Jefferson County, Ohio Business Directory & Community Resources
View a map of Jefferson County
View the 2025 U.S. Census demographic profile for Jefferson County
Jefferson County — County Seat: Steubenville
2026 Population Estimate: 63,326 | Official Website: https://jeffersoncountyoh.com/
Jefferson County is a historic eastern Ohio county on the West Virginia border along the Ohio River, with Steubenville as its county seat. Steubenville was a major steel city during the 20th century and was nicknamed the City of Murals for its extraordinary collection of large-scale outdoor murals depicting local history — now one of the city's most distinctive features alongside the enormous Dean Martin Festival (Steubenville native son). The county's steel heritage is honored at the Jefferson County Historical Museum. The county is also home to Franciscan University of Steubenville — a nationally recognized orthodox Catholic liberal arts university that draws students from across the country and has become one of the most influential Catholic universities in America. Shale energy development has provided some economic lift to the region. The Wells Academy and Trinity Health System are major local institutions.
▸ Key Industries & Major Employers
Steel, healthcare, electric power generation, and retail.
Steubenville is located on the Ohio River. Major employers include Trinity Health System, CONSOL Energy (coal and natural gas), AmeriPower, FirstEnergy (electric utilities), and steel fabricators. Franciscan University of Steubenville brings higher education employment.
▸ Notable Economic Development Initiatives
Jefferson County Port Authority is developing riverfront economic assets. ARC and EDA grants support economic diversification from coal and steel legacy industries. Franciscan University's growth drives local retail and housing demand. The county benefits from Utica shale natural gas activity.
▸ Infrastructure & Investment Highlights
US-22 and SR-7 (Ohio River corridor) are primary roads. The Fort Steuben Bridge and other Ohio River crossings connect to West Virginia. Rail access via CSX serves industrial users. Broadband expansion is ongoing with ARC funding.
