County History

Jefferson County's past is rich with a diverse ethnicity and colorful history reflecting bravery, perseverance and honor. Its foundation was laid by hardworking men and women whose families remain here today proudly celebrating and carrying on its story. Through dedicated volunteers, festivals, annual events, museums and local organizations, the history of this beautiful riverside community never fails to educate, entertain and inspire.

In 1748, when the Ohio Company was granted 500,000 acres of land by the King of England, the exploration and survey of what is now Jefferson County began. Fort Steuben was erected in 1786 to provide protection for the early surveyors who were traveling to the Ohio Valley and was named for the noted Prussian General Baron Von Steuben. It is toured each summer by hundreds of visitors during the annual Fort Steuben Festival. The First Federal Land Office dates to 1800. The log structure can still be visited as it once stood to assist those who were moving to the territory to purchase land. Steubenville and Jefferson County were established in 1797 by James Ross and Bezaleel Wells.

Steubenville, the county seat, is home to many historical sites and buildings including Union Cemetery which opened in 1854 and is not only the largest cemetery in the county but also the final resting place for many of the city's founding fathers. The Jefferson County Courthouse, built in 1874, is graced with a statue of Edwin McMasters Stanton on the front lawn. Stanton was a Steubenville native who served as Secretary of War under President Abraham Lincoln.

The southern part of the county boasts picturesque Mount Pleasant - an historic village of about 500 residents. Its Quaker settlers were one of the earliest groups to denounce slavery, thus establishing Mt. Pleasant as a center for anti-slavery activity and a hub of the Underground Railroad. There are many stations still standing there as well as the large brick Quaker meeting house, erected in 1814 for the Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends. It is now owned by the State of Ohio and administered by The Ohio Historical Society.

North of Steubenville, nestled in the hills of the Ohio River banks, is Toronto. The land on which this small town sits was given to Michael Myers by the U.S. government in recognition of his service as a scout and Indian fighter. The town was established by John Depuy in 1818. Once the fireclay manufacturing center of the United States, Toronto was nicknamed the "Gem City" by steamboat travelers in the 1800's who found it the ideal stop along their route. Shortly before the Civil War, the first sewer pipe works in the country were built here and Sloan Station, a train depot, was established around 1856.

For more information on the history of Jefferson County, contact:

The Jefferson County Historical Association
426 Franklin Avenue, Steubenville, Ohio 43952
Phone: 740-283-1133
Online: www.rootsweb.com/~ohjcha/

The Public Library of Steubenville & Jefferson County - Schiappa Branch, contains more than 4,000 local history & genealogy resources.

For more information, contact:

The Public Library of Steubenville
4141 Mall Drive, Steubenville, OH 43952
Phone: 740-264-6166
Online: www.steubenville.lib.oh.us

Both of these locations can provide you with more information on the county's rich history.