Pike County, Ohio Business Directory & Community Resources

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View the 2025 U.S. Census demographic profile for Pike County

Pike County — County Seat: Waverly

2026 Population Estimate: 27,046  |  Official Website: https://www.pikecountyohcommissioners.gov/

Pike County is a southern Ohio Appalachian county centered on Waverly — the county seat on the Scioto River. The county's history was dramatically and tragically shaped by the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant — a massive Cold War-era uranium enrichment facility that was the county's dominant employer for decades, and whose cleanup and decommissioning is one of Ohio's largest environmental remediation projects. Pike County has faced significant economic challenges from the facility's closure and persistent rural poverty. The county features scenic hill country terrain and the Shawnee State Forest and Pike Lake State Park provide outdoor recreation. The county has strong community resilience and an active local government working toward economic diversification.

▸ Key Industries & Major Employers
Nuclear energy, defense manufacturing, and agriculture.
The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS—now undergoing decommissioning and cleanup by Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth) has been a defining employer for generations. OhioHealth Pike Community Hospital and Pike-Delta-York Local Schools are key employers. The defense and clean-up contracting sector employs hundreds of specialized workers.

▸ Notable Economic Development Initiatives
The PORTS site cleanup is one of the nation's largest environmental remediation projects, funded by the Department of Energy. Pike County Economic Development and OhioSE are developing a post-PORTS economic transition strategy, targeting manufacturing and distribution on the large cleared industrial campus. A 2024 feasibility study examined the site's potential for advanced manufacturing or data center uses.

▸ Infrastructure & Investment Highlights
US-23 and SR-220 are primary corridors. The PORTS site itself offers significant infrastructure (power lines, rail spurs, water systems) that support future industrial use. Rural broadband expansion is ongoing.