Washingtonville, Ohio Public Records

These agencies coordinate on major crimes and participate in joint task forces to address issues like drug trafficking and violent crime, ensuring comprehensive law enforcement coverage throughout the county.

For felony criminal cases, major civil lawsuits, domestic relations (divorce, custody, child support), probate matters (estates, wills, guardianships), and juvenile cases, residents must go to the Columbiana County Court of Common Pleas. The Common Pleas Court has two locations: the main courthouse at 105 South Market Street, Lisbon, OH 44432, phone (330) 424-9511, and a satellite facility at 130 West Main Street, Salem, OH 44460. The court's website at www.columbianacountyohio.com provides case search capabilities and filing information. Ohio court records can be searched online through the Ohio Supreme Court's public access system and individual county portals. Columbiana County provides online case searches through its website, allowing users to search by party name, case number, or attorney. The system displays case filings, docket entries, judgments, and hearing dates for both Common Pleas and Municipal Court cases. Certified copies of court documents can be obtained from the Clerk of Courts office for a fee of $2.00 per page plus a $1.00 certification fee per document. Copies of judgments and liens cost $2.00 for the first page and $0.25 for each additional page. Extensive searches or document preparation may incur additional research fees at $5.00 per half hour. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order, and some offices accept credit cards with a processing fee.

The database displays current assessed values, tax amounts, payment history, legal descriptions, acreage, building characteristics, sales history, and exemptions. Property values are reassessed every three years in Ohio as part of the statewide reappraisal and update cycle, with Columbiana County conducting sexennial reappraisals and triennial updates. Property owners can view their property record cards online, which detail square footage, year built, number of rooms, and other characteristics used in valuation. The Columbiana County Recorder's Office, also located at 105 South Market Street, Lisbon, OH 44432, phone (330) 424-9516, maintains official land records including deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, right-of-way agreements, military discharges, and other documents affecting real property. The Recorder's website at www.ccrecorder.co.columbiana.oh.us provides free online access to recorded documents dating back to the early 1800s. Users can search by name (grantor or grantee), document type, date range, or permanent parcel number. Images of original recorded documents can be viewed and printed at no charge. Recording fees for new documents are $34.00 for the first two pages and $8.00 for each additional page, plus additional fees for various stamps and transfers. The Columbiana County GIS Office provides an interactive mapping system at gis.columbianacountyohio.com, allowing users to view parcel boundaries, zoning, flood zones, aerial photography, and infrastructure overlays. The GIS system links directly to Auditor property records for comprehensive property research.

The largest employer directly within Washingtonville is the United Local School District, which operates the United Elementary School and employs teachers, administrators, and support staff serving students from Washingtonville and surrounding Knox Township areas. Many Washingtonville residents commute to larger employment centers including Salem (about 10 miles north), Alliance (about 15 miles northwest), and the greater Youngstown metropolitan area (about 25 miles north). Major regional employers include Salem Regional Medical Center, the various school districts, manufacturing facilities producing automotive parts, steel products, and agricultural equipment, and retail establishments along State Route 62 and State Route 9. The median household income for Washingtonville was estimated at approximately $49,000 based on recent census estimates, slightly below the Columbiana County median of around $54,000 but reflecting the village's rural character and older housing stock. The village has seen modest residential development over the past decade, with some new single-family homes built on previously agricultural land, though growth has been modest compared to communities closer to major highways and employment centers. Agriculture remains an important part of the surrounding Knox Township economy, with family farms producing corn, soybeans, dairy, and livestock. The overall economic character is that of a stable, rural residential community with low unemployment but also limited high-wage employment opportunities locally. Recent infrastructure improvements have focused on maintaining roads, water, and sewer systems to support the existing population. The village's proximity to Pennsylvania creates some cross-border economic activity, particularly in retail shopping and employment in the Beaver County, Pennsylvania area.

