Editing Ashland County, Ohio

{{short description|County in Ohio, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Ashland County
 | state                = Ohio
 | image_flag           = Flag of Ashland County, Ohio.svg
 | seal                 = Seal of Ashland County Ohio.svg
 | founded              = February 24, 1846<ref name="odod">{{cite web |url = http://www.odod.state.oh.us/research/FILES/S0/Ashland.pdf |title = Ohio County Profiles: Ashland County |access-date = April 28, 2007 |publisher = Ohio Department of Development |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070508184858/http://www.odod.state.oh.us/research/FILES/S0/Ashland.pdf |archive-date = May 8, 2007 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
 | seat wl              = Ashland
 | largest city         = Ashland
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 427
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 423
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 3.8
 | area percentage      = 0.9%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 52447 
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 52420 {{decrease}}
 | pop_est_footnotes    = <ref name=qf>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ashlandcountyohio/PST045224|title=Ashland County, Ohio|website=Census.gov|access-date= }}</ref>
 | density_sq_mi        = 124
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.ashlandcounty.org
 | named for            = "[[Ashland (Henry Clay home)|Ashland]]", [[Henry Clay]]'s home
 | ex image             = Ashland-County-Ohio-Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Ashland County Courthouse
 | district             = 4th
}}

'''Ashland County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the northeastern portion of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Ohio]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 52,447.<ref name="2020 census">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html|title=2020 Population and Housing State Data|first=US Census|last=Bureau|website=Census.gov}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] and largest city is [[Ashland, Ohio|Ashland]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county is [[List of Ohio county name etymologies|named]] for "[[Ashland (Henry Clay home)|Ashland]]", the home of Senator [[Henry Clay]] near [[Lexington, Kentucky]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/ohiostatesmenan00taylgoog | title=Ohio Statesmen and Annals of Progress | publisher=Press of the Westbote Company | author=Taylor, William Alexander | year=1899 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/ohiostatesmenan00taylgoog/page/n264 243]}}</ref> It was formed in 1846 from parts of [[Huron County, Ohio|Huron]], [[Lorain County, Ohio|Lorain]], [[Richland County, Ohio|Richland]] and [[Wayne County, Ohio|Wayne]] Counties.

Ashland County comprises the Ashland, OH [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also included in the [[Mansfield, Ohio|Mansfield]]-Ashland-[[Bucyrus, Ohio|Bucyrus]], OH [[Mansfield Metropolitan Statistical Area|Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
Ashland County was formed on February 24, 1846, from portions of [[Huron County, Ohio|Huron]], [[Lorain County, Ohio|Lorain]], [[Richland County, Ohio|Richland]], and [[Wayne County, Ohio|Wayne]] counties. Like the county seat, it was named after Ashland, the [[Lexington, Kentucky]]-area home of [[Henry Clay]], a Kentucky senator.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Ashland_County?rec=1890 | title=Ashland County | publisher=Ohio History Central | access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref> Henry Clay was very popular in the area of north-central Ohio due to the role he played in [[Missouri Compromise|defusing]] the secession crisis of 1820 and the Nullification crisis of 1833. The region was settled overwhelmingly by migrants from [[New England]] and was culturally continuous with early [[New England]]. Part of this meant political support for Henry Clay, opposition to slavery and opposition to secession during the aforementioned crises. 
Similarly, this meant the Whig Party was very popular in the region during that era. The first non-Native American settlers in the area that became Ashland County were a group of families from [[Windham County, Connecticut]]. Subsequent migration from 1800 to the mid-1820s came almost exclusively from the regions of rural [[Massachusetts]], [[New Hampshire]] and [[Maine]].<ref>New England Origins of Western Reserve Place Names by David Lindsey - American Speech, Vol. 30, No. 4 (Dec. 1955), pp. 243-255</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|427|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|423|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.8|sqmi}} (0.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_39.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504223453/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_39.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 4, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 7, 2015 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Lorain County, Ohio|Lorain County]] (north)
*[[Medina County, Ohio|Medina County]] (northeast)
*[[Wayne County, Ohio|Wayne County]] (east)
*[[Holmes County, Ohio|Holmes County]] (southeast)
*[[Knox County, Ohio|Knox County]] (southwest)
*[[Richland County, Ohio|Richland County]] (west)
*[[Huron County, Ohio|Huron County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 23813
|1860= 22951
|1870= 21933
|1880= 23883
|1890= 22223
|1900= 21184
|1910= 22975
|1920= 24627
|1930= 26867
|1940= 29785
|1950= 33040
|1960= 38771
|1970= 43303
|1980= 46178
|1990= 47507
|2000= 52523
|2010= 53139
|2020= 52447
|estyear=2024
|estimate=52420
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 7, 2015 }}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=February 7, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/oh190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=February 7, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=February 7, 2015}}</ref> 2020 <ref name="2020 census"/><ref name="USCensusEst2019">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2010-2019/counties/totals/|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=March 26, 2020}}</ref> 2024<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=QuickFacts - Ashland County, Ohio|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ashlandcountyohio/PST045219|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 52,523 people, 19,524 households, and 14,018 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|124|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://censusviewer.com/county/OH/Ashland|title = Population of Ashland County, OH - Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts - CensusViewer}}</ref> There were 20,832 housing units at an average density of {{convert|49|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.54% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.81% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.11% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.55% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.21% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.76% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 36.8% were of [[germans|German]], 27.4% [[English people|English]] and 8.8% [[Irish people|Irish]] ancestry according to [[Census 2000]]. 96.1% spoke [[English language|English]], 1.2% [[German language|German]] and 1.0% [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as their first language.<ref name="auto"/>

