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Muskingum County
County
Muskingum County Courthouse
FlagSeal
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°58′N 81°57′W / 39.97°N 81.95°W / 39.97; -81.95
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Founded	March 1, 1804
Named for	A Native American word meaning "swampy ground"
Seat	Zanesville
Largest city	Zanesville
Area
• Total	673 sq mi (1,740 km)
• Land	665 sq mi (1,720 km)
• Water	8.0 sq mi (21 km)  1.2%
Population
• Total	86,410
• Density	130/sq mi (50/km)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	12th
Website	www.muskingumcountyoh.gov

Muskingum County (/məˈskɪŋ(ɡ)əm/ mə-SKING-(g)əm) is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,410. Its county seat is Zanesville. Nearly bisected by the Muskingum River, the county name is based on a Delaware American Indian word translated as "town by the river" or "elk's eye". Muskingum County comprises the Zanesville, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH Combined Statistical Area. The Zanesville Micropolitan Statistical Area is the second-largest statistical area within the Combined Statistical Area, after the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Name

The name Muskingum may come from the Shawnee word mshkikwam 'swampy ground'. The name may also be from Lenape "Machkigen," referring to thorns, or a specific species of thorn bush. Muskingum has also been taken to mean 'elk's eye' (mus wəshkinkw) by folk etymology, as in mus 'elk' + wəshkinkw 'its eye'. Moravian missionary David Zeisberger wrote that the Muskingum River was called Elk's Eye "because of the numbers of elk that formerly fed on its banks."

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 673 square miles (1,740 km), of which 665 square miles (1,720 km) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km) (1.2%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in Ohio by land area.

Adjacent counties

• Coshocton County (north)
• Guernsey County (east)
• Noble County (southeast)
• Morgan County (south)
• Perry County (southwest)
• Licking County (west)

Demographics

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 84,585 people, 32,518 households, and 22,860 families living in the county. The population density was 127 inhabitants per square mile (49/km). There were 35,163 housing units at an average density of 53 units per square mile (20/km). The racial makeup of the county was 93.91% White, 4.01% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 0.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 32,518 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 12.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,185, and the median income for a family was $41,938. Males had a median income of $31,537 versus $22,151 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,533. About 9.90% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 86,074 people, 34,271 households, and 23,125 families living in the county. The population density was 129.5 inhabitants per square mile (50.0/km). There were 38,074 housing units at an average density of 57.3 units per square mile (22.1 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 93.0% white, 3.8% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.2% were German, 15.5% were Irish, 11.1% were American, and 10.9% were English.

Of the 34,271 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.5% were non-families, and 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 39.5 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,538 and the median income for a family was $48,425. Males had a median income of $40,183 versus $28,668 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,561. About 13.0% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.6% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The county is served by 7 high schools: John Glenn High School in New Concord (East Muskingum Local School District), Philo High School confusingly not located in Philo but instead across the river in Duncan Falls (Franklin Local School District), Maysville High School located in South Zanesville (Maysville Local Schools), Bishop Rosecrans (Catholic high school in downtown Zanesville), Tri-Valley High School located in Dresden (Tri-Valley Local School District), West Muskingum High School located in Zanesville (West Muskingum Local School District), and Zanesville High School which, as the name implies, is in Zanesville (Zanesville City School District).

Each high school is the only high school in school districts of the same name, the exception being Roscrans as the district is referred to as Bishop Fenwick.

The county is also served by three colleges, Muskingum University, Zane State College, and a branch campus of Ohio University known as Ohio University Zanesville.

Politics

Muskingum County is a Republican stronghold county in presidential elections. The 1964 election is the most recent in which the county voted Democratic, but Bill Clinton came within 48 votes of carrying it in 1996.

Culture

The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society was originally created as an auxiliary of the American Anti-Slavery Society and held its first meeting Putnam, Ohio, in April 1835. In 1872, Zanesville annexed the town of Putnam. It is now the Putnam Historic District of Zanesville.

The Muskingum County Library System serves the communities of Muskingum County from its administrative offices in Zanesville, Ohio. This includes service to Dresden, Duncan Falls, New Concord, and Roseville. In 2005, the library loaned more than 918,000 items to its 73,000 cardholders. Total holding are over 328,000 volumes with over 190 periodical subscriptions.

The Wilds is a 9,154 acres (37.04 km) wildlife preserve open to visitation for a fee.

