# Muskingum County, Ohio

Muskingum County (/məˈskɪŋ(ɡ)əm/ mə-SKING-(g)əm) is a county located in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,410. Its county seat is Zanesville. Nearly bisected by the Muskingum River, the county name is based on a Delaware American Indian word translated as "town by the river" or "elk's eye". 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.

## Name

The name Muskingum may come from the Shawnee word mshkikwam 'swampy ground'. The name may also be from Lenape "Machkigen," referring to thorns, or a specific species of thorn bush. Muskingum has also been taken to mean 'elk's eye' (mus wəshkinkw) by folk etymology, as in mus 'elk' + wəshkinkw 'its eye'. 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."

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 673 square miles (1,740 km$^2$), of which 665 square miles (1,720 km$^2$) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km$^2$) (1.2%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in Ohio by land area.

### Adjacent counties

* Coshocton County (north)
* Guernsey County (east)
* Noble County (southeast)
* Morgan County (south)
* Perry County (southwest)
* Licking County (west)

## Demographics
### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 84,585 people, 32,518 households, and 22,860 families living in the county. The population density was 127 inhabitants per square mile (49/km$^2$). There were 35,163 housing units at an average density of 53 units per square mile (20/km$^2$). 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.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 86,074 people, 34,271 households, and 23,125 families living in the county. The population density was 129.5 inhabitants per square mile (50.0/km$^2$). There were 38,074 housing units at an average density of 57.3 units per square mile (22.1 units/km$^2$). 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. In terms of ancestry, 25.2% were German, 15.5% were Irish, 11.1% were American, and 10.9% were English.
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.
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.

## Education

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.

## Politics

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.
United States presidential election results for Muskingum County, Ohio :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 28,147 | 71.45% | 10,874 | 27.60% | 373 | 0.95% |
| 2020 | 27,867 | 68.86% | 11,971 | 29.58% | 629 | 1.55% |
| 2016 | 24,056 | 64.59% | 11,123 | 29.86% | 2,066 | 5.55% |
| 2012 | 19,264 | 51.81% | 17,002 | 45.73% | 913 | 2.46% |
| 2008 | 20,549 | 52.39% | 17,730 | 45.20% | 946 | 2.41% |
| 2004 | 22,254 | 57.26% | 16,421 | 42.25% | 191 | 0.49% |
| 2000 | 17,995 | 55.16% | 13,415 | 41.12% | 1,214 | 3.72% |
| 1996 | 13,861 | 42.04% | 13,813 | 41.89% | 5,298 | 16.07% |
| 1992 | 14,168 | 40.81% | 11,670 | 33.61% | 8,882 | 25.58% |
| 1988 | 19,736 | 62.31% | 11,691 | 36.91% | 247 | 0.78% |
| 1984 | 21,821 | 67.98% | 10,037 | 31.27% | 243 | 0.76% |
| 1980 | 17,921 | 54.82% | 12,584 | 38.50% | 2,183 | 6.68% |
| 1976 | 15,358 | 51.07% | 14,178 | 47.15% | 534 | 1.78% |
| 1972 | 19,897 | 63.99% | 10,313 | 33.17% | 884 | 2.84% |
| 1968 | 15,260 | 48.13% | 13,089 | 41.28% | 3,356 | 10.59% |
| 1964 | 11,635 | 35.88% | 20,792 | 64.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 21,518 | 61.88% | 13,254 | 38.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 22,788 | 69.27% | 10,110 | 30.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 21,244 | 62.98% | 12,490 | 37.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 16,049 | 55.54% | 12,765 | 44.18% | 81 | 0.28% |
| 1944 | 17,577 | 58.00% | 12,729 | 42.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 19,395 | 55.18% | 15,753 | 44.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 15,454 | 47.44% | 16,265 | 49.93% | 854 | 2.62% |
| 1932 | 16,366 | 54.04% | 13,378 | 44.17% | 541 | 1.79% |
| 1928 | 22,120 | 76.81% | 6,507 | 22.60% | 171 | 0.59% |
| 1924 | 15,571 | 65.71% | 6,709 | 28.31% | 1,417 | 5.98% |
| 1920 | 13,862 | 58.56% | 9,437 | 39.87% | 372 | 1.57% |
| 1916 | 7,597 | 51.32% | 6,328 | 42.75% | 877 | 5.92% |
| 1912 | 4,134 | 29.59% | 5,376 | 38.47% | 4,463 | 31.94% |
| 1908 | 8,080 | 52.36% | 6,576 | 42.62% | 775 | 5.02% |
| 1904 | 7,597 | 54.54% | 5,511 | 39.57% | 820 | 5.89% |
| 1900 | 7,365 | 51.10% | 6,667 | 46.25% | 382 | 2.65% |
| 1896 | 7,245 | 50.67% | 6,871 | 48.05% | 183 | 1.28% |
| 1892 | 6,123 | 47.78% | 6,230 | 48.62% | 461 | 3.60% |
| 1888 | 6,234 | 49.97% | 5,884 | 47.17% | 357 | 2.86% |
| 1884 | 5,896 | 50.25% | 5,696 | 48.54% | 142 | 1.21% |
| 1880 | 5,804 | 51.63% | 5,336 | 47.46% | 102 | 0.91% |
| 1876 | 5,232 | 48.66% | 5,457 | 50.75% | 63 | 0.59% |
| 1872 | 4,558 | 51.28% | 4,304 | 48.42% | 27 | 0.30% |
| 1868 | 4,677 | 50.78% | 4,534 | 49.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 4,422 | 53.16% | 3,896 | 46.84% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 4,004 | 49.39% | 3,550 | 43.79% | 553 | 6.82% |
| 1856 | 3,172 | 41.44% | 3,391 | 44.30% | 1,092 | 14.27% |

## Culture

The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society was originally created as an auxiliary of the American Anti-Slavery Society and held its first meeting Putnam, Ohio, in April 1835. In 1872, Zanesville annexed the town of Putnam. It is now the Putnam Historic District of Zanesville.
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.
The Wilds is a 9,154 acres (37.04 km$^2$) wildlife preserve open to visitation for a fee.

## Communities
### City

* Zanesville (county seat)

### Villages

* Adamsville
* Dresden
* Frazeysburg
* Fultonham
* Gratiot
* New Concord
* Norwich
* Philo
* Roseville
* South Zanesville

### Townships

* Adams
* Blue Rock
* Brush Creek
* Cass
* Clay
* Falls
* Harrison
* Highland
* Hopewell
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Licking
* Madison
* Meigs
* Monroe
* Muskingum
* Newton
* Perry
* Rich Hill
* Salem
* Salt Creek
* Springfield
* Union
* Washington
* Wayne

### Census-designated places

* Duncan Falls
* East Fultonham
* North Zanesville
* Pleasant Grove
* Trinway

### Other unincorporated communities

* Adams Mills
* Bloomfield
* Blue Rock
* Bridgeville
* Chandlersville
* Coal Hill
* Dillon Falls
* Duncan Falls
* Ellis
* Freeland
* Gaysport
* Gilbert
* High Hill
* Hopewell
* Irville
* Licking View
* Mattingly Settlement
* Meadow Farm
* Mount Sterling
* Museville
* Nashport
* Otsego
* Rix Mills
* Ruraldale
* Sonora
* Stovertown
* Sundale
* White Cottage
* Young Hickory
* Zeno

### Historical places

* Irville - Former populated place in Licking Township, removed for the creation of Dillon Lake.
* Mattingly Settlement - Named for the many members of the Mattingly family who settled in Muskingum Township.