Until Ohio achieved statehood in l803, the position of sheriff was filled through appointments made at the pleasure of the Colonial Governor. The first sheriff on record in Ohio was Colonel Ebenezer Sprout. At the time he was appointed in l788, Colonel Sprout's jurisdiction covered all of Washington County. This enormous area of land included all of eastern Ohio from the Ohio River to Lake Erie.

After statehood became a reality, only the public offices in Ohio were filled through the electoral process - the position of sheriff was one of these. Through this new system, William Skinner became the first elected sheriff in the Buckeye State.

Since the early l800s, Ohio's sheriffs have been elected at the county level by the people they serve. By virtue of this process, this office has become the oldest law enforcement position in the United States. It is also the only law enforcement office which is filled by popular vote. The term of office for County Sheriff in Ohio is four years
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