Erie County, Ohio

History

Erie County was created in 1838 from a portion of Huron County. A few subsequent changes to Erie County's boundaries occurred shortly after its initial formation.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 626 sqmi, of which 252 sqmi is land and 374 sqmi (60%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in Ohio by land area after Lake County. The county is bordered on the north by Lake Erie; the opposite shore is made up of two counties in Ontario, Canada.

It is drained by the Huron and Vermilion rivers. Near the Huron River are several ancient earthwork mounds and enclosures constructed by early indigenous peoples. Sandusky has extensive quarries of valuable limestone. The surface is generally level, and the soil alluvial and exceedingly fertile.

Adjacent counties and municipalities

• Essex County, Ontario (north, across Lake Erie)
• Chatham-Kent municipality, Ontario (north, across Lake Erie)
• Lorain County (east)
• Huron County (south)
• Sandusky County (west)
• Ottawa County (northwest)

Major highways

• (Ohio Turnpike)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 75,622. The median age was 46.1 years, 20.0% of residents were under the age of 18, and 23.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 82.1% White, 9.0% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian,

71.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 28.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 32,360 households in the county, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.3% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 38,262 housing units, of which 15.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.5% were owner-occupied and 31.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 77,079 people, 31,860 households, and 21,011 families residing in the county.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013742/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39043 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213184521/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39043 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020726/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39043 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 31,860 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.1% were non-families, and 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 43.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,593 and the median income for a family was $61,247. Males had a median income of $46,211 versus $32,621 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,290. About 8.5% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013156/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39043 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 79,551 people, 31,727 households, and 21,764 families residing in the county. The population density was 312 PD/sqmi. There were 35,909 housing units at an average density of 141 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 88.64% White, 8.64% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. 2.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.7% were of German, 9.2% Irish, 8.2% English, 8.1% Italian, and 7.8% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 31,727 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.70% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,746, and the median income for a family was $51,756. Males had a median income of $39,249 versus $23,697 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,530. About 6.00% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Patrick Shenigo is the Chairman of the Erie County Commission, the highest elected position in the county.

From 1992 to 2012, Erie County consistently voted Democratic. In 2016, however, it swung from a 12.3% margin for Barack Obama to a 9.5% margin for Donald Trump, tracking with Trump's unexpectedly strong showing in the Rust Belt. Trump further increased his margin of victory to 11.5% in 2020. In 2024, Trump won the highest percentage of the vote in the county since 1984.

County officials

Courthouse

Main article: Erie County Courthouse (Ohio)

Erie County's courthouse at 323 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky was built in 1872 by Cleveland architects Myer and Holmes in a richly ornamented Second Empire style. Most of the façade was remodeled beginning in 1936 in Art Deco in a WPA project led locally by architect Henry Millott. Some of the original façade remains visible around the bottom row of windows.

Education

All or part of eleven school districts serve Erie County and its residents:

• Bellevue City School District: includes parts of Bellevue and Groton Township.
• Edison Local School District: includes parts of Berlin Heights and Milan, and Berlin, Florence, Huron, Milan, Oxford, Perkins, and Vermilion Townships.
• Firelands Local School District: includes parts of Florence Township.
• Huron City School District: includes parts of Huron and Berlin, Huron, and Milan Townships.
• Kelleys Island Local School District: includes all of Kelleys Island.
• Margaretta Local School District: includes parts of Bay View and Castalia, and Groton and Margaretta Townships.
• Monroeville Local School District: includes parts of Oxford Township.
• Perkins Local School District: includes parts of Groton, Huron, Margaretta, Milan, Oxford, and Perkins Townships.
• Sandusky Central Catholic Schools: includes Sandusky's three catholic Parishes (St. Mary's, Sts. Peter & Paul, and Holy Angels).
• St. Peter's School: a private catholic elementary school in Huron
• Sandusky City School District: includes all of Sandusky.
• Vermilion Local School District: includes parts of Vermilion and Florence and Vermilion Townships.
• Western Reserve Local School District: including parts of Florence Township.

Communities

Cities

• Bellevue (part)
• Huron
• Sandusky (county seat)
• Vermilion (part)

Villages

• Bay View
• Berlin Heights
• Castalia
• Kelleys Island
• Milan (part)

Townships

• Berlin
• Florence
• Groton
• Huron
• Margaretta
• Milan
• Oxford
• Perkins
• Vermilion

Census-designated places

• Beulah Beach
• Birmingham
• Bloomingville
• Crystal Rock
• Mitiwanga
• Whites Landing

Unincorporated communities

• Avery
• Axtel
• Birmingham
• Bloomingville
• Bogart
• Ceylon
• Fairview Lanes
• Florence
• Ruggles Beach
• Sandusky South

Places of interest

• Blue Hole
• Cedar Point
• Plum Brook Station
• Thomas Alva Edison Birthplace

References

References

1. "Ohio County Profiles: Erie County". Ohio Department of Development.
2. "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. (June 2016). "Erie County data". [[Ohio State University]] Extension Data Center }}{{dead link.
5. (July 21, 2023). "OMB Bulletin No. 23-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas".
6. ''Standard History of Erie County, Ohio''; Peeke, 1916
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
8. {{Cite Americana
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
11. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
12. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Ohio- Table 59 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980 AND Table 58 - Race by Sex: 1980".
17. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Ohio: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
18. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Erie County, Ohio".
19. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Erie County, Ohio".
20. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Erie County, Ohio".
21. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
22. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
23. not an option in the 1980 Census
24. not an option in the 1990 Census
25. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
26. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
27. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
28. "404 Not Found".
29. (February 12, 2024). "Erie County Board of Elections website: elected officials".
30. Center, Sandusky Library Archives Research. (May 25, 2017). "Sandusky History: Erie County Courthouse, Built in the 1870s".