Gallia County, Ohio

Gallia County (/ˈɡæliə/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,220.^[3] Its county seat and largest village is Gallipolis.^[4]

Gallia County
County
Courthouse in Gallipolis
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°50′N 82°19′W
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Founded	March 25, 1803[1]
Named after	the Latin name for France
Seat	Gallipolis
Largest village	Gallipolis
Area
• Total	471 sq mi (1,220 km2)
• Land	467 sq mi (1,210 km2)
• Water	4.7 sq mi (12 km2)  1.0%
Population  (2020)
• Total	29,220
• Estimate  (2024)[2]	28,886
• Density	62/sq mi (24/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.gallianet.net

Named after the French people who originally settled there,^[5] its name “Gallia” is the Latin word for Gaul, the ancient region of Western Europe that included present day France.^[6] Gallia County is part of the Point Pleasant, WV-OH Micropolitan Statistical Area.

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.^[7]

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.^[8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 471 square miles (1,220 km²), of which 467 square miles (1,210 km²) is land and 4.7 square miles (12 km²) (1.0%) is water.^[9]

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

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1810	4,181		—
1820	7,098		69.8%
1830	9,733		37.1%
1840	13,444		38.1%
1850	17,063		26.9%
1860	22,043		29.2%
1870	25,545		15.9%
1880	28,124		10.1%
1890	27,005		−4.0%
1900	27,918		3.4%
1910	25,745		−7.8%
1920	23,311		−9.5%
1930	23,050		−1.1%
1940	24,930		8.2%
1950	24,910		−0.1%
1960	26,120		4.9%
1970	25,239		−3.4%
1980	30,098		19.3%
1990	30,954		2.8%
2000	31,069		0.4%
2010	30,934		−0.4%
2020	29,220		−5.5%
2024 (est.)	28,886		−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2020 [3] 2024[2]

2000 census

As of the census^[14] of 2000, there were 31,069 people, 12,060 households, and 8,586 families living in the county. The population density was 66 inhabitants per square mile (25/km²). There were 13,498 housing units at an average density of 29 units per square mile (11/km²). 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.

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.^[15] The population density was 66.3 inhabitants per square mile (25.6/km²). There were 13,925 housing units at an average density of 29.8 units per square mile (11.5 units/km²).^[16] The racial makeup of the county was 94.7% white, 2.6% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population.^[15] In terms of ancestry, 18.6% were American, 15.9% were German, 15.6% were Irish, and 8.0% were English.^[17]

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.^[15]

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.^[18]

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.

United States presidential election results for Gallia County, Ohio^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	10,314	79.13%	2,592	19.89%	128	0.98%
2020	10,645	77.14%	2,990	21.67%	164	1.19%
2016	9,822	75.53%	2,628	20.21%	554	4.26%
2012	7,750	61.40%	4,557	36.10%	315	2.50%
2008	8,247	61.68%	4,777	35.73%	347	2.60%
2004	8,576	61.29%	5,366	38.35%	51	0.36%
2000	7,511	58.79%	4,872	38.13%	393	3.08%
1996	5,135	41.19%	5,386	43.21%	1,945	15.60%
1992	5,776	42.04%	5,350	38.94%	2,612	19.01%
1988	7,399	59.92%	4,834	39.14%	116	0.94%
1984	8,194	65.27%	4,251	33.86%	109	0.87%
1980	6,469	56.73%	4,406	38.64%	529	4.64%
1976	5,198	50.38%	4,971	48.18%	148	1.43%
1972	6,506	72.40%	2,341	26.05%	139	1.55%
1968	5,134	58.10%	2,660	30.10%	1,042	11.79%
1964	4,408	48.19%	4,740	51.81%	0	0.00%
1960	7,602	68.49%	3,498	31.51%	0	0.00%
1956	7,040	70.99%	2,877	29.01%	0	0.00%
1952	6,763	68.20%	3,153	31.80%	0	0.00%
1948	5,743	62.38%	3,430	37.25%	34	0.37%
1944	6,464	68.53%	2,968	31.47%	0	0.00%
1940	7,285	64.88%	3,943	35.12%	0	0.00%
1936	6,700	59.42%	4,548	40.34%	27	0.24%
1932	5,646	56.45%	4,190	41.89%	166	1.66%
1928	5,513	73.42%	1,916	25.52%	80	1.07%
1924	4,325	61.21%	2,284	32.32%	457	6.47%
1920	5,388	67.40%	2,562	32.05%	44	0.55%
1916	2,860	54.71%	2,277	43.55%	91	1.74%
1912	1,355	25.23%	1,765	32.87%	2,250	41.90%
1908	3,914	63.48%	2,171	35.21%	81	1.31%
1904	3,880	67.51%	1,742	30.31%	125	2.18%
1900	4,159	62.82%	2,388	36.07%	73	1.10%
1896	4,247	63.66%	2,369	35.51%	55	0.82%
1892	3,547	61.99%	1,984	34.67%	191	3.34%
1888	3,651	61.33%	2,216	37.22%	86	1.44%
1884	3,690	60.67%	2,333	38.36%	59	0.97%
1880	3,488	59.92%	2,310	39.68%	23	0.40%
1876	3,202	58.07%	2,302	41.75%	10	0.18%
1872	2,855	64.40%	1,553	35.03%	25	0.56%
1868	2,678	62.31%	1,620	37.69%	0	0.00%
1864	2,828	70.75%	1,169	29.25%	0	0.00%
1860	1,881	52.54%	1,472	41.12%	227	6.34%
1856	610	19.32%	1,341	42.48%	1,206	38.20%

United States Senate election results for Gallia County, Ohio1^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	9,316	73.22%	2,912	22.89%	496	3.90%

Communities

Map of Gallia County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels

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

^[21]

Census-designated place

• Kanauga

Unincorporated communities

• Bidwell
• Kerr
• Mercerville
• Patriot

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Gallia County, Ohio
• Scioto Company (1787 - 1790)