Pickaway County, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pickaway County
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Pickaway County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
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 Ohio's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Ohio |
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| Founded | March 1, 1810 | ||
| Named for | Pekowi band | ||
| Seat | Circleville | ||
| Largest city | Circleville | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 507 sq mi (1,310 km2) | ||
| • Land | 501.32 sq mi (1,298.4 km2) | ||
| • Water | 5.23 sq mi (13.5 km2) 1.0%% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 58,539  |
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| • Density | 120/sq mi (50/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 2nd | ||
Pickaway County is a county located in the state of Ohio in the United States. In 2020, about 58,539 people lived here. The main city and government center is Circleville. The county got its name from the Pekowi band of Shawnee Native Americans. This group of people used to live in the area a long time ago.
Pickaway County is also part of the larger Columbus Metropolitan Area. This means it's connected to the big city of Columbus and its surrounding towns.
Contents
History of Pickaway County
The land that would become Ohio was once part of the Northwest Territory. This large area was set up in 1787. To help manage the land, new counties were created. Some of the first counties were Washington (in 1788) and Wayne (in 1796).
Later, parts of these counties were used to make new ones. These included Ross (1798), Fairfield (1800), and Franklin (1803) Counties. On January 12, 1810, a special law was passed. This law took parts of Fairfield, Franklin, and Ross counties. These pieces were then combined to create Pickaway County. The county officially started on March 1, 1810. Circleville was chosen as the county seat later that same year.
Geography and Nature
The Scioto River flows right through the middle of Pickaway County. It moves southwards, cutting through the land. Two other important creeks, Big Darby Creek and Deer Creek, also flow through the county. Big Darby Creek joins the Scioto River in Circleville. Deer Creek flows south into Ross County.
The land in Pickaway County has gentle, rolling hills. These hills are shaped by many small streams and rivers. Most of the land, about 87%, is used for farming. The highest point in the county is 1,090 feet (332 meters) above sea level. This spot is near the county's eastern border. The county covers a total area of about 506.55 square miles. Most of this is land, with a small part being water.
Neighboring Counties
Pickaway County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Franklin County to the north
- Fairfield County to the east
- Hocking County to the southeast
- Ross County to the south
- Fayette County to the southwest
- Madison County to the northwest
Major Roads and Highways
Many important roads run through Pickaway County, connecting it to other areas. These include:
I-71
US 22
US 23
US 62
SR 56
SR 104
SR 138
SR 159
SR 180
SR 188
SR 207
SR 316
SR 361
SR 674
SR 752
SR 762
Parks and Natural Areas
Pickaway County is home to several beautiful natural spots:
- A. W. Marion State Park
- Deer Creek State Park (part of it is in the county)
- Stage's Pond State Nature Preserve
Lakes in the County
You can find these lakes in or near Pickaway County:
- Deer Creek Lake (part of it)
- Hargus Lake
People and Population (Demographics)
The population of Pickaway County has grown a lot over the years. Here's how it has changed:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 7,124 | — | |
| 1820 | 13,149 | 84.6% | |
| 1830 | 16,001 | 21.7% | |
| 1840 | 19,725 | 23.3% | |
| 1850 | 21,006 | 6.5% | |
| 1860 | 23,649 | 12.6% | |
| 1870 | 24,875 | 5.2% | |
| 1880 | 27,415 | 10.2% | |
| 1890 | 26,959 | −1.7% | |
| 1900 | 27,016 | 0.2% | |
| 1910 | 26,158 | −3.2% | |
| 1920 | 25,788 | −1.4% | |
| 1930 | 27,238 | 5.6% | |
| 1940 | 27,889 | 2.4% | |
| 1950 | 29,352 | 5.2% | |
| 1960 | 35,855 | 22.2% | |
| 1970 | 40,071 | 11.8% | |
| 1980 | 43,662 | 9.0% | |
| 1990 | 48,255 | 10.5% | |
| 2000 | 52,727 | 9.3% | |
| 2010 | 55,698 | 5.6% | |
| 2020 | 58,539 | 5.1% | |
| US Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2020 |
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What the 2010 Census Showed
In 2010, there were 55,698 people living in Pickaway County. There were 19,624 households, which are groups of people living together. About 14,286 of these were families. The county had about 111 people per square mile.
Most of the people were white (94.5%). About 3.4% were black or African American. Other groups included Asian (0.4%) and American Indian (0.2%). About 1.1% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino background.
Many people in the county have German (27.0%), American (16.3%), Irish (14.9%), or English (11.1%) family backgrounds.
Of the households, 35.4% had children under 18 living with them. More than half (56.6%) were married couples. The average household had 2.61 people. The average family had 3.03 people. The average age of people in the county was 38.5 years old.
The average income for a household was $49,262. For families, it was $58,811. About 12.4% of all people in the county lived below the poverty line. This included 19.3% of those under 18.
Economy and Jobs
Manufacturing is a very important part of the economy in Pickaway County. Many people work in factories that make different products. In 2010, about 13.4% of all workers in the county had jobs in manufacturing.
