The Jefferson County Ohio Map is easiest to orient around Steubenville and the Ohio River. Toronto lies north along the river, Mingo Junction and Tiltonsville are farther south, and Wintersville sits inland to the west. Richmond, Bergholz, Dillonvale, and Adena are spread across the hill country, where roads bend through narrow creek valleys rather than following the straighter pattern seen in flatter parts of Ohio.
This page separates the county road view, ranked city distribution, water features, and elevation relief so each can be read clearly. The same maps are available as original high-resolution JPG files in a ZIP download, which is useful for printing, classroom material, presentations, or closer local reference.
Table of Contents
The Ohio River corridor and roads climbing west from Steubenville
The eastern boundary follows the Ohio River, and several of the county’s largest communities sit close to that low river corridor. Ohio 7 runs north–south near Toronto, Steubenville, Mingo Junction, and Tiltonsville. U.S. 22 leaves Steubenville toward Wintersville, while Ohio 43 continues through the interior toward Richmond. Near Toronto and Stratton, Ohio 213 climbs away from the river, and Ohio 164 provides an important northwestern reference around Bergholz.
The southern road network changes around Steubenville and Mingo Junction. Ohio 152 runs southwest from the central area, Ohio 151 crosses the southern interior toward Adena, and Ohio 150 serves the Dillonvale and southern county area. Ohio 646 links Richmond and the western side. The roads repeatedly follow or cross creek valleys, which explains why many routes curve rather than maintaining a rigid grid.
Jefferson County borders Columbiana County to the north, Carroll and Harrison counties to the west, Belmont County to the south, and West Virginia across the Ohio River to the east. The county is long from north to south and changes width several times. The Ohio 7 corridor is the easiest reference for river communities, while inland destinations require attention to the east–west state routes that cross the ridges.
The map marks the Jefferson County Courthouse in Steubenville and other local reference points near Toronto and Wintersville. Those symbols are useful for orientation but do not make the map a legal address, parcel, municipal-boundary, or construction-status product. Detailed local questions should be checked against current county GIS and official transportation sources.
| County | Jefferson County, Ohio |
|---|---|
| County seat | Steubenville |
| FIPS code | 39081 |
| 2025 estimated population | 63,597 |
| 2020 Census population | 65,249 |
| 2020 land area | 408.12 square miles |
| 2020 population density | 159.9 people per square mile |
| Useful map reference places | Steubenville, Toronto, Wintersville, Mingo Junction, Tiltonsville, Adena |
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts lists a July 1, 2025 population estimate of 63,597 for Jefferson County, compared with 65,249 residents counted in the 2020 Census. The county has 408.12 square miles of land and a 2020 population density of 159.9 people per square mile. The 2020–2024 mean travel time to work was 23.8 minutes. Those figures fit a county where several river communities and inland settlements share a relatively compact area but are separated by rugged terrain.
Six city references concentrated along the river and central corridor
The city index prints comparative values of Steubenville 18,124, Toronto 5,293, Wintersville 3,677, Mingo Junction 3,254, Tiltonsville 1,311, and Adena 716. These are best treated as the values supplied with the map rather than assumed to be the newest official population estimates for every municipality. Their purpose is to show relative size and make the location of the six highlighted places easy to scan.
Steubenville, Toronto, Mingo Junction, and Tiltonsville all sit close to the eastern river corridor. Wintersville is the major inland reference just west of Steubenville, reached by U.S. 22 and nearby local roads. Adena is much farther southwest near the Harrison and Belmont county side. The six points therefore show both the concentration of settlement near the Ohio River and the importance of smaller inland communities.
The full county map adds places that the ranked index does not emphasize, including Richmond, Bergholz, Dillonvale, New Alexandria, and Stratton. That distinction matters for practical travel. The city index is useful for understanding the largest population centers, while the full map is better for locating a rural road, smaller village, or route between the western hills and the river.
The city index does not show legal municipal boundaries or postal areas. This is especially important along the Ohio River, where communities are close together and West Virginia settlements may be nearby across the water. Property, school-district, municipal-service, and mailing-address questions should be checked with current official local records.
Yellow Creek, Cross Creek, Short Creek, and lakes draining toward the Ohio River
The Ohio River is the dominant water feature and the ultimate destination for most of the major local drainage lines shown on the map. In the north, Yellow Creek runs east through a deep valley, joined by tributaries such as Long Run and Town Fork. USGS monitoring records place Jefferson County’s Yellow Creek sites in the Upper Ohio hydrologic system, confirming the river connection visible on the map.
Island Creek occupies the central area, while Cross Creek drains a broad section farther south before reaching the Ohio River. USGS drainage-area information identifies Cross Creek as a direct tributary of the Ohio River spanning Jefferson and Harrison counties. McIntyre Creek and Short Creek define additional southern valleys, each separated from neighboring channels by narrow upland ridges.
The map also shows a number of small lakes. Rod Lake and Lake George are in the northwest, Austin Lake and Jefferson Lake appear in the central hill country, and Lake Betsy and Friendship Park Lake are farther south. These water bodies are much smaller than the Ohio River, but they provide useful local landmarks when navigating roads through the interior.