Law enforcement services in Washingtonville are primarily provided by the Washingtonville Police Department, located at 104 North Main Street, Washingtonville, OH 44490. The department can be reached at (330) 427-6161. The Washingtonville Police Department handles patrol, emergency response, and criminal investigations within the village limits. Residents may request copies of police reports, accident reports, and incident records by submitting a public records request in person at the police department or through the village administrative office during regular business hours. Written requests should specify the date, type of incident, and parties involved to facilitate retrieval. For areas outside the village boundaries within Knox Township, law enforcement services are provided by the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office, located at 9791 Salina-Alexandria Road, Lisbon, OH 44432, phone (330) 424-7781, website www.columbianasheriff.org. The Sheriff's Office has countywide jurisdiction and maintains records for unincorporated areas and provides backup support to village departments.

Arrest and jail booking records for Washingtonville and all of Columbiana County can be searched through the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office inmate roster, available online at www.columbianasheriff.org. The online roster typically displays current inmates housed at the Columbiana County Jail, including mugshots, booking dates, charges, bond amounts, and projected release dates. Historical arrest records and detailed criminal histories may require a formal public records request. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 149.43, all public records are presumed open to the public unless specifically exempted. Law enforcement agencies must respond to public records requests promptly, typically within a reasonable time period, and may charge actual copying costs. Ohio law does not permit agencies to require requesters to identify themselves or state the purpose of their request, though providing details can expedite the search. Felony arrest records and court dispositions become part of the permanent public record maintained by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and accessible through background check services.

Applications can be submitted online through the VitalChek service at www.vitalchek.com with expedited processing available for additional fees, typically 2-3 weeks for standard mail delivery. Birth records are restricted for 100 years from the date of birth; only the individual (if 18 or older), parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, or legal representatives may obtain certified copies with proper identification. Death certificates are generally public records but access may be restricted for the first 50 years. For local issuance, the Columbiana County Health District, located at 7360 State Route 45, Lisbon, OH 44432, phone (330) 424-2157, serves as a local deputy registrar and can issue certified copies of birth and death certificates for events occurring within Columbiana County. The same fees apply as the state office. Marriage licenses for Washingtonville residents must be obtained from the Columbiana County Probate Court, located at 105 South Market Street, Lisbon, OH 44432, phone (330) 424-9514. The marriage license fee is $60.00, or $25.00 for couples who complete a premarital counseling program. Applicants must appear in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers; there is no waiting period, and licenses are valid for 60 days from issuance. Marriage records are permanently maintained by the Probate Court and are public records searchable by name and date. Divorce records are maintained by the Columbiana County Clerk of Courts as part of domestic relations case files; certified copies cost $2.00 per page plus $1.00 certification fee.

Commercial properties must comply with village zoning ordinances and building codes, with permits issued through the village administration. Columbiana County does not require a general county business license, but specific regulated activities such as food service, health services, and other licensed professions require permits from relevant county health and regulatory departments. Business entity registration for corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and other formal business structures is handled by the Ohio Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The Ohio Business Gateway at www.businessgateway.ohio.gov provides online filing for new businesses, annual reports, and registered agent changes. The Ohio Secretary of State's business search portal at www.sos.state.oh.us allows free searching of all registered business entities by name, business number, or registered agent. The database displays entity status (active, dissolved, cancelled), formation date, principal office address, registered agent, and filing history. Foreign entities doing business in Ohio must register and appoint an Ohio registered agent. Assumed name (DBA - doing business as) filings in Ohio are registered with the county where the business operates; for Washingtonville, this would be filed with the Columbiana County Clerk of Courts. UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) financing statements, which create security interests in personal property and business assets, are filed with the Ohio Secretary of State and searchable through their online database at www.sos.state.oh.us/ucc-search. Commercial property tax information for businesses operating in Washingtonville can be researched through the Columbiana County Auditor's online property search at www.columbianacountyauditor.org. Commercial properties are assessed at 35% of true value, while residential properties are assessed at 35% as well under current Ohio law. Business personal property tax was largely eliminated in Ohio for most businesses, though certain utility and telecommunications property remains taxable. Businesses with questions about property taxation should contact the Columbiana County Auditor's Office at (330) 424-9511.

