Knox County, Ohio

History

Knox County was formed from Fairfield County in 1808.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 530 sqmi, of which 525 sqmi is land and 4.1 sqmi (0.8%) is water. Approximately 58% of the county is farmland and 28% is forested. Most of the county lies in the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau with rolling hills and valleys. Although the relief is not sharp, some elevations in the county reach over 1400 feet above sea level.

Adjacent counties

• Richland County (north)
• Ashland County (far northeast)
• Holmes County (northeast)
• Coshocton County (east)
• Licking County (south)
• Delaware County (southwest)
• Morrow County (northwest)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2020 2024

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 62,721. The median age was 39.7 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 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 93.1% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian,

30.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 69.7% lived in rural areas.

There were 23,429 households in the county, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.0% were married-couple households, 16.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 25,797 housing units, of which 9.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.5% were owner-occupied and 26.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 60,921 people, 22,607 households, and 15,693 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025907/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39083 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213234357/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39083 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033808/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39083 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 22,607 households, 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age was 38.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,655 and the median income for a family was $55,881. Males had a median income of $41,762 versus $30,836 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,204. About 9.1% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011116/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39083 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 60,921 people, 22,607 households, and 15,693 families living in the county. There were 24,997 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 96.7% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 1.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,607 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 27.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 20, 7.9% from 20 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,734, and the median income for a family was $50,034. The per capita income for the county was $22,628. About 9.4% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

In Knox county, the 2000 census reported that the number of same-sex couples was 91 and the percent of same-sex couples out of all households was 0.46%.

Politics

Knox County is a Republican stronghold county in presidential elections. The last time it supported Democrats was for Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.

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Government

People, who represent the county in various elected positions, at different levels of the government include:

County Commissioners

• Theresa Bemiller, Republican
• Bill Pursel, Republican
• Thom Collier, Republican

State Senate

• Andrew Brenner, Republican, Ohio's 19th Senatorial District

State representative

• Rick Carfagna, Republican, Ohio's 68th Representative District

United States House of Representatives

• Troy Balderson, Republican, Ohio's 12th congressional district

United States Senators

• Bernie Moreno, Republican, Ohio
• Jon Husted, Republican, Ohio

Economy

A large portion of Knox County's economy is based on agriculture, with gross cash receipts for crops and livestock at $110 million for 2011. Corn is the primary crop, followed by soybeans and livestock. Mount Vernon, the county seat, is home to major employers in the county, Siemens Energy Inc. (formerly Rolls-Royce Energy Systems, Inc. and Cooper Industries before that) and Ariel Corporation, both of which are manufacturers of components used in the natural gas industry. Major employers in the county also include Kenyon College located in Gambier, Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Mount Vernon, and the Kokosing Construction Company near Fredericktown.

In 2023 and 2024, the county was in the thrall of a misinformation campaign against Frazier Solar, a proposed solar farm in the county. Fossil fuel interests financed the local newspaper (Mount Vernon News), sent text messages to residents, funded an ostensibly grassroots opposition group and funded speakers who talked about the dangers of solar energy.

Education

• Kenyon College
• Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Communities

City

• Mount Vernon (county seat)

Villages

• Brinkhaven
• Centerburg
• Danville
• Fredericktown
• Gambier
• Martinsburg
• Utica

Townships

• Berlin
• Brown
• Butler
• Clay
• Clinton
• College
• Harrison
• Hilliar
• Howard
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Liberty
• Middlebury
• Milford
• Miller
• Monroe
• Morgan
• Morris
• Pike
• Pleasant
• Union
• Wayne

Census-designated places

• Apple Valley
• Bladensburg
• Howard
• South Mount Vernon

Unincorporated communities

• Amity
• Ankenytown
• Artanna
• Bangs
• Batemantown
• Brandon
• Five Corners
• Green Valley
• Greer
• Hunt
• Jelloway
• Knox
• Lock
• Lucerne
• Millwood
• Monroe Mills
• Morgan Center
• Mt. Liberty
• North Liberty
• Palmyra
• Pipesville
• Rich Hill
• Rossville
• Waterford
• Zuck

Notable people

Notable people, who lived or worked in Knox County, include the following:

• Thomas Peter Akers, United States Congressman
• Sean M. Decatur, chemist and former president of Kenyon College{{Cite web|date=April 6, 2022|title=In Response to Kenyon's President: What Trans Folks Need on TDOV and All Year Round
• Dan Emmett, songwriter of "Dixie"
• George Hunt, Illinois Attorney General
• Paul Lynde, actor (Bewitched, Hollywood Squares)
• Paul Newman, actor
• Luke Perry, actor

References

References

1. "Ohio County Profiles: Knox County". Ohio Department of Development.
2. "Knox County, Ohio".
3. [https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 census]
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. Gannett, Henry. (1905). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". [[United States Government Publishing Office.
6. Miller, Charles Christian. (1912). "History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens". Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company.
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
8. Reed, Alan. March 17, 2012. [http://mountvernonnews.com/local/12/03/17/county-crop-livestock-receipts-at-110m "County crop, livestock receipts at $110M."] {{webarchive. link. (May 15, 2012 ''[[Mount Vernon News]]''. Accessed: March 17, 2012.)
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 – Knox County, Ohio".
19. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Knox County, Ohio".
20. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Knox 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. "2010 Census". [[United States Census Bureau]].
27. "U.S. Census Bureau".
28. Romero, Adam P.. (2008). "Census Snapshot: Ohio".
29. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
30. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
31. Maney, Miranda Green,Jennifer Smith Richards,Priyanjana Bengani,Sarahbeth. (2024-10-08). "Fossil Fuel Interests Are Working to Kill Solar in One Ohio County. The Hometown Newspaper Is Helping.".
32. (1967). "Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896". Marquis Who's Who.
33. (March 8, 2022). "Kenyon College Students Deliver a List of Demands to College President to Address Transphobia and Transmisogyny".