Pickaway County is a county in Ohio, United States, centred on the Scioto River in the south-central part of the state. It had a population of 58,539 at the 2020 census and covers 501.32 square miles (1,298.4 km2) of land plus 5.23 square miles (13.5 km2) of water, centred near 39°38′N 83°02′W.
Circleville is the county seat, and its postal code is 43113. The county contains one city, nine villages, several unincorporated communities, and sixteen townships. It sits in the Eastern time zone and forms part of the Columbus metropolitan area.
Towns & Villages in Pickaway County
Pickaway County has one incorporated city and nine villages, plus a scatter of unincorporated crossroads and mobile-home communities. The table below marks incorporated places by type; CDPs are census-designated places with no city government, and Unincorp. covers hamlets with no formal municipal status.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circleville | City · seat | 13,879 | 43113 |
| Ashville | Village | 4,146 | 43103 |
| Commercial Point | Village | — | 43116 |
| South Bloomfield | Village | — | — |
| Harrisburg | Village | — | — |
| New Holland | Village | — | 43145 |
| Williamsport | Village | — | 43164 |
| Darbyville | Village | — | — |
| Tarlton | Village | — | 43156 |
| Derby | CDP | — | 43117 |
| Orient | CDP | — | 43146 |
| Logan Elm Village | CDP | — | — |
| Atlanta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Duvall | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elmwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Five Points | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fox | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grange Hall | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hayesville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Huntsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kinderhook | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Little Chicago | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Little Walnut | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marcy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Matville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Meade | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Millport | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pherson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Robtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Saint Paul | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stringtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thacher | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Walnut | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whisler | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Woodlyn | Unincorp. | — | — |
Townships
Pickaway County is divided into sixteen civil townships. Verified 2020 township-level population figures are not confirmed in this rewrite, so populations are marked below where unconfirmed.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Circleville | — | Circleville |
| Darby | — | Darbyville |
| Deer Creek | — | — |
| Harrison | — | — |
| Jackson | — | — |
| Madison | — | — |
| Monroe | — | — |
| Muhlenberg | — | — |
| Perry | — | — |
| Pickaway | — | — |
| Salt Creek | — | — |
| Scioto | — | — |
| Walnut | — | Walnut, Little Walnut |
| Washington | — | — |
| Wayne | — | — |
| Yamarick | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 43113 — Circleville (also serves Circleville Township)
- 43103 — Ashville
- 43116 — Commercial Point
- 43145 — New Holland
- 43164 — Williamsport
- 43146 — Orient
- 43156 — Tarlton (PO Box only)
- 43117 — Derby (PO Box only)
Smaller unincorporated places such as Atlanta, Duvall, and Stringtown use the ZIP code of the nearest post office town rather than one of their own.
Geography
Pickaway County lies in the till plains of south-central Ohio, where the Scioto River flows south through the county’s centre on its way toward the Ohio River. The terrain is largely flat to gently rolling farmland, drained by the Scioto and its tributaries including Deer Creek and Darby Creek.
The county borders Franklin County to the north, Fairfield County to the east, Hocking County to the southeast, Ross County to the south, Fayette County to the southwest, and Madison County to the northwest.
Demographics
Pickaway County had 58,539 residents at the 2020 census. Circleville is by far the largest community, followed by Ashville. Median household income in the county runs below the Ohio median of $67,769, reflecting its mixed farm-and-small-town economic base. Population density is roughly 117 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture remains central to Pickaway County’s economy, with corn, soybeans, and livestock produced across its flat farmland. Circleville is home to the Pumpkin Show, a long-running fall festival celebrating the area’s pumpkin harvest, and manufacturing and logistics operations have grown along the Interstate 71 and US 23 corridors given the county’s proximity to Columbus.
History
Pickaway County was organized on March 1, 1810, carved from parts of Fairfield and Ross counties. It takes its name from the Pekowi (Piqua) band of Shawnee Indians who once lived along the Scioto in the area. Circleville itself was laid out in a distinctive circular street pattern around an ancient Hopewell earthwork, a design later abandoned but still remembered in the town’s name.
Getting There
Interstate 71 crosses the county, with US Routes 22, 23, and 62 and several Ohio state routes providing local connections.
- Columbus — 26 miles north
- Chillicothe — 20 miles south
- Lancaster — 22 miles east
- Washington Court House — 25 miles southwest
Pickaway County Memorial Airport, a general-aviation field just south of Circleville, serves the county; John Glenn Columbus International Airport, roughly 30 miles north, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pickaway County?
It is in south-central Ohio, centred on the Scioto River south of Columbus.
What is the population of Pickaway County?
It had a population of 58,539 at the 2020 census.
How big is Pickaway County?
It covers 501.32 square miles (1,298.4 km2) of land and 5.23 square miles (13.5 km2) of water.
What is the county seat of Pickaway County?
Circleville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Pickaway County?
The county has one city and nine villages, plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Pickaway County?
ZIP codes include 43113 (Circleville), 43103 (Ashville), 43116 (Commercial Point), 43145 (New Holland), 43164 (Williamsport), 43146 (Orient), 43156 (Tarlton), and 43117 (Derby).
Why is the county named Pickaway?
It is named after the Pekowi band of Shawnee Indians who lived along the Scioto River in the area.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Ohio.