Washingtonville voters are served by the Columbiana County Board of Elections, located at 7989 Dickey Drive, Suite 1, Liverpool Township, OH 43920, phone (330) 424-9511, website www.votecolumbiana.org. The Board of Elections is responsible for voter registration, election administration, absentee voting, polling place assignments, and maintenance of voter registration records for all Washingtonville residents. Ohio offers online voter registration through the Ohio Secretary of State's website at www.olvr.ohiosos.gov, where eligible citizens can register or update their registration using their Ohio driver's license or state ID number. The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before any election. New residents must provide proof of identity and current address; acceptable documents include an Ohio driver's license, recent utility bill, bank statement, or government check. Ohio offers same-day registration and voting during the early voting period, which begins 28 days before Election Day.

Washingtonville, as an incorporated village, holds municipal elections for village council members and mayor. The village is governed by a mayor and six council members serving four-year staggered terms. Village elections are held in odd-numbered years, with the next regular municipal election scheduled for November 2025. Candidates for village office must file petitions with the Columbiana County Board of Elections during the filing period in late winter/early spring of the election year. Local ballot issues, such as tax levies for the United Local School District or village operating levies, appear on the ballot as determined by the village council and school board filing deadlines. Washingtonville voters can find their assigned polling place by visiting the Columbiana County Board of Elections website and using the polling place lookup tool, or by calling the Board directly. Most Washingtonville residents vote at a single precinct location, typically at a community building or school within the village.

Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 149.43 and specific elections statutes, numerous election records are public. Voter registration lists are available for purchase or inspection, though they cannot be used for commercial purposes. Campaign finance reports for candidates and political action committees are filed with the Ohio Secretary of State and county boards of elections and are searchable online at www.ohiosos.gov. Candidate filings, petition signatures (subject to certain privacy protections), and precinct-level election results are all public records. In the November 2024 presidential election, Columbiana County reported approximately 64% voter turnout, with roughly 52,000 ballots cast out of approximately 81,000 registered voters; Washingtonville's precinct showed similar turnout patterns consistent with the county average.

Looking ahead to November 3, 2026, Washingtonville and Columbiana County voters will decide several significant races. Ohio does not have a U.S. Senate seat up for election in 2026 (Ohio's Senate seats are up in 2024 and 2028), but voters will elect a Governor, as incumbent Mike DeWine's current term expires in January 2027. The entire Ohio House of Representatives (99 districts) will be on the ballot, with Washingtonville located in a district that has historically leaned Republican. State Senate seats (odd-numbered districts) will also be contested in 2026. At the county level, Columbiana County voters will elect county commissioners, sheriff, county auditor, county recorder, county treasurer, clerk of courts, prosecuting attorney, coroner, and engineer, as these countywide offices are up in the 2026 cycle. Washingtonville will not have village elections in 2026 (those occur in odd years), but school board positions for United Local Schools may appear on the ballot depending on the expiration schedule of current board members. Voters should check the Columbiana County Board of Elections website beginning in early 2026 for confirmed candidate lists and ballot issue information.

Ohio offers multiple methods for absentee voting, now referred to as "vote by mail." Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without providing a reason. Requests can be submitted online through the Secretary of State's website, by mail, or in person at the Columbiana County Board of Elections. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is noon on the Saturday before Election Day (for 2026, that would be November 1, 2026); in-person requests at the Board of Elections can be made until the close of polls on Election Day. Absentee ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and received by the Board of Elections within 10 days after the election to be counted, or they can be returned in person to the Board of Elections by the close of polls on Election Day. Ohio also offers early in-person voting beginning 28 days before Election Day at the Board of Elections office, with extended hours during the final week before the election including evening and weekend hours.