Liberty Township is one of the twenty-four townships of Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. The 2020 census found 21,514 people within the geographical area of the township.
History
1856 map of Liberty Township, Trumbull County, Ohio
Liberty Township was formed from the Connecticut Western Reserve. It was established as a township in 1806. The first settler in the township was thought to be Henry Swager in 1798. Four villages grew within its borders: Girard, Churchill, Sodom, and Seceders Corners. In 1860, coal was discovered on Alexander McCleery's farm becoming a major industry in the area for the next forty years.[5]
According to the 2010 Census numbers, Liberty Township (the unincorporated areas, excluding the city of Girard) had 5,029 households and 3,337 families.[6]
The racial makeup of the unincorporated areas of the township was roughly 78.4% White, 17.7% Black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.26% American Indian or Alaska Native, 2.2% of two or more races. 2.2% identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Records suggest that in the township (excluding Girard), 26.1% of the households had children under the age of 18. Of households with children under the age of 18, 59.8% were married couples living together, 30.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 2.1% were non-families. Meanwhile, 28.1% of all households comprise a single person, and 12.3% of households comprised a person over 65 years of age living alone. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. The median age was 46 years. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.86.
Government
The township is governed by a three-member board of trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1. Two are elected in the year after the presidential election and one is elected in the year before it. There is also an elected township fiscal officer,[7] who serves a four-year term beginning on April 1 of the year after the election, which is held in November of the year before the presidential election. Vacancies in the fiscal officership or on the board of trustees are filled by the remaining trustees.
Education
Public education in the township (excluding the city of Girard) is managed by the Liberty Local School District. The school district mascot is the leopard.[8] The Liberty Township school district comprises three schools:
Average district daily enrollment during the 2010–2011 school year was 1427 pupils. 59.2% of pupils were white (non-Hispanic), 31.7% were black (non-Hispanic), 2.9% were Hispanic, and 5.3% were multiracial. 60.2% of pupils come from economically disadvantaged households. 12.2% of pupils were students with disabilities.[9]
Transportation
State Route 193 is a significant transportation artery in Liberty Township.
