Carroll County History

Carroll County

When the US government passed the Land Ordinance of 1785, on May 20, a land survey was made of the land in eastern Ohio then known as the Northwest Territory. The land to be surveyed was called the “Seven Ranges”. This was the only land surveyed by government surveyors under the continental congress. The first line surveyed is now called the Geographer’s Line and it ran due west from the intersection of the Pennsylvania line with the Ohio River through what is now northern Carroll County. The line was 42 miles long. Thomas Hutchins, the chief geographer of the United States, ran this line from September 23 to October 22, 1785. Each township was numbered and divided into sections.

The first known white men to approach the area were the Revs. Frederick Post and John Heckewelder who were both Moravian Missionaries who began a settlement in Salem, Columbiana County and then traveled to Shoenbrun and Gnadenhutten in Tuscarawas County.

Tradition tells us that about 1800, Jesse Palmer, a hunter settled in Washington Township on a stream that now bears his name. He is the first known individual to actually build and settle here. Of course, without land records for that time, it’s difficult to be certain who was the first. About the same time, John Jackman settled on land on the Elkhorn in Lee Township. Many others soon followed. During the second decade the settlement within the territory of this county was more rapid and many towns were formed.

In the session of Ohio State congress 1832-1833 Carroll County was formed from parts of Columbiana, Stark, Tuscarawas, Harrison and Jefferson counties. The population mainly originated from Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland, with a few Germans and Scotch-Irish. The land is somewhat hilly and has an area of 403 square miles.

The county was named for the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Maryland. He died November 14, 1833 and this county was officially formed January 1833. Gen. H. A. Stidger of this county visited Mr. Carroll before his death and told him that Ohio had named a county in his honor and he was extremely pleased.

There are 14 townships in Carroll County. They are: Brown, Augusta, East, Rose, Harrison, Center, Washington, Fox, Monroe, Union, Lee, Orange, Perry and Loudon.

Population

Year County Year   County Year County

1840 18,108 1910 15,761 2010

1850 17,686 1920 15,942

1860 15,738 1930 16,057

1870 14,491 1940 17,449

1880 16,416 1950 19.039

Assessed Valuation

1920          $ 23,701,550    2001       $465,896,340     

1930                                      2002       $458,512,350

1940 2003     $463,686,240

1950   2004     $500,373,360

1960         2005     $510,872,840

1970 2006     $513,278,840

1980 2007 $555,876,900

1990         2008 $551,793,036

1997   $338,319,110   2009 $541,426,180

1998  $393,118,435

1999 $397,623,322

2000 $409,950,786

Acknowledgements

On behalf of the Carroll County Historical Society we want to thank all of the individuals, organizations and agencies that have contributed to this history. Like any history, this is far from being complete. History writes itself everyday with new stories, people and places. As new significant information is received a revision will be uploaded. Should you have questions or have materials/information that would add to this history, please feel free to contact the individuals listed below.

Janice Lane John H. Davis

janylane@gmail.com johndavis41@hotmail.com