Your Guide to Ross County, Ohio
Looking for trusted businesses, services and local resources in Ross County, Ohio? FindItOhio.com helps residents and visitors discover local companies, professionals and community information across Ross County, including Chillicothe, the county seat.
Quick answer: Ross County is one of Ohio’s 88 counties. Its county seat is Chillicothe, it was established in 1798, and it has an estimated 76,429 residents as of 2025.
At a Glance
- County seat: Chillicothe
- Established: Aug 20, 1798
- Formed from: Adams and Washington Counties
- Named for: Named for U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania James Ross by territorial governor Arthur St. Clair
- Estimated population (2025): 76,429
- Total area: 688.41 sq mi
- FIPS code: 39141
About Ross County
Ross County is a county in the Appalachian region of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 77,093. Its county seat is Chillicothe, the first and third capital of Ohio. Established on August 20, 1798, the county is named for Federalist Senator James Ross of Pennsylvania. Ross County comprises the Chillicothe, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Columbus, Marion, Zanesville Combined Statistical Area.
History of Ross County
Ross County was formed by proclamation of Governor St. Clair, August 20, 1798, being the sixth county formed in the Northwest Territory.
Ross County was described by Ephraim George Squier and Edwin Hamilton Davis as having almost “one hundred enclosures of various sizes, and five hundred mounds” in their book, Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley (1848). They described the Indian built earthworks as ranging from 5 to 30 feet (1.5 to 9.1 m) in size, and enclosures of 1 to 50 acres (0.40 to 20.23 ha) large. These included Serpent Mound, Fort Ancient, Mound City, and Seip Earthworks (both now part of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park), and Newark Earthworks.
Cities and Villages in Ross County
Cities
Chillicothe â€
Villages
Adelphi, Bainbridge, Clarksburg, Frankfort, Greenfield, Kingston, South Salem
Find Local Businesses in Ross County
Browse the FindItOhio.com business directory to find restaurants, contractors, professional services, shops and more serving Ross County. Own a business here? Add your free business listing so local customers can find you.
Background Checks, Process Serving and Private Investigations
Residents and employers in Ross County can get BCI and FBI LiveScan fingerprinting, FD-258 fingerprint cards, process serving and licensed private investigations from these Ohio providers:
- Ohio Security & Investigations, Youngstown: licensed private investigations and fingerprinting. Call (888) 341-6960 or visit ohioinvestigators.com.
- 10-8 Protective Services, Columbus: investigations, fingerprinting and process serving. Call (800) 949-8521 or visit 10-8protectiveservices.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the county seat of Ross County, Ohio?
Chillicothe is the county seat of Ross County, Ohio.
When was Ross County established?
Ross County was established on Aug 20, 1798. It was formed from Adams and Washington Counties.
Who or what is Ross County named for?
Ross County is named for Named for U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania James Ross by territorial governor Arthur St. Clair.
How many people live in Ross County, Ohio?
Ross County has an estimated population of 76,429 as of 2025.
What cities are in Ross County, Ohio?
Cities in Ross County include Chillicothe †.
Where can I find local businesses in Ross County?
Search the FindItOhio.com business directory to find local businesses and services in Ross County, Ohio.
How do I list my Ross County business on FindItOhio.com?
Visit the free business listing page on FindItOhio.com and submit your business name, address, phone number and website.
Looking for another county? Explore all 88 Ohio counties on FindItOhio.com.
County background adapted from the Wikipedia article Ross County, Ohio, available under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 license.