This water view is intended for geographic reference. It is not a flood map, bathymetric chart, navigation product, parcel map, or legal description of water boundaries. Current river stage, flood conditions, recreation access, and other time-sensitive information should be checked with USGS and the appropriate managing agencies.
A 196–440 meter landscape of narrow valleys and high ridges
The elevation map lists an actual range of roughly 196 to 440 meters and a mean near 330 meters. The Ohio River edge forms the clearest low corridor in green, and major creeks extend narrow green branches west into the county. Between those valleys, brown and orange ridges rise sharply and repeat across nearly the entire interior.
Steubenville, Toronto, Mingo Junction, and Tiltonsville occupy relatively low terrain beside the Ohio River, but the ground rises quickly to the west. Yellow Creek in the north and Cross Creek in the south create long incisions through the uplands, while many smaller tributaries cut short side valleys. This relief helps explain why road approaches to inland communities can be indirect even when the straight-line distance from the river is modest.
The colors are scaled locally for Jefferson County and are intended for relative comparison within this map. The same shade on another county map may represent a different elevation. The surface is also not survey-grade, so exact heights for property, engineering, drainage, or construction work should come from USGS 3DEP source data or a professional survey.
Jefferson County since 1797: Fort Steuben, river trade, coal, and steel
Jefferson County’s government history states that the county was created on July 29, 1797 by proclamation of Governor Arthur St. Clair and named for Thomas Jefferson. Fort Steuben had been built in 1786 on a hill overlooking the Ohio River, and the settlement that grew nearby eventually became Steubenville and the county seat. The location makes geographic sense on the modern map because the river remains the county’s strongest transportation and settlement corridor.
Steubenville first developed as a river port. County history notes that a rolling mill and coal development in the mid-nineteenth century helped create a new industrial base, contributing to the later steel-and-coal identity of the Ohio Valley. Toronto, Mingo Junction, and Tiltonsville also occupy the narrow river corridor where transportation routes, industrial sites, and communities could fit between the river and steep hills.
The Steubenville Visitor Center highlights Historic Fort Steuben and the First Federal Land Office as major heritage attractions. Inland, Mount Pleasant is associated with abolitionist and Underground Railroad history. These places are not all shown as tourist symbols on the county map, but the road, river, and relief views provide useful geographic context for understanding how the county’s settlements developed.
Moving from the river corridor into the western hills with the map set
For general orientation, begin with Steubenville, the Ohio River, and Ohio 7. Toronto is north along the river, while Mingo Junction and Tiltonsville are to the south. Wintersville is directly inland along the U.S. 22 corridor. Destinations such as Richmond, Bergholz, and Adena are better located by following the state routes west across the hills.
- River communities: compare Steubenville, Toronto, Mingo Junction, and Tiltonsville against the Ohio River and Ohio 7.
- Inland routes: use U.S. 22 and Ohio 43, 152, 151, 164, and 646 to reach Wintersville, Richmond, Bergholz, Adena, and nearby areas.
- Water features: use the water map for Yellow Creek, Cross Creek, Short Creek, Rod Lake, Austin Lake, and Friendship Park Lake.
- Relief: compare the low Ohio River corridor with the higher interior ridges to understand winding road approaches.
- Printing and presentations: use the original high-resolution JPG files in the ZIP when sharper labels and linework are needed.
The maps are most useful when the same place is compared across them. Steubenville is a road and government center on the county view, the largest place on the city index, and a low river-valley city on the water and elevation views. Richmond and Bergholz are less prominent on the ranked city map but become much easier to understand when their roads and surrounding ridges are viewed together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the county seat of Jefferson County, Ohio?
Steubenville is the county seat. It sits beside the Ohio River and Ohio 7, with U.S. 22 providing an important inland connection toward Wintersville. Check the current address and office hours of a specific agency before an in-person government visit.
Which side of Jefferson County follows the Ohio River?
The Ohio River forms the county’s eastern boundary, with West Virginia on the opposite bank. Steubenville, Toronto, Mingo Junction, and Tiltonsville are all located close to this river corridor. Current river stage and flood information should be checked through USGS and other responsible agencies.
Why does Jefferson County look so rugged on the elevation map?
Yellow Creek, Cross Creek, Short Creek, and many smaller tributaries cut narrow valleys through uplands that rise well above the Ohio River. The supplied elevation surface spans roughly 196 to 440 meters, so the contrast between low stream corridors and higher ridges is pronounced. The map is intended for county-scale comparison and is not survey-grade elevation data.
Map File Information
This ZIP contains the original high-resolution JPG versions of the Jefferson County boundary, city-index, water, and elevation maps shown on this page.
- Included Files: county map, city index map, water map, elevation map
Related Maps
Sources and References
Population, land area, density, and commuting figures were checked against U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts. County formation and Steubenville history were reviewed through Jefferson County government material and the Steubenville Visitor Center. Water and elevation descriptions also use the supplied map package and USGS source programs.
- U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Jefferson County, Ohio
- Jefferson County government annual financial report and county history
- Steubenville Visitor Center local history and attractions
- USGS National Hydrography
- USGS 3D Elevation Program
Green Map creates custom-edited map images using open geographic data sources such as geoBoundaries, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, and government open data. These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
