History of Vinton County, Ohio
Named after U. S. Representative Samuel Finley Vinton, of Jackson
County, Ohio, Vinton County was officially made a county on March 23, 1850 and formed from Gallia, Athens,
Hocking, Ross and Jackson Counties. It's main source of water comes from branches of the Scioto and Hocking Rivers.
Most of its wealth in the early years came from iron, coal and fire-clay. Vinton county was home to four of the
many furnaces located in Ohio, Eagle, Hope, Vinton and Hamden.
Some of the earliest settlers came to Vinton County about 1805, with one of the earliest
known being a Mr. Musselman. He settled in Elk which at that time was the pioneer township of the county. He was
a miller by trade and a bit of a geologist as well. He discovered the first burr stone. He began quarrying the
stone in 1806. Nothing else is found about him at the time of this writing.
The county seat, McArthur was laid out in 1815 and was originally called "McArthurstown"
after then Governor McArthur. By an act of legislature it was given its current name of McArthur in 1851 and was
at that time incorporated. In 1850, there were 450 residents living in McArthur.
The 2000 Census states that Vinton County has the smallest population in the state.
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