Huron County, Ohio

Not to be confused with Huron, Ohio.

Huron County (/ˈhjʊərɒn, -ən/ HURE-on, -⁠ən) is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,565.^[1] Its county seat is Norwalk.^[2] The county was created in 1809 and later organized in 1815.^[3] Huron County is included in the Norwalk, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area.

Huron County
County
Huron County Courthouse
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°09′N 82°36′W
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Founded	April 1, 1815
Named after	Huron tribe
Seat	Norwalk
Largest city	Norwalk
Area
• Total	495 sq mi (1,280 km2)
• Land	491 sq mi (1,270 km2)
• Water	3.3 sq mi (9 km2)  0.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	58,565
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	5th
Website	www.huroncounty-oh.gov

History

Huron County was named in honor of the Huron Indians (more correctly called the Wyandot), an Iroquoian-speaking tribe who occupied large areas in the Great Lakes region. The word "Huron" may be French, although this origin is disputed.^[4]

In the late 18th century, this area was in the U.S. Northwest Territory, part of the Connecticut Western Reserve in a sub-region called the Firelands. Connecticut had originally claimed the land as part of its original colony, then afterward wanted to use it to grant land to veterans in lieu of cash payment for their service in the war. In 1795, the Connecticut Land Company purchased this land for resale and development. Later, it was solely administered by the "Fire Land Company".^[5] Many of the townships in Huron County are named for places in Connecticut.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 495 square miles (1,280 km²), of which 491 square miles (1,270 km²) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) (0.7%) is water.^[6]

Adjacent counties

• Erie County (north)
• Lorain County (east)
• Ashland County (southeast)
• Richland County (south)
• Crawford County (southwest)
• Seneca County (west)
• Sandusky County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	6,675		—
1830	13,341		99.9%
1840	23,933		79.4%
1850	26,203		9.5%
1860	29,616		13.0%
1870	28,532		−3.7%
1880	31,609		10.8%
1890	31,949		1.1%
1900	32,330		1.2%
1910	34,206		5.8%
1920	32,424		−5.2%
1930	33,700		3.9%
1940	34,800		3.3%
1950	39,353		13.1%
1960	47,326		20.3%
1970	49,587		4.8%
1980	54,608		10.1%
1990	56,240		3.0%
2000	59,487		5.8%
2010	59,626		0.2%
2020	58,565		−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2020 [1]

2000 census

As of the census^[11] of 2000, there were 59,487 people, 22,307 households, and 16,217 families living in the county. The population density was 121 inhabitants per square mile (47/km²). There were 23,594 housing units at an average density of 48 units per square mile (19/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.98% White, 0.97% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 3.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,307 households, out of which 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 23.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.30% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,558, and the median income for a family was $46,911. Males had a median income of $35,760 versus $22,785 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,133. About 6.50% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.00% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 59,626 people, 22,820 households, and 16,141 families living in the county.^[12] The population density was 121.3 inhabitants per square mile (46.8/km²). There were 25,196 housing units at an average density of 51.3 units per square mile (19.8 units/km²).^[13] The racial makeup of the county was 94.9% white, 1.0% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.6% of the population.^[12] In terms of ancestry, 36.4% were German, 14.5% were Irish, 10.8% were English, and 8.9% were American.^[14]

Of the 22,820 households, 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.3% were non-families, and 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 38.4 years.^[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,058 and the median income for a family was $53,887. Males had a median income of $41,566 versus $30,967 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,743. About 10.9% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.3% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.^[15]

Politics

Huron County has almost always been a Republican stronghold. However, in the election of 1996, Bill Clinton narrowly carried the county by a margin of 0.5%.

