Highland County, Ohio

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 558 sqmi, of which 553 sqmi is land and 4.7 sqmi (0.8%) is water.

Adjacent counties

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

Major highways

Demographics

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 43,317. The median age was 41.3 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.9 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian,

26.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 73.7% lived in rural areas.

There were 16,876 households in the county, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.8% were married-couple households, 18.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 18,981 housing units, of which 11.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.5% were owner-occupied and 28.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%.

Racial and ethnic composition

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.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013201/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39071 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183309/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39071 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030135/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39071 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

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.

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.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025837/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39071 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the census 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.

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. |}

Education

School districts

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

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.

Libraries

The Highland County District Library 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.

File:HillsboroLibrary.JPG|Hillsboro Library File:Greenfield, Ohio Library.JPG|Greenfield Library File:LeesburgOhioLibrary.JPG|Leesburg Library File:LynchburgOhioLibrary.JPG|Lynchburg Library

Recreation

There are currently several recreational areas in Highland County. There is Rocky Fork State Park 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 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 and is believed to be around 2000 years old.

Fallsville Wildlife Area is located 4 miles north of Hillsboro. It offers fishing, hunting, hiking, and wildlife watching.

Non-profits

Habitat for Humanity of Highland County 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

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

References

References

1. "Ohio County Profiles: Highland County". Ohio Department of Development.
2. "2020 Population and Housing State Data".
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. (June 2016). "Highland County data". [[Ohio State University]] Extension Data Center }}{{dead link.
5. "OH: Individual County Chronologies".
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
9. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
10. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
13. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
14. "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".
15. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Ohio: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
16. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Highland County, Ohio".
17. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Highland County, Ohio".
18. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Highland County, Ohio".
19. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
20. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
21. not an option in the 1980 Census
22. not an option in the 1990 Census
23. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
24. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
25. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
26. "Greenfield Exempted Village Schools".
27. "Hillsboro City Schools".
28. "Leesburg Fairfield School District".
29. "Bight Local School District".
30. "Lynchburg-Clay School District".
31. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Highland County, OH". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
32. "Home Page | Highland County District Library".
33. "Rocky Fork State Park".
34. "Paint Creek State Park".
35. "Arc of Appalachia Preserve System".
36. "Fallsville Wildlife Area".
37. [https://archive.today/20130112193300/http://local.habitat.org/highlandcountyohio Highland County, Ohio]