Muskingum County is located east of Columbus, Ohio, our state capital. Ebenezer Zane made a settlement here when he stopped on his way from Wheeling, now West Virginia, to Maysville, Kentucky. He was clearing a road called Zane's Trace that ran across Ohio.

Zanesville was established on March 1, 1804, by Zane's son-in-law, John McIntire. He stayed in Zanesville and developed what would become Ohio's second capital from 1810- 1812.

Muskingum County was a hub of river traffic and is famous for the "Y" Bridge which was built at the confluence of the Muskingum and Licking Rivers. The county got its name from the Native American term , Moos-kin-gung meaning "a town on the side of the river." Some claim the natives called it the "Elk Eye River."

Muskingum County contains a land area of 673 square miles, with Zanesville as its county seat. The population was listed at 84,884 in the 2010 census.

Muskingum County offers many interesting historical, cultural and geographical features. We hope you will come visit us personally, but in the meantime, please enjoy our website.