14.1 Counties & the Services They Provide

A county is an administrative division within a state tasked with providing various local government services and implementing state laws. Counties serve as the primary unit of local government in many states, including Ohio, where they play a critical role in delivering public services to residents.

Below is a list of key services offered by county governments, each playing a crucial role in maintaining public safety, health, infrastructure, and more.

• Law Enforcement – County sheriff departments in Ohio provide law enforcement for unincorporated areas, operate county jails, and offer security for county courts, covering broader and often rural regions with additional duties related to the county.

• Judicial Services – As outlined in the previous chapter, county courts handle legal cases, including criminal, civil, and probate matters, to administer justice.

• Public Health – County health departments offer health services, conduct disease prevention programs, and ensure sanitary conditions. County boards of health are responsible for inspecting and licensing various facilities to ensure public health and safety. For example, they inspect and license public swimming pools to maintain water quality, tattoo and body piercing studios to enforce sanitary practices, and food establishments like restaurants to ensure safe food handling and preparation.

• Public Works – Counties are responsible for the construction, maintenance, and repair of local roads and bridges to ensure safe transportation.

• Social Services – Counties provide assistance programs such as child welfare, food assistance, and senior services to support vulnerable populations.

• Emergency Management – Counties develop and implement plans to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters.

• Property Tax Administration – County auditors assess property values and collect property taxes to fund local government operations.

• Public Records – County clerks maintain vital records, such as birth and death certificates, and manage public documents and archives.

• Elections Administration – Counties oversee the conduct of elections, including voter registration, polling place management, and ballot counting.

• Economic Development, Job Creation, and Training – Counties work to attract and retain businesses, create jobs, and provide workforce training programs to boost the local economy.

• Arts, Culture, and Sports – Counties support cultural institutions, arts programs, and entertainment venues, including professional sports, to enhance the community’s quality of life and foster cultural development.

Counties are sometimes referred to as “branch offices” of state government because they serve as the local administrative arms that implement and enforce state laws and policies. This designation reflects the essential role counties play in carrying out state functions at the local level, such as maintaining public records, administering elections, providing public health services, and overseeing the justice system. Therefore, counties are a critical link between state authorities and the local population.

The County Seat

In Ohio, a county seat serves as the administrative hub for the county, functioning like the capital of the county. Cleveland is the county seat of Cuyahoga County; Chardon is the county seat of Geauga County; Painesville is the county seat of Lake County; Akron is the county seat of Summit County; Elyria is the county seat of Lorain County; Medina is the county seat of Medina County; and Ravenna is the county seat of Portage County.

This is where the offices of the county commissioners are typically located, often in a county administration building. Commissioners manage key administrative responsibilities, including budgets, infrastructure projects, and policy decisions for the county. The county seat is also home to the courthouse, which handles judicial matters such as legal proceedings and public records.

Geauga County Courthouse – Located in Chardon, Ohio, this historic courthouse stands as the center of judicial and administrative activities for Geauga County.

Services Not Provided by the County 

Metroparks and community colleges are often associated with counties but are not directly administered by them. Each Metropark is governed by a board of park commissioners appointed by the county probate judge. The board then oversees the hiring of professionals to run the system.

Likewise, community college districts in Ohio are specific geographical areas established to provide accessible higher education and vocational training to residents within the district. Some are associated with a particular county, like Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), while others serve multiple counties. For example, the Lakeland Community College District includes Lake County and parts of Geauga and Cuyahoga counties.