Mount Gilead is a village in and the county seat of Morrow County, Ohio, United States. It is located northeast of Columbus. The population was 3,503 at the 2020 census. It is the center of population of Ohio. The village was established in 1832, eight years after European settlers arrived in the region.
Located in the center of the village is Morrow County's historic World War I Victory Memorial Shaft, unique in the United States, and Mt. Gilead State Park is nearby on State Route 95. Other areas drawing tourism include the Amish farms, shops and stores east of Mount Gilead, near Chesterville and Johnsville. Mount Gilead is also home to the OhioHealth Morrow County Hospital.
History
The first settler to Mount Gilead was Lewis Hardenbrook in 1817, though it was then called Whetstone and located in Marion County. In 1824, Judge Jacob Young drew out the village; the plan consisted of 80 lots and also included a public square. Several years later, in 1832, Henry Ustick added 70 lots to the village as well as an additional public square. The original public square was then referred to as the south square and the newer square, the north square.
In 1848, Mount Gilead was almost unanimously chosen to be the county seat for the newly formed Morrow County, formed from parts of surrounding Marion, Knox, Richland, and Delaware counties. Given the village's elevated status as the county seat, village leaders enhanced many areas of the town's appearance by creating streets clearing them and performing other improvements.
Soon after being named county seat, there was talk of building a rail line that would pass through Mount Gilead between Cleveland and Columbus. Officials opened stock purchases and began preparations for the build. Tensions between villagers and railroad officials broke down the negotiations and the rail station was re-located to Cardington, several miles south of Mount Gilead, and opened for business in 1851. The railroad would pass Mount Gilead two miles to the west, in what is now known as Edison. Nearly 30 years later, Mount Gilead did get a rail spur through the village, named Mt. Gilead Short Line Railway. The Short Line opened in 1880.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.
Mount Gilead is considered to be a part of "Mid Ohio."
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Mount Gilead had a population of 3,503. The median age was 41.3 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.6 males age 18 and over.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,508 households in Mount Gilead, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 35.7% were married-couple households, 20.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 3,660 people, 1,482 households, and 875 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 1,658 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 97.1% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.
There were 1,482 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.0% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 3.01.
The median age in the village was 36.9 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 22.9% were from 45 to 64; and 17.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
2000 census
As of the census Levering Hall in particular is distinguished by its ornate Italianate architecture and its place as the center of community life for several decades.
The Victory Shaft was erected in Mount Gilead's town square in December 1919, following World War I. It was presented as a gift from the federal government to Morrow County citizens to thank them for purchasing more war bonds per capita than any other county. Warren G. Harding, a Senator who would later be elected President, was the keynote speaker at the dedication.
Government
thumb|Old Morrow County Jail
Mount Gilead is governed by a mayor-council government. As of 2026, the mayor is Donna Carver.