Circleville is home to a large DuPont chemical plant. This factory opened in the 1950s. It makes special plastic films called Mylar and Tedlar. Tedlar is used a lot in making photovoltaic modules, which are parts of solar panels.
Other manufacturing companies in Pickaway County include Aleris. They make aluminum products. Florida Production Engineering (FPE) makes plastic parts for cars. Georgia-Pacific has a plant south of Circleville that makes paper products. The PPG Industries plant in Circleville makes special resins, mostly for cars.
Other big employers in the county are Berger Health System and local school districts. These include Circleville City, Teays Valley Local, and Logan Elm Local School districts. Circle Plastics/TriMold LLC, the State of Ohio, and Wal-Mart Stores also employ many people.
Some businesses that used to operate here include the Jefferson-Smurfit paper mill. This large site is now being redeveloped. American Electric Power (AEP) used to own the Picway Power Plant. This power plant used coal and ran from 1926 to 2015. A GE Lighting plant opened in 1948 but closed in 2017. RCA/Thomson Glass also operated from 1970 until around 2006.
Education in Pickaway County
Pickaway County has several school districts that serve its students.
Teays Valley Local School District
This district is in the northern part of the county. It has the most students in the county, with 4,374 total.
- Teays Valley High School - about 1,262 students
- Teays Valley East Middle School (grades 6–8) - about 523 students
- Teays Valley West Middle School (grades 6–8) - about 534 students
- Ashville Elementary (grades PK-5) - about 464 students
- Walnut Elementary (grades PK-5) - about 507 students
- Scioto Elementary (grades PK-5) - about 626 students
- South Bloomfield Elementary (grades PK-5) - about 458 students
Circleville City Schools
These schools are located in the city of Circleville.
- Circleville High School - about 559 students
- Circleville Middle School (grades 6–8) - about 487 students
- Circleville Elementary (grades K-5) - about 1,029 students
Logan Elm Local Schools
This district covers the southeastern part of Pickaway County.
- Logan Elm High School - about 559 students
- George McDowell-Exchange Middle School (grades 7–8) - about 299 students
- Salt Creek Intermediate School (grades 5–6) - about 262 students
- Washington Elementary (grades K-4) - about 212 students
- Pickaway Elementary (grades K-4) - about 188 students
Westfall Local Schools
Westfall schools are in the western part of the county.
- Westfall High School - about 422 students
- Westfall Middle School (grades 6–8) - about 335 students
- Westfall Elementary (grades K-5) - about 588 students
Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center
This school is a vocational school. It is located just south of the county line in Ross County. Students from several school districts in Pickaway and Ross counties can attend to learn job skills. These districts include:
- Circleville City School District (Pickaway County)
- Logan Elm Local School District (Pickaway County)
- Westfall Local School District (Pickaway County)
- Adena Local School District (Ross County)
- Chillicothe City School District (Ross County)
- Huntington Local School District (Ross County)
- Paint Valley Local School District (Ross County)
- Southeastern Local School District (Ross County)
- Unioto Local School District (Ross County)
- Zane Trace Local School District (Ross County)
Towns and Communities
Pickaway County has one city, several villages, and other smaller communities.
City
- Circleville (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)
Villages
- Ashville
- Commercial Point
- Darbyville
- Lockbourne
- Harrisburg
- New Holland
- Orient (This village was officially closed in 2013.)
- South Bloomfield
- Tarlton
- Williamsport
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like villages but are not officially incorporated.
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not part of a city or village.
- Atlanta
- Duvall
- East Ringgold
- Elmwood
- Era
- Five Points
- Fox
- Grange Hall
- Hayesville
- Kinderhook
- Leistville
- Little Chicago
- Little Walnut
- Matville
- Meade
- Millport
- Pherson
- Robtown
- Saint Paul
- Southern Point
- Stringtown
- Thacher
- Walnut
- Westfall
- Whisler
- Woodlyn
Townships
Townships are smaller government areas within the county.
- Circleville
- Darby
- Deer Creek
- Harrison
- Jackson
- Madison
- Monroe
- Muhlenberg
- Perry
- Pickaway
- Salt Creek
- Scioto
- Walnut
- Washington
- Wayne
- Yamarick (This is a "paper" township, meaning it exists on paper but covers the same area as the city of Circleville.)
Notable People from Pickaway County
- Dorothy Adkins (1912–1975), a famous psychologist, grew up in Atlanta, Pickaway County.
- Dwight Radcliff, who served the longest as the Sheriff of Pickaway County.
Interesting Fact: The Hitler Family Name
Pickaway County has some places named "Hitler," like Hitler Road and Hitler Park. It's important to know that these names are not connected to Adolf Hitler. Instead, they come from a local family named Hitler who lived in the area a long time ago. A local newspaper in 2011 said that this family were "fine, upstanding citizens." One member of this family was George Washington Hitler, and his son, Gay Hitler, worked as a dentist in the area from 1922 to 1946.
Images for kids
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Flag of Pickaway County
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Seal of Pickaway County
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Pickaway County Courthouse in Circleville
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Pickaway para niños
