Brilliant, Ohio


Brilliant is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in eastern Jefferson County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. It was named after the Brilliant Glass factory that once was located in the town. Although unincorporated, Brilliant has a post office, bearing the ZIP code 43913. It is located along Ohio State Route 7. Brilliant is part of the Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,482.
Brilliant was formerly incorporated as a village, but it disincorporated on November 24, 1993.

History

Brilliant was laid out in 1819 by western Virginia statesman Philip Doddridge under the name "Philipsburgh". The location was considered significant to commerce as it was the convergence of many roads in close proximity to the Ohio River and parallel to the Wellsburg wharf. A new addition was laid out in 1836 named "La Grange", a name also adopted by the railway station in 1856. In 1880, the Brilliant Glass Company was established and a glass factory was built at La Grange. The town later adopted the name of the glass company and was incorporated as "Brilliant", changing the titles of the railway station and post office.
The Cardinal Power Plant is located south of Brilliant. It commenced operations in 1967.

Geography

Brilliant is in northeastern Wells Township, along the Ohio River south of Steubenville. Ohio State Route 7, a four-lane freeway, passes through the southeast side of the community, leading north to Steubenville and south to Bridgeport, across the river from Wheeling, West Virginia.
According to the 2010 census, the Brilliant CDP has a total area of, of which are land and are water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Brilliant has a Humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Education

Public education in the community of Brilliant is provided by the Buckeye Local School District. Public high school students in the city attend Buckeye Local High School; Brilliant High School formerly served as the high school in the city.
Brilliant has a public library, a branch of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County.