Van Wert County, Ohio

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 410 sqmi, of which 409 sqmi is land and 1.3 sqmi (0.3%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Paulding County (north)
• Putnam County (northeast)
• Allen County, Ohio (east)
• Auglaize County (southeast)
• Mercer County (south)
• Adams County, Indiana (southwest)
• Allen County, Indiana (northwest)

Van Wert County is one of the few counties in the US to border two counties of the same name in different states (Allen County in Ohio and Indiana).

Demographics

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 28,931 and a median age of 41.0 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males overall and 96.5 males for every 100 females age 18 and over.

As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 92.7% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian,

According to the 2020 census, 49.6% of residents lived in urban areas while 50.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 11,589 households in the county, 29.4% of which had children under 18, 51.3% were married-couple households, 18.0% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present, and 23.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.9% of households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 12,540 housing units, of which 7.6% were vacant; among occupied units, 76.4% were owner-occupied and 23.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 28,744 people, 11,439 households and 7,921 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213021701/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39161 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213184751/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39161 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020348/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39161 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 11,439 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.8% were non-families, and 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 40.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,415 and the median income for a family was $51,215. Males had a median income of $37,408 versus $28,692 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,772. About 6.1% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213021518/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39161 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 29,659 people, 11,587 households and 8,354 families living in the county. The population density was 72 /mi2. There were 12,363 housing units at an average density of 30 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.43% White, 0.75% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.75% from other races and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,587 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.00% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,497, and the median income for a family was $46,503. Males had a median income of $32,377 versus $23,859 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,293. About 4.20% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.80% of those under age 18 and 4.00% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Van Wert County is a stronghold Republican county in presidential elections. In 2020, Donald Trump nearly won 80% of the votes cast in the county. |}

Government

Van Wert County has a 3-member Board of County Commissioners that administer and oversee the various County departments, similar to all but 2 of the 88 Ohio counties. The elected commissioners serve four-year terms. Van Wert County's three elected commissioners are: Thad Lichtensteiger (R), Stan Owens (R), and Todd Wolfrum (R).

Communities

Cities

• Delphos (part)
• Van Wert (county seat)

Villages

• Convoy
• Elgin
• Middle Point
• Ohio City
• Scott
• Venedocia
• Willshire
• Wren

Townships

• Harrison
• Hoaglin
• Jackson
• Jennings
• Liberty
• Pleasant
• Ridge
• Tully
• Union
• Washington
• Willshire
• York

Unincorporated communities

• Abanaka
• Cavett
• Dixon‡
• Dull
• Glenmore
• Hoaglin
• Jonestown
• Middlebury
• Monticello
• Schumm
• Seamersville

References

References

1. [https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 census]
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (2007). "Ohio: Individual County Chronologies". The Newberry Library.
4. (June 2016). "Van Wert County data". [[Ohio State University]] Extension Data Center }}{{dead link.
5. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
8. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
9. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
10. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
12. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
13. "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".
14. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Ohio: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
15. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Van Wert County, Ohio".
16. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Van Wert County, Ohio".
17. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Van Wert County, Ohio".
18. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
19. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
20. not an option in the 1980 Census
21. not an option in the 1990 Census
22. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
23. Cramer, Philissa. (April 19, 2017). "Four things to know about Van Wert, the tiny Ohio school district where DeVos and Weingarten will form an uneasy duo". [[Chalkbeat]].
24. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
25. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
26. "Meet the Van Wert County Commissioners". Van Wert County Ohio Homepage.