Communities

City

• Zanesville (county seat)

Villages

• Adamsville
• Dresden
• Frazeysburg
• Fultonham
• Gratiot
• New Concord
• Norwich
• Philo
• Roseville
• South Zanesville

Townships

• Adams
• Blue Rock
• Brush Creek
• Cass
• Clay
• Falls
• Harrison
• Highland
• Hopewell
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Licking
• Madison
• Meigs
• Monroe
• Muskingum
• Newton
• Perry
• Rich Hill
• Salem
• Salt Creek
• Springfield
• Union
• Washington
• Wayne

Census-designated places

• Duncan Falls
• East Fultonham
• North Zanesville
• Pleasant Grove
• Trinway

Other unincorporated communities

• Adams Mills
• Bloomfield
• Blue Rock
• Bridgeville
• Chandlersville
• Coal Hill
• Dillon Falls
• Duncan Falls
• Ellis
• Freeland
• Gaysport
• Gilbert
• High Hill
• Hopewell
• Irville
• Licking View
• Mattingly Settlement
• Meadow Farm
• Mount Sterling
• Museville
• Nashport
• Otsego
• Rix Mills
• Ruraldale
• Sonora
• Stovertown
• Sundale
• White Cottage
• Young Hickory
• Zeno

Historical places

• Irville - Former populated place in Licking Township, removed for the creation of Dillon Lake.
• Mattingly Settlement - Named for the many members of the Mattingly family who settled in Muskingum Township.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Muskingum County, Ohio

References

1. "Ohio County Profiles: Muskingum County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 16, 2004. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
2. ^ 2020 census
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. "Muskingum County". Ohio History Central. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
5. "History of the Muskingum County". Muskingum County Website. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
6. First Explorations of Kentucky. Filson Club. 1898. p. 133. Retrieved January 7, 2019. form the muskingum.
7. Mahr, August C. (1957). "Indian River and Place Names in Ohio". Ohio History. 66 (2). Ohio Historical Society: 137–158. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
8. "Lenape Dictionary" (PDF). October 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 27, 2004. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
9. "mus". Lenape Talking Dictionary. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
10. "wëshkinkw". Lenape Talking Dictionary. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
11. David Zeisberger (1910). David Zeisberger's History of Northern American Indians. Press of F.J. Heer. p. 44.
12. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
13. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
15. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
16. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
18. ^ "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
19. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
20. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
21. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
23. "Ohio Anti-Slavery Society - Ohio History Central". www.ohiohistorycentral.org. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
24. "Narrative of Riotous Proceedings". utc.iath.virginia.edu. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
25. National Park Service. "Putnam Historic District". Archived from the original on June 14, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
26. "2005 Ohio Public Library Statistics:Statistics by County and Town". State Library of Ohio. Archived from the original on September 24, 2006. Retrieved October 30, 2006.

Further reading

• King, John W. (1866). The Silent Dead, or Roll of Honor; Comprising the names of all Soldiers from Muskingum County, who lost their lives in battle or by disease, during the War of Rebellion. Zanesville, Ohio: Logan & Dodd. LCCN 01021599. OL 22893426M – via Internet Archive.
• Thomas, William Lewis. (1928). History of Southeastern Ohio and the Muskingum Valley, 1788-1928. In Three Volumes. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.

External links

• Muskingum County Library System website
• Muskingum County Sheriff's Office

v t e Places adjacent to Muskingum County, Ohio
Coshocton County Licking County Muskingum County, Ohio Guernsey County Perry County Morgan County Noble County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Muskingum County, Ohio, United States
County seat: Zanesville
City	Zanesville
Villages	Adamsville Dresden Frazeysburg Fultonham Gratiot‡ New Concord Norwich Philo Roseville‡ South Zanesville
Townships	Adams Blue Rock Brush Creek Cass Clay Falls Harrison Highland Hopewell Jackson Jefferson Licking Madison Meigs Monroe Muskingum Newton Perry Rich Hill Salem Salt Creek Springfield Union Washington Wayne
CDPs	Duncan Falls East Fultonham Nashport North Zanesville Pleasant Grove Trinway
Unincorporated communities	Adams Mills Bloomfield Blue Rock Bridgeville Cannelville Chandlersville Coal Hill Cottage Hill Darlington Dillon Falls Ellis Freeland Gaysport Gilbert High Hill Hopewell Ironspot Irville Licking View Marquand Mills Mattingly Settlement Meadow Farm Mount Sterling Moxahala Park Museville Otsego Rix Mills Ruraldale Sonora Spratt Stovertown Sundale White Cottage Young Hickory Zeno
Former communities	Putnam
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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