There were 19,524 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,179, and the median income for a family was $46,306. Males had a median income of $32,585 versus $22,334 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,308. About 7.10% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 53,139&nbsp;people, 20,196&nbsp;households, and 14,017&nbsp;families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39005
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010852/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39005
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|125.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 22,141 housing units at an average density of {{convert|52.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39005
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191448/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39005
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 32.7% were [[Germans|German]], 26.2% were [[English people|English]], 11.2% were [[Irish people|Irish]], and 5.2% were [[Italians|Italian]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39005
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024942/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39005
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 20,196&nbsp;households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 39.3 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $44,542 and the median income for a family was $54,177. Males had a median income of $39,663 versus $31,012 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,558. About 10.2% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39005
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011542/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39005
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Politics==
Prior to 1912, Ashland County was a Democratic Party stronghold in presidential elections voting Republicans only once since 1856. The county was a national bellwether from 1912 to 1936, but starting with the 1940 election, the county has become a Republican Party stronghold. [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s win in 1964 is the lone time since then that a Democrat has won the county.

[[Image:Seal of Ashland County (Ohio) Clerk of Common Pleas Court.svg|thumb|100px|Seal of the Clerk of Common Pleas Court of Ashland County]]

{{PresHead|place=Ashland County, Ohio|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 1, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|19,863|6,544|323|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|19,407|6,541|457|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|17,493|5,740|1,504|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|15,519|8,281|540|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|15,158|9,300|727|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|16,209|8,576|194|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|13,533|6,685|1,040|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|10,402|6,573|2,798|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|9,864|5,985|5,006|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|12,726|6,072|141|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|14,339|4,786|147|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|11,691|5,142|1,856|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|9,761|7,205|388|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|12,470|4,302|302|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|9,745|4,526|1,323|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|7,308|8,493|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|13,112|5,700|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|12,792|4,634|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|12,459|5,244|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|8,027|6,095|69|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|8,994|6,130|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|8,624|7,835|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|6,154|8,818|380|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|6,549|7,302|235|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|8,745|3,256|96|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|5,777|4,377|812|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,951|5,705|101|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,534|4,000|145|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,017|3,364|1,913|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,804|3,627|142|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|2,747|2,996|370|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,641|3,399|81|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,608|3,422|50|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|2,256|3,042|254|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|2,445|3,152|180|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|2,616|3,325|113|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|2,752|3,217|4|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|2,387|3,021|6|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1872|Democratic|2,183|2,368|35|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|2,205|2,504|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1864|Democratic|2,144|2,280|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1860|Republican|2,166|1,720|530|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1856|Democratic|1,912|2,089|39|Ohio}}
|}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Ashland County, Ohio|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/ohio-senate-results}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|17,894|7,280|1,019|Ohio}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