United States presidential election results for Huron County, Ohio^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	19,487	71.25%	7,498	27.42%	364	1.33%
2020	18,956	69.72%	7,759	28.54%	475	1.75%
2016	16,226	64.90%	7,192	28.77%	1,584	6.34%
2012	13,060	52.85%	11,006	44.54%	645	2.61%
2008	12,884	50.36%	12,076	47.21%	622	2.43%
2004	14,817	57.97%	10,568	41.35%	173	0.68%
2000	12,286	57.52%	8,183	38.31%	891	4.17%
1996	8,750	41.35%	8,858	41.86%	3,553	16.79%
1992	9,480	38.74%	7,930	32.41%	7,061	28.85%
1988	12,633	61.20%	7,794	37.76%	215	1.04%
1984	14,388	67.96%	6,609	31.22%	174	0.82%
1980	11,173	58.32%	6,537	34.12%	1,449	7.56%
1976	9,386	51.95%	7,742	42.85%	938	5.19%
1972	10,942	63.10%	5,491	31.67%	907	5.23%
1968	9,456	53.38%	6,515	36.78%	1,743	9.84%
1964	7,655	41.52%	10,780	58.48%	0	0.00%
1960	12,261	61.94%	7,534	38.06%	0	0.00%
1956	12,208	73.43%	4,418	26.57%	0	0.00%
1952	12,372	71.73%	4,875	28.27%	0	0.00%
1948	9,004	59.50%	6,073	40.13%	57	0.38%
1944	11,442	66.06%	5,879	33.94%	0	0.00%
1940	11,758	63.56%	6,741	36.44%	0	0.00%
1936	8,318	46.15%	8,500	47.16%	1,204	6.68%
1932	8,702	49.16%	8,795	49.69%	204	1.15%
1928	10,702	67.18%	5,157	32.37%	71	0.45%
1924	8,340	62.12%	2,871	21.39%	2,214	16.49%
1920	9,348	67.18%	4,398	31.61%	169	1.21%
1916	4,048	48.31%	4,136	49.36%	196	2.34%
1912	1,707	20.61%	3,317	40.05%	3,259	39.35%
1908	4,930	52.73%	4,262	45.58%	158	1.69%
1904	5,613	66.11%	2,622	30.88%	255	3.00%
1900	4,993	55.14%	3,906	43.14%	156	1.72%
1896	5,008	53.98%	4,185	45.11%	84	0.91%
1892	4,257	51.93%	3,592	43.82%	349	4.26%
1888	4,392	53.35%	3,438	41.76%	402	4.88%
1884	4,650	56.01%	3,311	39.88%	341	4.11%
1880	4,566	57.96%	3,040	38.59%	272	3.45%
1876	4,504	59.37%	3,014	39.73%	68	0.90%
1872	3,812	62.82%	2,182	35.96%	74	1.22%
1868	4,019	64.18%	2,243	35.82%	0	0.00%
1864	4,430	67.99%	2,086	32.01%	0	0.00%
1860	4,107	65.39%	2,083	33.16%	91	1.45%
1856	3,468	66.30%	1,709	32.67%	54	1.03%

United States Senate election results for Huron County, Ohio1^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	17,090	63.69%	8,452	31.50%	1,289	4.80%

Government

See also: Ohio county government

Officials

Commissioner - Bradley R. Mesenburg

Commissioner - Harry Brady

Commissioner - Tom Dunlap ^[18]

Auditor - Roland Tkach^[19]

Clerk of Courts - Gina Hartman ^[20]

Coroner - Jeffery Harwood^[21]

Engineer - Lee Tansey ^[22]

Prosecutor - Joel Sitterly ^[23]

Recorder - Jan Tkach ^[24]

Treasurer - Megan Bursley ^[25]

Sheriff - Todd Corbin ^[26]

Judge of Court of Common Pleas - James Conway^[27]

Court Secretary (non-elected position) - Julie Wise^[28]

Education

Main article: School Districts of Huron County, Ohio

Infrastructure

Major highways

• US Route 20
• US Route 224
• US Route 250
• State Route 4
• State Route 13
• State Route 18
• State Route 60
• State Route 61
• State Route 99
• State Route 103
• State Route 113
• State Route 162
• State Route 269
• State Route 303
• State Route 547
• State Route 598
• State Route 601
• State Route 603

Communities

Map of Huron County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels

Cities

• Bellevue
• Norwalk (county seat)
• Willard

Villages

• Greenwich
• Milan
• Monroeville
• New London
• North Fairfield
• Plymouth
• Wakeman

Townships

• Bronson
• Clarksfield
• Fairfield
• Fitchville
• Greenfield
• Greenwich
• Hartland
• Lyme
• New Haven
• New London
• Norwalk
• Norwich
• Peru
• Richmond
• Ridgefield
• Ripley
• Sherman
• Townsend
• Wakeman

Census-designated places

• Celeryville
• Collins
• Holiday Lakes
• New Haven

Unincorporated communities

• Boughtonville
• Centerton
• Clarksfield
• Delphi
• East Townsend
• Fitchville
• Havana
• Hunts Corners
• New Pittsburgh
• North Monroeville
• Olena
• Steuben

Notable people

• Phillip Johnson, American Architect
• Laura Owens, American Painter
• Ezekiel S. Sampson, two-term Republican Congressman from Iowa's 6th congressional district; born in Huron County.
• Paul Brown, American college and professional football coach; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Lefty Grove, American baseball player, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Huron County, Ohio