Columbiana County, Ohio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Columbiana County
U.S. county
Columbiana County Courthouse
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Founded	May 1, 1803
Named for	Christopher Columbus
Seat	Lisbon
Largest city	Salem
Area
• Total	535 sq mi (1,390 km2)
• Land	532 sq mi (1,380 km2)
• Water	2.8 sq mi (7 km2)  0.5%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	101,877
• Density	190/sq mi (70/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th

Columbiana County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 101,877. The county seat is Lisbon and its largest city is Salem. Created in 1803, the county name is derived from that of 15th-century Italian explorer Christopher Columbus.

Columbiana County comprises the Salem, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the larger Youngstown–Warren–Salem, OH Combined Statistical Area. Due to its location, Columbiana County is traditionally considered a part of Appalachian Ohio. While northern communities are more associated with Northeast Ohio, southern communities generally share more in common culturally with Greater Pittsburgh and the Upper Ohio Valley. The largely rural county sits midway between the two urban clusters. Officially considered part of the Youngstown media market, the Steubenville market media stations regularly report in the area as well.

History

The principal historic Native American peoples in the area were the Lenape, Mingo, and Wyandot. The Wyandot had an encampment where the city of Salem now stands. Several important indigenous trails ran through the county, the most important being the Great Trail which ran through the southern parts of the county towards Sandusky. Throughout the second half of the 18th century, starting with Christopher Gist in 1750, American colonists explored the area as the Ohio Company surveyed. George Washington, while engaged in land examinations, camped in the area of present-day East Liverpool in October 1770.

In the 1780s, the Native Americans relinquished control of the area, and the region was surveyed in accordance with the Land Ordinance of 1785. The ensuing Public Land Survey System of the United States started by surveyor Thomas Hutchins on north bank of the Ohio River in present-day East Liverpool resulted in the Seven Ranges, believed to be "the first mathematically designed system and nationally conducted cadastral survey in any modern country."

The first permanent settlement in the area was in 1792 or 1793, by hunter John Quinn, who settled near present-day Calcutta in St. Clair Township. Columbiana County was founded in 1803 and named in honor of Christopher Columbus, combining his surname with the suffix -iana. It was settled early on by Quakers and Scotch-Irish from Pennsylvania, but was later settled primary by Germans. The county was the scene of one of the northernmost action fought during the American Civil War; on July 26, 1863, Confederate raiders under John Morgan were surrounded and captured by Union forces at the Battle of Salineville.

The county was home to the largest pottery industry in the world, in East Liverpool & surrounding communities, which produced more than half of the United States' annual ceramics output. Throughout East Liverpool's ceramics history, there were more than 300 potteries. Other chief industries included iron and brick making, as well as transportation via the Ohio River, Sandy and Beaver Canal, and Pennsylvania Railroad system.

On February 3, 2023, a freight train containing hazardous materials including vinyl chloride derailed in East Palestine. After burning for more than two days, emergency crews conducted a controlled burn of the train's contents, releasing toxic hydrogen chloride and phosgene into the air, and contaminating the Ohio River.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 535 square miles (1,390 km²), of which 532 square miles (1,380 km²) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) (0.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Mahoning County (north)
• Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (northeast)
• Beaver County, Pennsylvania (east)
• Hancock County, West Virginia (southeast)
• Jefferson County (south)
• Carroll County (southwest)
• Stark County (west)

Major highways

Demographics

Map showing 2012 Appalachian Regional Commission economic designations for Appalachian Ohio, with Columbiana County marked as "transitional".

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 107,841 people, 42,683 households, and 29,101 families residing in the county. The population density was 202.7 inhabitants per square mile (78.3/km²). There were 47,088 housing units at an average density of 88.5 units per square mile (34.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% white, 2.2% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 29.2% were German, 17.7% were Irish, 14.6% were English, 9.1% were Italian, and 7.6% were American.

Of the 42,683 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.8% were non-families, and 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 42.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,502 and the median income for a family was $48,948. Males had a median income of $39,614 versus $27,179 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,635. About 12.1% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.6% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Colleges and universities

• Allegheny Wesleyan College
• Kent State University at East Liverpool
• Kent State University at Salem

Community, junior, and technical colleges

• Columbiana County Career and Technical Center
• East Ohio College
• New Castle School of Trades

Public school districts

High schools

Private schools

• Heartland Christian School – Columbiana
• East Liverpool Christian School – Glenmoor
• St. Paul Elementary School – Salem

Communities

Map of Columbiana County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels

Cities

• Columbiana
• East Liverpool
• Salem

Villages

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Columbiana County.

* majority of municipality in Columbiana County
** minority of municipality in Columbiana County
† county seat

Notable residents

• Harvey Firestone, businessman and founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
• William M. Fogo, Wisconsin legislator and newspaper editor
• Mark Hanna, U.S. senator from Ohio; grew up in Lisbon
• Ammon Hennacy, Christian anarchist; grew up in Negley
• Lou Holtz, former college football coach; grew up in East Liverpool
• Robert Justice, early Ohio statesman
• Rich Karlis, former NFL placekicker for the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, from Salem, Ohio
• William McKinley, 25th president of the United States; grew up in Lisbon
• William Ralston, who founded the Bank of California and became for a time the richest man in California; born in Columbiana County
• Clement Vallandigham, Copperhead leader; born and lived for several years in Lisbon
• Derek Wolfe, former NFL defensive end for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens; grew up in Negley

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Columbiana para niños