Preble County, Ohio

Major highways

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 426 sqmi, of which 424 sqmi is land and 2.3 sqmi (0.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Darke County (north)
• Montgomery County (east)
• Butler County (south)
• Union County, Indiana (southwest)
• Wayne County, Indiana (northwest)

Rivers and streams

• Little Four Mile Creek
• Harker's Run
• Seven Mile Creek
• Twin Creek
• Price Creek
• Goose Creek
• Pottinger Run

Demographics

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 40,999 and a median age of 43.4 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 94.8% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian,

23.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 76.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 16,412 households in the county, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.1% were married-couple households, 17.6% 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 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 18,093 housing units, of which 9.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.7% were owner-occupied and 23.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 42,270 people, 16,341 households, and 11,867 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213034728/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39135 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191551/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39135 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010230/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39135 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 16,341 households, 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.4% were non-families, and 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 40.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $49,780 and the median income for a family was $57,711. Males had a median income of $46,383 versus $30,876 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,290. About 6.3% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012238/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39135 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 42,337 people, 16,001 households, and 12,144 families living in the county. The population density was 100 PD/sqmi. There were 17,186 housing units at an average density of 40 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.47% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,001 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.50% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.10% were non-families. 20.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,093, and the median income for a family was $47,547. Males had a median income of $35,313 versus $23,573 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,444. About 4.50% of families and 6.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.00% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Preble County votes for Republicans more often than Democrats in presidential elections. It only supported a Democrat for president five times in the 20th century, the last being Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Jimmy Carter is the last Democrat to tally as much as 40 percent of the vote.

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Education

Public school districts

School districts include:

• Union County College Corner Joint School District (the Patriots) (this portion is shown in the U.S. Census documents as being in the "College Corner Local School District")
  • College Corner Union School (grades K-5) is physically located in both Ohio and Indiana (the state line runs through the middle of the building) and serves students from both College Corner, Ohio, and West College Corner, Indiana. After finishing fifth grade, Preble County students attend Union County Middle School and Union County High School, both located across the state line in Liberty, Indiana.
• Eaton Community Schools
  • Eaton High School, Eaton (the Eagles)
• Edgewood City School District
• National Trail Local School District
  • National Trail High School, New Paris (the Blazers)
• Preble Shawnee Local School District
  • Preble Shawnee High School, Camden (the Arrows)
• Talawanda City School District
• Tri-County North Local School District
  • Tri-County North High School, Lewisburg (the Panthers)
• Twin Valley Community Local School District
  • Twin Valley South High School, West Alexandria (the Panthers)
• Valley View Local School District

Higher education

• Sinclair Community College
  • Preble County Learning Center, Eaton

Communities

City

• Eaton (county seat)

Villages

• College Corner
• Camden
• Eldorado
• Gratis
• Lewisburg
• New Paris
• Verona
• West Alexandria
• West Elkton
• West Manchester

Townships

• Dixon
• Gasper
• Gratis
• Harrison
• Israel
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Lanier
• Monroe
• Somers
• Twin
• Washington

Census-designated place

• Lake Lakengren

Unincorporated communities

• Brennersville
• Brinley
• Browns
• Campbellstown
• Cedar Springs
• Dadsville
• Ebenezer
• Enterprise
• Fairhaven
• Gettysburg
• Greenbush
• Hamburg
• Ingomar
• Morning Sun
• New Hope
• New Lexington
• New Westville
• Sampleville
• Sugar Valley
• Talawanda Springs
• West Florence
• West Sonora

Notable residents

• Sherwood Anderson - writer
• Victor J. Banis - "the godfather of modern popular gay fiction."
• Benjamin Hanby - wrote the Christmas carol "Up On The House Top" while living in Preble County.
• Andrew L. Harris - Civil War general and former governor of Ohio.
• William Stephens - former governor of California.

References

References

1. "Welcome to the Preble County Commissioners' Website: History".
2. "Ohio County Profiles: Preble County". Ohio Department of Development.
3. (2016). "E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Ohio Pronunciation Guide {{!}} Ohio University". [[Ohio University]].
4. [https://data.cincinnati.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/preble-county-ohio/050-39135/ Preble County, Ohio Demographics and Housing 2020 Decennial Census. cincinnati.com]
5. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
7. (June 2016). "Preble County data". [[Ohio State University]] Extension Data Center }}{{dead link.
8. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
9. "GNIS Detail - Little Four Mile Creek".
10. "GNIS Detail - Price Creek".
11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
13. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
14. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
15. [https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 census]
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
17. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
18. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
19. "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".
20. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Ohio: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
21. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Preble County, Ohio".
22. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Preble County, Ohio".
23. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Preble County, Ohio".
24. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
25. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
26. not an option in the 1980 Census
27. not an option in the 1990 Census
28. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
29. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
30. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
31. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Preble County, OH". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
32. "College Corner School - Ohio/Indiana border - Border Crossings on Waymarking.com".