History
Ross County possesses a proud heritage that includes famous residents, the Midwest's first stone building and Ohio's original capital city.
Northwest Territory Governor Arthur St. Clair formed Ross County on Aug. 20, 1798, making it the sixth county in the Northwest Territory. The county is named for James Ross, a politician from Allegheny County, Pa, and St. Clair's good friend. Ross County originally spanned all of central Ohio, but the formation of Franklin County in 1803 and other counties later reduced Ross County's size.
Chillicothe, the Ross County seat, holds a distinctive place in Ohio's history. Founded in 1796, the city became the capital of the eastern section of the Northwest Territory in 1800 when Congress moved it to Chillicothe from Cincinnati. That year residents built a statehouse to accommodate the legislature and courts. Finished in 1801, the statehouse is believed to be the first public stone edifice in the Northwest Territory.
Chillicothe was the site of a constitutional convention in 1802. When Ohio became a member of the Union in 1803, Chillicothe became the state's first capital city. In 1817 the capital moved 40 miles north to Columbus.
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Business Opportunities
Major Employers
New Page Corporation
PACCAR / Kenworth Trucking Company
Adena Regional Medical Center
Horizon Telecom
Chillicothe City Board of Education
Pickway Ross County JVSD
State of Ohio
US Federal Government / Verterens Administration
USA Waste Services
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Business Potential
Ross County is an ideal location for companies that require the use of high-speed Internet access in a lower-cost setting. Ross County's Foreign Trade Zone designations may also be advantageous to many companies.
Economic Development Programs
- Downtown Revitalization Program
- Micro-Enterprise Small Business Development Program
- Foreign Trade Zone Designations
- Community Reinvestment Area Tax Incentive Program
- County/City Revolving Loan Fund Program
Natural Resource Potential
Ross County contains deposits of silica sand and gravel for mining. Land and water resources are available.
Business Support Organizations
- Chillicothe-Ross Chamber of Commerce
45 E. Main Street
Chillicothe OH 45601
(740) 702-2722
- Ross County Community Improvement Corporation
126 E. Second Street Suite D1
Chillicothe OH 45601
(740) 702-2720
- Chillicothe Economic Development Department
35 S. Paint Street
Chillicothe OH 45601
(740) 773-8032
- Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI)
1864 Shyville Road
Piketon OH 45661
(740) 289-3654
- Ross County Development Fund
Convention Facilities
The county has several convention facilities with 400-500-person capacities in a classroom setting or 250-300-person capacities in a banquet setting.
Educational Opportunities
Ohio University Chillicothe Branch- Offering Associate and specialized Bachelor's degrees. Programs include: Business Management, Computer Science, Nursing, Law Enforcement, and more. Selected graduate programs are also available.
Southeastern Business College - Offering Associate Degrees in selected areas.
Lifestyle Assets
Recreational Opportunities
Local parks
Cultural Activities
- Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
- Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama
- Seip Mound
- Camp Sherman
- Underground Railroad Sites
- Lucy Webb Hayes Heritage Center
- James M. Thomas Telephone Museum
- Dr. John Harris Dental Museum
- Ross County Historical Society
- Adena State Memorial
- Fort Economy Museum
Entertainment, Shopping, and Festivals
- Chillicothe Paints Baseball
- Majestic Theater - Longest running theater in the United States
- First Capital Craft Mall & Family Ties
- First Capital District Shopping
- Feast of the Flowering Moon
- Farmer's Fall Festival
- Fall Festival Leaves in Bainbridge, Ohio
- Kingston Summerfest
- International Sunflower Festival in Frankfort
Visitor Information
Convention and Visitors Bureau
Ross County CVB
45 E. Main Street
Chillicothe OH 45601
(740) 702-7677 or (800) 413-4118
Airport
Ross County Airport
1296 Stone Road, Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 702-7677, 800-413-4118
Fax (740) 702-7670
Car Rental
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
1607 North Bridge St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 779-0875, 800-736-8222
Herrnstein Chrysler
133 Marietta Rd.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 773-2203
G&M Leasing (McAllister Chevrolet)
60 N. Plaza Blvd.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 772-4544
Travel Agencies
AAA Travel Agency
141 W. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 702-3838
Shawnee Travel
10 Health Dr.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 772-1010
Advantage Travel
30 Central Center
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740)-1700
Noble Tours
76 Abernathy Rd.
Laurelville, OH 43135
(740) 655-2114
Uniglobe Encore
801 Western Ave. Suite C
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 775-6666
Ship to Shore Travel
330 Piatt Ave.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 779-3720
Motor Coach Tours
AAA Travel Agency
141 W. Main St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 702-3838
Shawnee Travel
10 Health Dr.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 772-1010
Noble Tours
76 Abernathy Rd.
Laurelville, OH 43135
(740) 655-2114
Health Services
Hospitals
Adena Regional Medical Center
Junction of US 23 and SR 104
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 779-7500
Chillicothe Surgery Center
4461 SR 159
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 774-9923
VA Medical Center
17273 SR 104
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 773-1141
Health Clinics
Franklin Demint, D.O.
Family Practice and Walk-in Clinic
11 Warren Dr.
Kingston, OH
(740) 642-4154
Family Healthcare Inc.
1049 Western Ave.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 773-4366
Scioto-Paint Valley Mental Health Center
4449 SR 159
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 775-1260
Mead Family Medical Center
311 Caldwell St.
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 775-6199
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