A Look Into County Government

How did a form of local government come to be?

Next year, voters throughout the State of Ohio will elect a number of individuals to serve as County Government officials, such as recorders, treasurers, sheriffs, and even engineers. Over the next few weeks, this publication will take some time to delve deeper into one of the most fascinating and often misunderstood forms of local government in Ohio — Ohio County Government by exploring these positions and what these roles do in our community.

But before we explore those roles and responsibilities in depth, it is advisable to take a step back and look at where exactly these counties came from and how they were set up. In reality, the county government system we use today is actually a vestige of a system created centuries before across the Atlantic Ocean.

The First Counties

The historical basis for county government actually dates back to England over a thousand years ago. To understand the origins of county government, we must journey back to the early medieval period. In the aftermath of the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the 5th century, the island was divided into numerous tribal regions, each with its own system of governance. Over time, as various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms emerged and consolidated their power, a more structured administrative framework began to develop.

The concept of the "shire" played a crucial role in the evolution of county government. The term "shire" is derived from the Old English word "scīr," which referred to a division of land. These shires were established as territorial units, each governed by an appointed official known as a "shire reeve" or "sheriff." The sheriff was responsible for collecting taxes, maintaining law and order, and representing the king's interests within the shire.

The shire system became more organized and formalized during the reign of King Alfred the Great (871-899). He introduced a set of legal codes and administrative reforms, which included the division of England into shires, hundreds (smaller administrative units within shires), and tithings (groups of ten households). This system laid the foundation for local governance in England.

The Norman Conquest of 1066 brought further changes to county government. William the Conqueror and his successors established a centralized administrative system, with shires as the basic units of local government. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, recorded detailed information about land ownership and taxation within each shire, demonstrating the importance of these administrative units in the medieval period.

The Earliest Settlers

After the first English settlers crossed the Atlantic Ocean, many brought this concept of county governance to the new colonies. Colonial land grants from the Monarch sometimes provided a framework for local governance, but as the population grew, there were demands for more localized self-government. The more urbanized northern colonies ended up using these county government systems more for the provision of justice, while the more rural southern colonies had county governments that had more responsibilities.

After the Revolutionary War, the loose collection of colonies were organized under the Articles of Confederation, which was the first attempt at a federal government. While the Articles of Confederation ultimately were replaced with the current United States Constitution, one enduring piece of the Confederation period was the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

As a result of the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War, the new country had access and was able to settle the Northwest Territory, which was the areas “North and West of the Ohio River.” It was the first large territorial expansion of the country and is now home to Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and parts of Minnesota. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was a pivotal piece of legislation that laid the groundwork for the establishment of county government structures in the newly acquired Northwest Territory.

The Northwest Ordinance divided the Northwest Territory into a system of counties, which was a bit of carryover from the British local governance system. The ordinance also established a framework for the territorial government, including provisions for self-governance and the eventual creation of states.

In the early years of the Northwest Territory, county government structures were relatively rudimentary. Each county had a justice of the peace and a sheriff, and a board of county commissioners responsible for managing local affairs. The primary functions of these county governments included land allocation, law enforcement, and the establishment of a rudimentary legal system.

Ohio Becomes a State

A map showing the first counties when Ohio became a state

When Ohio became the first state to be carved out of the Northwest Territory in 1803, the state kept its county government structure and helped evolve the structures to meet the needs of its growing population and expanding territory. In those early years of Ohio, the state had only a few counties, such as Washington, Hamilton, and Adams. Each of these counties had a simple county government structure, with elected officials responsible for maintaining law and order, surveying and selling land, and overseeing local justice.

As Ohio's population swelled due to westward migration and economic growth, new counties were established. The process of county formation was often driven by the need for more accessible local governance. Counties were carved out of existing ones, and their boundaries were frequently adjusted to accommodate the influx of settlers.

County seats, where government buildings and courthouses were located, became centers of local administration and justice, and these county seats often served as hubs for commerce, education, and social activities in their respective regions. One of the enduring development patterns of the more rural parts of Ohio is that the County seat was often the only town in the county, with smaller hamlets and villages scattered about; in fact, you can see instances where the County seat and the County have the same name, such as Marion, Paulding, and Van Wert.

County Government Changes with the Times

Over time, the structure of county government in Ohio became more complex. Counties elected officials such as county commissioners, judges, sheriffs, treasurers, clerks, and auditors. These officials were responsible for various aspects of local governance, including public finance, land records, law enforcement, and infrastructure development. These county governments provided a wide range of services to their residents, including public health, transportation infrastructure, and social welfare. The county government played a critical role in fostering economic development and maintaining law and order at the local level.

The evolution of county government in Ohio continued into the 20th century and beyond. Counties adapted to changing demographics, urbanization, and technological advancements. They became more efficient and responsive to the needs of their citizens by expanding services and improving infrastructure.

The history of county government in Ohio, as shaped by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, reflects the broader trends of westward expansion, democratic governance, and the evolution of local institutions in the United States. Today, Ohio's county government system remains a vital component of the state's governance structure, providing essential services and representation to its residents while continuing to adapt to the ever-changing needs of its communities.

Thanks for reading today’s Civic Capacity Newsletter! We hope you have found something valuable and interesting in today’s edition. Please feel free to share this with your friends and neighbors and if you have any questions or your own ideas, please feel free to share them in the comment section.