Clermont County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 197,363. Ordinanced in 1800, Clermont is Ohio's eighth oldest county and the state's furthest county west in Appalachia. The county is named for the Clermont Province of France, the home of Vercingetorix, and means "clear mount."
It is the only Appalachian county considered inside the Cincinnati metropolitan area, Ohio's largest interstate MSA.
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History
Established December 1800, Clermont is the eighth oldest of Ohio's 88 counties, and is the eleventh oldest county in the Northwest Territory.
The Paleoindians, Hopewell, Shawondasee, Miami, Lenape, Mingo, Odawa, Cherokee, and Wyandot each at one time lived in Clermont. The last American Indian village was located two miles south of Marathon in Jackson Township, along the mouth of Grassy Run on the East Fork of the Little Miami River. This site saw the largest frontier battle in Clermont, the Battle of Grassy Run, during which pioneer Simon Kenton clashed with chief Tecumseh on April 10, 1792. The Wyandot lived there until 1811.
George Washington owned three parcels of land in Clermont County. The first capital was Williamsburg, founded by William Lytle, and like Milford, founded 1796. In 1823, New Richmond became the capital, and in 1824, it moved to Batavia, the current capital. A stone dairy house, constructed in 1800, is thought as the oldest standing building in Clermont. The edifice is located beside Harmony Hill on South Third Street in Williamsburg. Harmony Hill, one of the area's first farms, was built by William Lytle.
Clermont was home to military hero, Union general, and President Ulysses S. Grant, born in Point Pleasant on April 27, 1822. Grant became commander-in-chief of the U.S. Army during the Civil War, and was elected the eighteenth president in 1868. The birthplace, originally a one-room cabin, continues to welcome visitors and in 1890 was removed from its original location, travelling by boat to be viewed by citizens along various waterways. It was also taken to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair before returning to Clermont.
In 1847, Ohio's future first Democratic Governor of the twentieth century, John M. Pattison, was born near Owensville (see 'Government and politics,' below, for his service).
Clermont's last covered bridge stands on Stonelick Williams Corner Road, near US Route 50; it was built in 1878 and renovated in 2014. The Bullskin Trail, once a major American Indian trail, runs north and south through Clermont along State Route 133, and was used by frontiersmen Kenton and Daniel Boone on hunting and warfare expeditions. John Hunt Morgan and his Confederate raiders invaded Clermont in 1863.
In 1900, a group of clergy from numerous congregations gathered to create a list of ten places on Earth where the Garden of Eden could have been located. Among the locations was Clermont County, Ohio - listed for its many fruiting trees and the early influence of American Indians who built earthen mounds in the form of serpents. Subsequently, prominent men from Hamilton County dedicated Eden Park facing Clermont to honor the distinction.
Clermont County Government Video
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 460 square miles (1,200 km2), of which 452 square miles (1,170 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (1.7%) is water. Clermont County is considered to be part of Appalachian Ohio.
Adjacent counties
- Warren County (north)
- Clinton County (north)
- Brown County (east)
- Bracken County, Kentucky (south)
- Pendleton County, Kentucky (southwest)
- Campbell County, Kentucky (southwest)
- Hamilton County (west)
Government and politics
Clermont possesses one of Ohio's most storied political atmospheres. Its name is taken from the Clermont prefecture of France, notable as the home of Celtic leader Vercingetorix who led the unified Gallic resistance to Roman invasion, as well as philosopher Blaise Pascal. The name connotes "clear mountain," which described the area when it was first viewed by French explorers in the 1600s.
Clermont was reserved by the Commonwealth of Virginia to reward its military veterans with land bounties. At its beginning, Clermont encompassed 23 Ohio counties and about 4.2 million acres of dense old-growth forest. The first deed was issued on 20 February 1796. The county's Moscow area became the exiled home of French royalty during the early 1800s, including the exiled King of France Louis-Philippe in 1815, and Marquis de Lafayette in 1825.
Bethel was the residence of U.S. Senator Thomas Morris, a member of the Democratic Party, whose Senate career lasted from 1833 to 1839, and who in 1844 was the vice presidential candidate for a third party with the goal of abolishing slavery--approximately 16 years before the first anti-slavery Republican president. Morris had previously served three terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, as Ohio Supreme Court Justice, and four terms in the Ohio Senate. Also in 1844, Clermont became the site of Utopia, a village of Puritan socialist dissidents who espoused the doctrines of François Marie Charles Fourier. During the 1800s, antislavery sentiment remained strong.
Democrat Pattison became the first Clermont Countian elected Governor of Ohio in 1905. Pattison lived in Milford, and at a time before the influence of Columbus, governed from his home called Promont, used as the official governor's residence. The mansion, completed in 1865, today is a museum that houses a library and other historical memorabilia. It is located at 906 Main Street, Milford.
Democrat Hugh Llewellyn Nichols of Batavia served as 32nd Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and became the first Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court in 1914.
Orpha Errans Gatch of Milford locally organized women's suffrage, and is the namesake for the Clermont County League of Women Voters award given annually at its suffragist brunch to recognize the recipient's volunteerism and leadership qualities.
The county's progressive history created a climate of political independence. Despite recent Republican dominance at the local office level, Clermont demonstrates heavy nonpartisan and union influence. Its growing population, as well as resurgent environmental conservationism, has contributed to this climate.
Members of the Clermont Commission include commissioners Edwin Humphrey, David Uible, and Bob Proud. The commission employs an administrator to run the day-to-day operations of the county; the current administrator is Steve Rabolt. Other elected officers include Linda Fraley (Auditor), Vince Faris (Prosecutor), Tim Rodenberg (Sheriff), Pat Manger, (Engineer), Debbie Clepper (Recorder), Robert True (Treasurer), and Brian Treon (Coroner). The elected Common Pleas Court include: Judge Richard Ferenc, Judge Victor Haddad, Judge Tom Herman, Judge Jerry McBride. The elected Municipal Court includes: Judge Tony Brock, Judge James Shriver, and Judge George Pattison. Barbara Wiedenbein is the Clerk of Courts and Tim Rudd is the Municipal Clerk of Courts. All elected officials, including judges, are affiliated with the Republican Party.
Since January 3, 2013, Ohio's 2nd Congressional district, including Clermont, is represented by Brad Wenstrup who resides in Cincinnati.
Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 177,977 people, 66,013 households, and 49,047 families residing in the county. The population density was 394 people per square mile (152/km²). There were 69,226 housing units at an average density of 153 per square mile (59/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.13% White, 0.91% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.7% were of German, 16.7% American, 12.0% Irish and 11.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 66,013 households out of which 38.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 21.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $49,386, and the median income for a family was $57,032. Males had a median income of $40,739 versus $27,613 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,370. About 5.30% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.70% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 197,363 people, 74,828 households, and 53,800 families residing in the county. The population density was 436.5 inhabitants per square mile (168.5/km2). There were 80,656 housing units at an average density of 178.4 per square mile (68.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.9% white, 1.2% black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 34.0% were German, 18.1% were Irish, 12.0% were American, and 11.1% were English.
Of the 74,828 households, 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.1% were non-families, and 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 38.5 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $58,472 and the median income for a family was $68,485. Males had a median income of $50,204 versus $36,746 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,900. About 6.9% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Aviation is served by the Clermont County Airport. Clermont's newspapers are the Clermont Sun, which covers historical statistics, and the Community Press papers.
According to the County's 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the county are:
Communities
Cities
- Loveland
- Milford
Villages
Townships
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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