ZANESVILLE city (1990 pop. 26,778), seat of Muskingum co., central Ohio, on the Muskingum River at its junction with the Licking River; incorparated in 1815. It is a trade and industrial center that manufactures metal products,  machinery, glassware, and electrical equipment.

The area has deposits of clay, oil, natural gas, sand, limestone, and iron ore. The site was selected by Ebenezer Zane, surveyor of Zane's Trace, the gateway to the Northwest Territory. A two-year interval as state capital (1810-12) and the city's location on waterways and the National Road spurred its growth.

Areial view of Y Bridge

The rivers there, which are spanned by the famous "Y" bridge, are connected to the Ohio by 10 hand-operated locks and a 1-mi-long (1.6-km) canal. An art institute and a branch of Ohio Univ. are in the city. Of interest are the National Road-Zane Grey museum, several early homes of Federal design, and the nearby Ohio ceramics center. A state park is at Dillon Reservoir to the northwest.


*Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2003.