==Transportation==
The [[Ashland County Airport]] is located {{convert|3|nmi|mi km|spell=in}} northeast of the [[central business district]] of the [[Ashland, Ohio|City of Ashland]].<ref>{{FAA-airport|ID=3G4|use=PU|own=PU|site=17551.1*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. effective June 30, 2011.</ref>

==Park District==
The Ashland County Park District was founded in 2002. Stephanie Featheringill is the current director. The park district currently consists of 18 parks throughout the county. Monthly bird walks are held at Byers Woods Park (located on 675 County Road 1754, Ashland, OH 44805) on the fourth Saturday of the month. A full list of seasonal events can be found through the park district webpage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ashlandcountyparks.com/index.php/programs |title=Ashland County Park District |date=2021 |website=Ashlandcountyparks.com |access-date=October 21, 2021}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Ashland County Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG|thumb|175px|Map of Ashland County, Ohio, with municipal and township labels]]

===City===
* [[Ashland, Ohio|Ashland]] (county seat)

===Villages===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Bailey Lakes, Ohio|Bailey Lakes]]
* [[Hayesville, Ohio|Hayesville]]
* [[Jeromesville, Ohio|Jeromesville]]
* [[Loudonville, Ohio|Loudonville]]
* [[Mifflin, Ohio|Mifflin]]
* [[Perrysville, Ohio|Perrysville]]
* [[Polk, Ohio|Polk]]
* [[Savannah, Ohio|Savannah]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Clear Creek Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Clear Creek]]
* [[Green Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Green]]
* [[Hanover Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Hanover]]
* [[Jackson Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Jackson]]
* [[Lake Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Lake]]
* [[Mifflin Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Mifflin]]
* [[Milton Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Milton]]
* [[Mohican Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Mohican]]
* [[Montgomery Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Montgomery]]
* [[Orange Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Orange]]
* [[Perry Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Perry]]
* [[Ruggles Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Ruggles]]
* [[Sullivan Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Sullivan]]
* [[Troy Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Troy]]
* [[Vermillion Township, Ashland County, Ohio|Vermillion]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
* [[Cinnamon Lake, Ohio|Cinnamon Lake]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Albion, Ohio|Albion]]
* [[Mohicanville, Ohio|Mohicanville]]
* [[Nankin, Ohio|Nankin]]
* [[Nova, Ohio|Nova]]
* [[Paradise Hill, Ohio|Paradise Hill]]
* [[Redhaw, Ohio|Redhaw]]
* [[Rowsburg, Ohio|Rowsburg]]
* [[Ruggles, Ohio|Ruggles]]
* [[Sullivan, Ohio|Sullivan]]
* [[Widowville, Ohio|Widowville]]

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Ashland County, Ohio]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Ashland County (Ohio)}}
*[http://www.ashlandcounty.org/ Ashland County Government's website]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Ashland County, Ohio
|North     = [[Lorain County, Ohio|Lorain County]]
|Northeast = [[Medina County, Ohio|Medina County]]
|East      = [[Wayne County, Ohio|Wayne County]]
|Southeast = [[Holmes County, Ohio|Holmes County]]
|South     = 
|Southwest = [[Knox County, Ohio|Knox County]]
|West      = [[Richland County, Ohio|Richland County]]
|Northwest = [[Huron County, Ohio|Huron County]]
}}

{{Ashland County, Ohio}}
{{Ohio}}

{{coord|40.84|-82.27|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OH_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ashland County, Ohio| ]]
[[Category:1846 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1846]]