Meigs County Courthouse was constructed between 1845 and 1848 and the building is the oldest surviving courthouse in the state of Ohio. Meigs County was established in 1819 from parts of Washington, Gallia, and Athens counties. The county seat was at the village of Middleport but, was moved twice to Chester in 1823 then to Pomeroy in 1841. Since Pomeroy was the new county seat, the village needed county government buildings. The building is still in use to this day and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
After the Civil War ended in 1865, many soldiers had lost their lives in the conflict. To dedicate the memory of the people of Meigs County who had died in the fighting, a memorial was created. The statue is of a soldier sitting upon a stack of logs holding a rifle. Along the sides are the names of those Meigs County residents who sacrificed there lives during the war.
Morgan's Raid Route spans states and the raiders ended their journey right after they were at this particular location in southeastern Ohio. The marker for Morgan's Raid Route is located in downtown Pomeroy, Ohio right next to the Meigs County Courthouse. This marker is significant in regards to Civil War history as well as local and state history. The marker leads to the Battle of Buffington Island which is located just up the Ohio River in Portland, Ohio and it was there that Morgan's Raid ended after a short battle ensued. This is a double-sided marker and as well as conveying information about Morgan's Raid Route and the significance of this spot in the little town of Pomeroy it also informs about the Meigs County Courthouse which the marker itself is located next to and continues to follow the journey of Morgan's Raid through its demise at Buffington Island.
This local history museum offers exhibits drawn from a collection of thousands of artifacts from the earliest Native tribes and the colonial era to the present. Established in 1876 as the Meigs County Pioneer and Historical Society, the Meigs County Historical Society is one of the oldest in the region and offers exhibits, programs, and a variety of social and educational events throughout the year.
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Pomeroy was founded in 1804 and named after Landowner Samuel Pomeroy. The village was incorporated in 1840 and was named county seat in 1841. In the 19th century, Pomeroy was a large producer of coal and salt. The first barges on the Ohio River were loaded here. This small town has long since lost its coal and salt industries but, is still full of people who are proud of the towns history.
