Editing Van Wert County, Ohio

{{short description|County in Ohio, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Van Wert County
 | state                = Ohio
 | flag                 = Flag of Van Wert County, Ohio.png
 | seal                 = Seal of Van Wert County Ohio.svg
 | founded year         = 1820
 | founded date         = February 12
 | seat wl              = Van Wert
 | largest city wl      = Van Wert
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 410
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 409
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.3
 | area percentage      = 0.3%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 28931 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 71
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | web                  = www.vanwertcountyohio.gov
 | named for            = [[Isaac Van Wart]]
 | ex image             = Van-wert-ohio-courthouse2.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Van Wert County Courthouse]]
 | district             = 5th
}}

'''Van Wert County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Ohio]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 28,931.<ref name="2020 census">[https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 census]</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Van Wert, Ohio|Van Wert]].<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 was created on February 12, 1820, and later organized on March 18, 1837.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/OH_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Ohio: Individual County Chronologies|work=Ohio Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|date=2007|access-date=February 14, 2015|archive-date=April 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406154847/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/OH_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is [[List of Ohio county name etymologies|named]] for [[Isaac Van Wart]], one of the captors of [[John André]] in the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref name="osuedc">{{cite web|url=http://www.osuedc.org/profiles/profile_entrance.php?fips=39161&sid=0 |title=Van Wert County data |access-date=April 28, 2007 |publisher=[[Ohio State University]] Extension Data Center }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Van Wert County comprises the Van Wert, OH [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is included within the [[Lima, Ohio|Lima]]-Van Wert-[[Celina, Ohio|Celina]], OH [[Lima – Van Wert – Wapakoneta, OH Combined Statistical Area|Combined Statistical Area]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|410|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|409|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.3|sqmi}} (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_39.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 11, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504223453/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_39.txt|archive-date=May 4, 2014}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Paulding County, Ohio|Paulding County]] (north)
* [[Putnam County, Ohio|Putnam County]] (northeast)
* [[Allen County, Ohio]] (east)
* [[Auglaize County, Ohio|Auglaize County]] (southeast)
* [[Mercer County, Ohio|Mercer County]] (south)
* [[Adams County, Indiana]] (southwest)
* [[Allen County, Indiana]] (northwest)

Van Wert County is one of the few counties in the US to border two counties of the same name in different states (Allen County in Ohio and Indiana).
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 49
|1840= 1577
|1850= 4793
|1860= 10238
|1870= 15823
|1880= 23028
|1890= 29671
|1900= 30394
|1910= 29119
|1920= 28210
|1930= 26273
|1940= 26759
|1950= 26971
|1960= 28840
|1970= 29194
|1980= 30458
|1990= 30464
|2000= 29659
|2010= 28744
|2020= 28931
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|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 11, 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 11, 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 11, 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://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |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 11, 2015}}</ref> 2020 <ref name="2020 census">[https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 census]</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 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> there were 29,659 people, 11,587 households and 8,354 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|72|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants&nbsp;|inhabitants|}}. There were 12,363 housing units at an average density of {{convert|30|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.43% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.75% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.11% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.19% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.75% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]] and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.56% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 11,587 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,497, and the median income for a family was $46,503. Males had a median income of $32,377 versus $23,859 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $18,293. About 4.20% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.80% of those under age 18 and 4.00% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 28,744&nbsp;people, 11,439&nbsp;households and 7,921&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/DPDP1/0500000US39161
  |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/20200213021701/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39161
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|70.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|inhabitants&nbsp;|inhabitants|}}. There were 12,615 housing units at an average density of {{convert|30.8|/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.CY07/0500000US39161
  |access-date=December 27, 2015
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213184751/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39161
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 0.9% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.6% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 43.6% were [[Germans|German]], 12.4% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 11.5% were [[English people|English]] and 11.0% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39161
  |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/20200213020348/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39161
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 11,439&nbsp;households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.8% were non-families, and 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 40.3 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $44,415 and the median income for a family was $51,215. Males had a median income of $37,408 versus $28,692 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,772. About 6.1% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 6.6% 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/DP03/0500000US39161
  |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/20200213021518/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39161
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Politics==
Van Wert County is a stronghold Republican county in presidential elections. In 2020, [[Donald Trump]] nearly won 80% of the votes cast in the county.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/us/2017/04/19/four-things-to-know-about-van-wert-the-tiny-ohio-school-district-where-devos-and-weingarten-will-form-an-uneasy-duo/|title=Four things to know about Van Wert, the tiny Ohio school district where DeVos and Weingarten will form an uneasy duo|last=Cramer|first=Philissa|date=April 19, 2017|work=[[Chalkbeat]]|access-date=December 19, 2019}}</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Van Wert County, Ohio|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 7, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|11,616|3,000|190|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|11,650|3,067|277|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|10,469|2,697|604|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|9,585|4,029|284|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|9,168|5,178|355|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|10,678|4,095|54|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,679|4,209|331|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|6,999|4,453|1,589|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|7,227|3,822|3,168|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|9,410|3,848|78|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|9,570|3,338|80|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|7,866|4,070|936|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|8,344|5,689|251|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|9,545|3,644|202|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|7,835|4,360|1,332|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|6,194|7,695|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|9,666|5,050|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|9,834|4,208|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|9,355|5,108|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|6,785|5,127|24|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|8,529|5,046|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|8,656|6,254|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|6,275|7,744|714|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|5,918|7,977|183|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|7,540|5,089|67|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|6,206|4,318|1,154|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|7,495|4,899|99|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,802|3,753|174|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|2,490|3,287|1,329|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|3,809|3,783|137|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|4,120|3,325|173|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|4,006|3,582|90|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|3,957|3,984|92|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|3,373|3,629|248|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|3,411|3,398|270|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|3,052|2,940|60|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1880|Republican|2,634|2,571|10|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|2,290|2,410|8|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1872|Republican|1,805|1,686|6|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1868|Republican|1,547|1,431|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1864|Republican|1,214|1,193|0|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1860|Republican|1,015|959|19|Ohio}}
{{PresRow|1856|Democratic|758|789|32|Ohio}}
|}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Van Wert 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|10,826|3,204|577|Ohio}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

