Noble County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,115, making it the fourth-least populous county in Ohio. Its county seat is Caldwell. The county is named for Rep. Warren P. Noble of the Ohio House of Representatives, who was an early settler there.

History Noble County was formed on March 11, 1851, from portions of Guernsey, Morgan, Monroe and Washington counties.Noble County, Ohio | Learn | FamilySearch.org It was the last county to be formed in the state.1832 Ball-Caldwell House in Noble County, Ohio It was named for either James Noble or Warren P. Noble, each of whom was an early settler in this region.Noble County, Ohio definition of Noble County, Ohio in the Free Online Encyclopedia

Noble County was home to the first North American oil well, the Thorla-McKee Well, which struck oil in 1814.Thorla-McKee Well, First Oil Well in North America, Noble County, Ohio , Noble County, 2004. Accessed August 5, 2005. For a time this was a center of oil production in the state.

In 1925, a United States Navy dirigible, USS Shenandoah (ZR-1), was caught in a storm over Noble County. It broke into several pieces, resulting in the deaths of 14 persons on board; 29 survived.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.6%) is water.

Adjacent counties Guernsey County (north) Belmont County (northeast) Monroe County (east) Washington County (south) Morgan County (west) Muskingum County (northwest)

National protected area Wayne National Forest (part)

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 14,115 and a median age of 40.4 years. 19.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 144.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 154.7 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 91.3% White, 5.4% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 2.4% from two or more races, with Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprising 1.2% of the population.

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 4,725 households in the county, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them. Of all households, 51.6% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 5,751 housing units, of which 17.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.1% were owner-occupied and 21.9% were renter-occupied; the homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%.

Racial and ethnic composition +Noble County, Ohio – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)11,24211,28212,95914,03612,84099.40%99.52%92.18%95.84%90.97%Black or African American alone (NH)379383687520.03%0.06%6.67%2.51%5.33%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)14153742310.12%0.13%0.26%0.29%0.22%Asian alone (NH)991320220.08%0.08%0.09%0.14%0.16%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census030xx0.00%0.02%0.00%Other race alone (NH)70014110.06%0.00%0.00%0.10%0.08%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census51110286xx0.36%0.75%2.03%Hispanic or Latino (any race)352360521730.31%0.20%0.43%0.36%1.23%Total11,31011,33614,05814,64514,115 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census As of the 2010 United States census, there were 14,645 people, 4,852 households, and 3,394 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 6,053 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.1% white, 2.5% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 25.9% were German, 13.1% were Irish, 9.1% were American, and 9.0% were English.

Of the 4,852 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.0% were non-families, and 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 48.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,500 and the median income for a family was $44,773. Males had a median income of $42,456 versus $29,551 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,029. About 11.6% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 14,058 people, 4,546 households, and 3,318 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 5,480 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 92.55% White, 6.69% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.03% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,546 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.50% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.60% under the age of 18, 11.70% from 18 to 24, 31.80% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 130.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 140.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,940, and the median income for a family was $38,939. Males had a median income of $30,911 versus $20,222 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,100. About 8.30% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.90% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics Noble County is a Republican stronghold in presidential elections, although Bill Clinton narrowly won it in 1996.

Government Noble County has a three-member Board of County Commissioners that oversee and administer the various County departments, similar to all but two of the 88 Ohio counties. Noble County's elected commissioners are: County Commissioners: Floyd Allen Fraley (R), Gary Saling (R), and Ty Moore (R).

Education Noble County is served by the Caldwell Exempted Village School District and Noble Local School District.

Transportation The Noble County Airport is located north of Caldwell's central business district.

Communities

Villages Batesville Belle Valley Caldwell (county seat) Dexter City Sarahsville Summerfield

Townships

Beaver Brookfield Buffalo Center Elk Enoch Jackson Jefferson Marion Noble Olive Seneca Sharon Stock Wayne

Unincorporated communities Ava Carlisle Crooked Tree Dudley Dungannon East Union Elk Fulda Gem Harriettsville Hiramsburg Honesty Hoskinsville Keith Kennonsburg Middleburg Moundsville Mount Ephraim Olive Green Rochester Sharon South Olive Steamtown Whigville

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Noble County, Ohio

Footnotes

Further reading Thomas William Lewis, History of Southeastern Ohio and the Muskingum Valley, 1788-1928. In Three Volumes. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.

External links Unofficial county information website Noble County Sheriff's Office