Gallia County, Ohio

History

Gallia County was formed on March 25, 1803, from portions of Adams and Washington counties. Gallia County had originally been settled by French immigrants, who named the county "Gallia", the Latin name for Gaul, the ancient region of Western Europe which included present day France.

In the 19th century, the county was settled by numerous migrants from the Upper South, who traveled to the territory by the Ohio River. In the antebellum years, some of its towns became centers of settlement by African Americans, both free blacks (some also from the South) and refugee slaves who had escaped their owners and come across the river to a free state.

In 1818, a group from Wales settled in Gallia County, with Welsh remaining Gallia County's most common second language until 1970.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 471 sqmi, of which 467 sqmi is land and 4.7 sqmi (1.0%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Vinton County (north)
• Meigs County (northeast)
• Mason County, West Virginia (east)
• Cabell County, West Virginia (south)
• Lawrence County (southwest)
• Jackson County (northwest)

National protected area

• Wayne National Forest (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2020 2024

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 29,220. The median age was 41.5 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.9 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 92.6% White, 2.1% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian,

19.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 80.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 11,665 households in the county, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.8% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 13,430 housing units, of which 13.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.1% were owner-occupied and 28.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 30,934 people, 12,062 households, and 8,264 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023048/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39053 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191151/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39053 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213015348/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39053 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 12,062 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.5% were non-families, and 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 39.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,409 and the median income for a family was $46,470. Males had a median income of $39,301 versus $30,068 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,199. About 15.8% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.7% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023146/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39053 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 31,069 people, 12,060 households, and 8,586 families living in the county. The population density was 66 PD/sqmi. There were 13,498 housing units at an average density of 29 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 95.26% White, 2.70% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,060 households, out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% 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 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.00% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,191, and the median income for a family was $35,938. Males had a median income of $31,783 versus $22,829 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,183. About 13.50% of families and 18.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.20% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Gallia County has been a Republican stronghold ever since that party was formed. Lyndon Johnson in his 1964 landslide is the solitary Democrat to win a majority of the county's vote in the presidential election, although James Buchanan in 1856 and Bill Clinton in 1996 won a plurality. |}

Communities

Villages

• Centerville
• Cheshire
• Crown City
• Gallipolis (county seat)
• Rio Grande
• Vinton

Townships

• Addison
• Cheshire
• Clay
• Gallipolis
• Green
• Greenfield
• Guyan
• Harrison
• Huntington
• Morgan
• Ohio
• Perry
• Raccoon
• Springfield
• Walnut

Census-designated place

• Bidwell
• Kanauga

Unincorporated communities

• Kerr
• Mercerville
• Northup
• Patriot

References

References

1. "Ohio County Profiles: Gallia County". Ohio Department of Development.
2. "Gallia County, Ohio".
3. [https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 census]
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. (1882). "History of Gallia County: Containing a Condensed History of the County; Biographical Sketches; General Statistics; Miscellaneous Matters &c".
6. "Jackson and Gallia Counties, Ohio".
7. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". Govt. Print. Off..
8. (May 28, 2018). "The little pocket of Wales in America". BBC News.
9. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
12. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
13. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
16. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
17. "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Ohio- Table 59 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980 AND Table 58 - Race by Sex: 1980".
18. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Ohio: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
19. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Gallia County, Ohio".
20. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Gallia County, Ohio".
21. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Gallia County, Ohio".
22. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
23. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
24. not an option in the 1980 Census
25. not an option in the 1990 Census
26. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
27. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
28. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
29. (July 15, 2016). "TOWNSHIP WEBSITES {{!}} Ohio Township Association".