==Government==

Van Wert County has a 3-member Board of County Commissioners that administer and oversee the various County departments, similar to all but 2 of the 88 Ohio counties. The elected commissioners serve four-year terms. Van Wert County's three elected commissioners are: Thad Lichtensteiger (R), Stan Owens (R), and Todd Wolfrum (R).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://vanwertcounty.org/cc/meet.asp|title=Meet the Van Wert County Commissioners|work=Van Wert County Ohio Homepage|access-date=March 12, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312213542/http://vanwertcounty.org/cc/meet.asp|archive-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[File:VanWertCountyOH2017.png|thumb|right|300px|Municipalities and townships of Van Wert County]]

===Cities===
* [[Delphos, Ohio|Delphos]] (part)
* [[Van Wert, Ohio|Van Wert]] (county seat)

===Villages===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Convoy, Ohio|Convoy]]
* [[Elgin, Ohio|Elgin]]
* [[Middle Point, Ohio|Middle Point]]
* [[Ohio City, Ohio|Ohio City]]
* [[Scott, Ohio|Scott]]
* [[Venedocia, Ohio|Venedocia]]
* [[Willshire, Ohio|Willshire]]
* [[Wren, Ohio|Wren]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Harrison]]
* [[Hoaglin Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Hoaglin]]
* [[Jackson Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Jackson]]
* [[Jennings Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Jennings]]
* [[Liberty Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Liberty]]
* [[Pleasant Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Pleasant]]
* [[Ridge Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Ridge]]
* [[Tully Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Tully]]
* [[Union Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Union]]
* [[Washington Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Washington]]
* [[Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|Willshire]]
* [[York Township, Van Wert County, Ohio|York]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Abanaka, Ohio|Abanaka]]
* [[Cavett, Ohio|Cavett]]
* [[Dixon, Indiana and Ohio|Dixon]]‡
* [[Dull, Ohio|Dull]]
* [[Glenmore, Ohio|Glenmore]]
* [[Hoaglin, Ohio|Hoaglin]]
* [[Jonestown, Van Wert County, Ohio|Jonestown]]
* [[Middlebury, Ohio|Middlebury]]
* [[Monticello, Ohio|Monticello]]
* [[Schumm, Ohio|Schumm]]
* [[Seamersville, Ohio|Seamersville]]
{{div col end}}

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

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

==External links==
* [http://www.vanwertcounty.org/ County website]
* [http://www.whyvanwert.org/ The Van Wert County Economic Development Group]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070628200649/http://www.maumeevalleyheritagecorridor.org/ Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Van Wert County, Ohio
|North     = [[Paulding County, Ohio|Paulding County]]
|Northeast = [[Putnam County, Ohio|Putnam County]]
|East      = [[Allen County, Ohio|Allen County]]
|Southeast = [[Auglaize County, Ohio|Auglaize County]]
|South     = [[Mercer County, Ohio|Mercer County]]
|Southwest = [[Adams County, Indiana]]
|West      =
|Northwest = [[Allen County, Indiana]]
}}

{{Van Wert County, Ohio}}
{{Ohio}}

{{coord|40.86|-84.59|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-OH_source:UScensus1990}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Van Wert County, Ohio| ]]
[[Category:1837 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1837]]