Highland County, Ohio

Highland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,317.<ref name="2020 census">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Hillsboro.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The county is named for the topography which is hilly and divides the watersheds of the Little Miami and Scioto Rivers.<ref name="osuedc">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Highland County was created on May 1, 1805, from land taken from Ross, Adams, and Clermont counties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.8%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

• Fayette County (north)
• Ross County (northeast)
• Pike County (east)
• Adams County (southeast)
• Brown County (southwest)
• Clinton County (northwest)

Major highways

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Demographics

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 43,589 people living in Highland County. The population density is 78.8 people per square mile. The county is made up of 96.4% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.5% from two or more races, and 0.8% Hispanic or Latino.

This county is also made up of 6.2% of people under the age of 5, 24.7% of people under the age of 18, and 16.5% of people over the age of 65. The median age is 39.2. The county is also 51% female.

There are 16,963 households in Highland County as of the 2010 census. The average household size is 2.58 persons, while the average family size is 3.04 persons. According to the 2010 census, 41.9% of the houses in Highland County had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.07% of the houses were married couples living together, 11.09% of the houses had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.91% of the houses were non-families. Individuals made up 24.33% of all households, and 11.02% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

According to the census, 81.5% of people over the age of 25 is at least a high school graduate and 11.1% of people over the age of 25 have earned at least a bachelor's degree. The median household income is $39,641 and 17.6% of people live below the poverty line. The per capita income of Highland County is $19,557.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 43,589 people, 16,693 households, and 11,819 families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 19,380 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 96.5% white, 1.4% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 23.8% were German, 14.9% were Irish, 14.3% were American, and 10.7% were English.<ref name="census-dp2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 16,693 households, 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.2% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age was 39.2 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $39,844 and the median income for a family was $48,604. Males had a median income of $38,892 versus $29,167 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,966. About 12.4% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">Template:Cite web</ref>

Politics

Highland County is a Republican stronghold county in presidential elections. The last time it voted for the Democratic presidential candidate was for Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |} Template:U.S. SenHead Template:U.S. SenRow Template:U.S. SenFoot

Education

School districts

Highland County is home to five school districts: Greenfield Exempted Village Schools in Greenfield,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hillsboro City Schools in Hillsboro,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fairfield Local School District in Leesburg,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bright Local School District in Mowrystown,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Lynchburg-Clay Local School District in Lynchburg.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Additionally, these districts have territory in the county: Eastern Local School District, East Clinton Local School District, and Adams County/Ohio Valley Local School District.<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

Libraries

The Highland County District Library<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is the public library system serving Highland County, Ohio. The main library is in Hillsboro, with four branches located in Greenfield, Leesburg, Lynchburg, and Rocky Fork. The library is a member of the SEO Consortium which allows patrons access to over 6.9 million items owned by member libraries.

• Hillsboro Library
  Hillsboro Library
• Greenfield Library
  Greenfield Library
• Leesburg Library
  Leesburg Library
• Lynchburg Library
  Lynchburg Library

Recreation

There are currently several recreational areas in Highland County. There is Rocky Fork State Park<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which is located 5 miles east of Hillsboro. It provides opportunities to go camping, fishing, boating, swimming, hunting, putt-putt, and disc golf amongst other activities.

There is also Paint Creek State Park<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> located 13 miles east of Hillsboro. Paint Creek offers many of the same activities as Rocky Fork but also offers horse riding, mountain biking, and winter recreational activities.

Fort Hill State Memorial is a memorial built by the Hopewell people that is located 10 miles southeast of Hillsboro<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and is believed to be around 2000 years old.

Fallsville Wildlife Area<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> is located 4 miles north of Hillsboro. It offers fishing, hunting, hiking, and wildlife watching.

Non-profits

Habitat for Humanity of Highland County<ref>Highland County, Ohio</ref> was established in 2000, and has since built three homes: one on Johnson St. in Hillsboro and two on 2nd St. in Greenfield. Highland County Habitat is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.

Highlands Sanctuary is a chain of nature preserves centered in Highland County and owned by an organization of the same name.

Communities

File:Map of Highland County Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels.PNG

Map of Highland County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels

City

• Hillsboro (county seat)

Villages

• Greenfield
• Highland
• Leesburg
• Lynchburg
• Mowrystown
• Sardinia
• Sinking Spring

Townships

• Brushcreek
• Clay
• Concord
• Dodson
• Fairfield
• Hamer
• Jackson
• Liberty
• Madison
• Marshall
• New Market
• Paint
• Penn
• Salem
• Union
• Washington
• Whiteoak

Census-designated places

• Buford
• Highland Holiday
• Rocky Fork Point

Unincorporated communities

• Allensburg
• Belfast
• Berrysville
• Boston
• Bridges
• Carmel
• Dodsonville
• East Danville
• Elmville
• Fairfax
• Folsom
• Hoagland
• Hollowtown
• Marshall
• New Market
• New Petersburg
• Pricetown
• Rainsboro
• Samantha
• Sugar Tree Ridge
• Taylorsville

See also

• Fort Hill State Memorial
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Highland County, Ohio
• Highland County Airport
• Highland County Courthouse
• Rocky Fork State Park
• Paint Creek State Park

References

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