| County: | Muskingum County |
| State: | Ohio |
| Flag: | Flag of Muskingum County, Ohio.png |
| Seal: | Seal of Muskingum County Ohio.svg |
| Founded Year: | 1804[1] |
| Founded Date: | March 1 |
| Seat Wl: | Zanesville |
| Largest City Wl: | Zanesville |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 673 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 665 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 8.0 |
| Area Percentage: | 1.2% |
| Census Yr: | 2020 |
| Pop: | 86410 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2024 |
| Density Sq Mi: | 130 |
| Time Zone: | Eastern |
| Web: | https://www.muskingumcountyoh.gov/ |
| Named For: | A Native American word meaning "swampy ground" |
| Ex Image: | Muskingum County Courthouse & Jail.jpg |
| Ex Image Size: | 250 |
| District: | 12th |
Muskingum County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,410.[2] Its county seat is Zanesville.[3] Nearly bisected by the Muskingum River, the county name is based on a Delaware American Indian word translated as "town by the river"[4] [5] or "elk's eye".[6] 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.
The name Muskingum may come from the Shawnee word mshkikwam 'swampy ground'.[7] The name may also be from Lenape "Machkigen," referring to thorns, or a specific species of thorn bush.[8] Muskingum has also been taken to mean 'elk's eye' (mus wəshkinkw) by folk etymology, as in mus 'elk' [9] + wəshkinkw 'its eye'.[10] 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."[11]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (1.2%) is water.[12] It is the fourth-largest county in Ohio by land area.
As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 84,585 people, 32,518 households, and 22,860 families living in the county. The population density was 127sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 35,163 housing units at an average density of 53adj=preNaNadj=pre. 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.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 86,074 people, 34,271 households, and 23,125 families living in the county.[14] The population density was . There were 38,074 housing units at an average density of 57.3/mi2.[15] 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.[14] In terms of ancestry, 25.2% were German, 15.5% were Irish, 11.1% were American, and 10.9% were English.[16]
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.[14]
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.[17]
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.
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.
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The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society was originally created as an auxiliary of the American Anti-Slavery Society[18] and held its first meeting Putnam, Ohio, in April 1835.[19] In 1872, Zanesville annexed the town of Putnam. It is now the Putnam Historic District of Zanesville.[20]
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.[21]
The Wilds is a 9154acres wildlife preserve open to visitation for a fee.