The County was formed by an Act of the Ohio General Assembly on March 1, 1818. Hocking County derived its name from the Indian word “Hock-ing” which means “a bottle”. The Hocking River flows through the County, which was once claimed by the Wyandot Indians. The elected three-member Board of County Commissioners acts as both the legislative and executive branch of the County. Each Commissioner serves a term of four years. In addition to the County Auditor, who serves as the chief fiscal officer, there are seven elected administrative officials who operate independently as set forth by Ohio law. These officials are: Clerk of Courts, Coroner, Engineer, Prosecuting Attorney, Recorder, Sheriff, and Treasurer. All of these officials serve four-year terms. There are also several judges including: Municipal Court, Common Pleas Court, and Probate/Juvenile Court. Their terms vary according to their respective offices.