0 |title = Guernsey County data |accessdate = 2007-04-28 |publisher = Ohio State University Extension Data Center ] from which many of the county's early settlers came.

History

Guernsey County originated with one Thomas Ogier, of Les Duvaux, Guernsey. During the Napoleonic Wars, six thousand Russian troops were garrisoned in Guernsey. There was considerable friction between the local population and the Russians, who were poorly rationed and often resorted to theft. Ogier was fowling in his fields one afternoon, when he surprised a Russian soldier stealing apples from his orchard. He shot at the soldier with his fowling piece, who dropped the apples and ran away. Ogier noted some blood upon the wall over which the soldier had escaped, but thought nothing of it. Later that day, he learned that the soldier had died in barracks and had reported Ogier to his commander.

Ogier, afraid of retribution, fled first to Jersey and then to France, where he took a boat to the USA. After some time on the Eastern Seaboard, he migrated west in 1808, to present-day Ohio. After having made some success for himself in that state, he wrote home to Guernsey, encouraging others to settle. He joined an earlier group of Guernsey settlers in the town of Cambridge. Throughout his travels, Ogier kept with him his family cradle, which is now in the possession of the Cambridge branch of the American Legion. [Chapter XIII, "Golden Guernsey" by Alfred S. Campbell, D.Kemp & Company New York 1938] [Guernsey County Rootsweb page]

The County was finally organized in 1810.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 528 square miles (1,368 km²).522 square miles (1,352 km²) of it is land and 6 square miles (17 km²) of it (1.21%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Tuscarawas County (north)
*Harrison County (northeast)
*Belmont County (east)
*Noble County (south)
*Muskingum County (west)
*Coshocton County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 40,792 people, 16,094 households, and 11,233 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 18,771 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile (14/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.28% White, 1.53% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 0.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 96.7% spoke English, 1.3% Spanish and 1.1% German as their first language.

There were 16,094 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,110, and the median income for a family was $35,660. Males had a median income of $30,142 versus $20,804 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,542. About 12.90% of families and 16.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.50% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Localities

Municipalities

ee also

*Big Muskie

References

External links

* [http://www.guernseycounty.org/ Official Guernsey County website]