The City of New Philadelphia, which will be celebrating its bicentennial in 2004, is the county seat of Tuscarawas County. The offices of the county government are housed in the historic County Courthouse and its annex on the main square.

Established in 1808, Tuscarawas County is governed by a board of commissioners. Services include a Cooperative Extension Service, Job and Family Services, General Health District, Mental Health Board, Veteran's Services Office, and Sanitary Sewer Department. The County Sheriff's Department is housed in a justice center which includes state-of-the-art communications, security, and detention facilities.

The 911 Emergency Services are also housed in the county justice center. Library service is provided by municipal libraries located in Dover, Dennison, Gnadenhutten, Newcomerstown, and Uhrichsville.

The Tuscarawas County Public Library provides library services to the remainder of the county with the main library in New Philadelphia and branches in Bolivar, Strasburg, Sugarcreek, and Tuscarawas, as well as a county-wide bookmobile service. Most of the cities and villages in Tuscarawas County have a mayor-council form of government. Each city and township has its own fire and police departments, and villages have their own volunteer fire departments. The Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Department and the State Highway Patrol provide additional police services.

The county's major daily newspaper is The Times Reporter, serving readers in the Tuscarawas Valley and surrounding areas. The weekly Newcomerstown News serves the residents of Newcomerstown while a unique Amish paper, The Budget, is published weekly in Sugarcreek for Amish and Mennonite readers throughout the world. The Bargain Hunter, a product of Graphic Publications, is a weekly community newspaper delivered to homes across Tuscarawas and surrounding counties.

Radio stations serving the area are WJER AM-FM, located in Dover; WTUZ, which broadcasts from two county locations; WPNQ FM/WBTC, simulcasting from Uhrichsville; WKSU, originating from Kent State University studios; and WNPQ, with an office in New Philadelphia. A cable company, with a local broadcasting studio, serves the area with hookups to national cable stations. Television programming is received from stations in Cleveland, Canton, Columbus, and Steubenville, Ohio, as well as Wheeling, West Virginia.

The AAA of Tuscarawas County serves motorist members locally. The Society for Equal Access provides referrals and services support in regard to our disabled citizens. A Minority Employment Readiness Committee is an active participating group in Tuscarawas County as well. The Tuscarawas County Senior Center, with several centers located throughout the county, provides transportation, meals, and fellowship to our area seniors.

Additional services and organizations that are located in Tuscarawas County include: Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, United Way and Junior Achievement. Harbor House is a domestic violence shelter, Rainbow Connection assists local residents with medical expenses, and Tuscarawas County Council for Church & Community, T4C, offers several programs to the community including Share-a-Christmas and CharacterCounts!

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