Williams County, Ohio

History

The county was created on April 1, 1820 and later organized on February 2, 1824. It is named for David Williams, one of the captors of John André in the American Revolutionary War.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 423.092 sqmi, of which 420.660 sqmi is land and 2.432 sqmi (0.57%) is water. It is the 53rd largest county in Ohio by total area.

Adjacent counties

• Hillsdale County, Michigan (north)
• Fulton County (east)
• Henry County (southeast)
• Defiance County (south)
• DeKalb County, Indiana (southwest)
• Steuben County, Indiana (northwest)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Williams County was $150,917.

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 15,455 estimated households in Williams County with an average of 2.32 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $61,834. Approximately 11.1% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Williams County has an estimated 61.6% employment rate, with 14.2% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 91.4% holding a high school diploma.

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (96.3%), Spanish (2.4%), Indo-European (0.7%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.6%), and Other (0.1%).

The median age in the county was 41.8 years.

2024 estimate

As of the 2024 estimate, there were 36,554 people and 15,455 households residing in the county. There were 16,624 housing units at an average density of 39.52 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 96.1% White (91.1% NH White), 1.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.6% of the population.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 37,102 people, 15,262 households, and 9,858 families residing in the county. The population density was 88.2 PD/sqmi. There were 16,561 housing units at an average density of 39.37 /sqmi.

The racial makeup of the county was 92.1% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian,

The median age was 42.3 years, with 22.2% of residents under the age of 18 and 20.0% aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.5 males.

There were 15,262 households in the county, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.7% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 16,561 housing units, of which 7.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.3% were owner-occupied and 25.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.3%.

24.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 75.1% lived in rural areas.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 37,642 people, 15,075 households, and 10,260 families residing in the county. The population density was 89.4 PD/sqmi. There were 16,668 housing units at an average density of 39.59 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 95.95% White, 0.96% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.08% from some other races and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.69% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, 46.1% were German, 12.0% were Irish, 10.7% were English, and 7.8% were American.

There were 15,075 households, 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.9% were non-families, and 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 40.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,538 and the median income for a family was $52,975. Males had a median income of $40,658 versus $29,064 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,381. About 9.1% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Williams County is a Republican stronghold county in presidential elections. The last Democrat to win the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. |}

Government

Williams County has three county commissioners who oversee the various county departments. Current commissioners are: Brian Davis, Lewis Hilkert, and Terry Rummel.

Communities

City

• Bryan (county seat)

Villages

• Blakeslee
• Edgerton
• Edon
• Holiday City
• Montpelier
• Pioneer
• Stryker
• West Unity

Townships

• Brady
• Bridgewater
• Center
• Florence
• Jefferson
• Madison
• Mill Creek
• Northwest
• Pulaski
• St. Joseph
• Springfield
• Superior

Census-designated places

• Alvordton
• Kunkle
• Lake Seneca
• Nettle Lake
• Pulaski

Unincorporated communities

• Berlin
• Bridgewater Center
• Columbia
• Cooney
• Hamer
• Lock Port
• Melbern
• Mina
• West Jefferson
• Williams Center

References

References

1. "Explore Census Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". [[National Association of Counties]].
3. (2007). "Ohio: Individual County Chronologies". The [[Newberry Library]].
4. (June 2016). "Williams County data". [[Ohio State University]] Extension Data Center}}{{dead link.
5. "2024 County Gazetteer Files – Ohio". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Williams County, Ohio".
7. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024".
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
9. (2007). "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
10. Forstall, Richard L.. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
12. "County Median Home Price". [[National Association of Realtors]].
13. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Williams County, Ohio".
14. "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau.
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
17. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
18. "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".
19. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Ohio: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
20. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Williams County, Ohio".
21. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Williams County, Ohio".
22. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Williams County, Ohio".
23. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
24. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
25. not an option in the 1980 Census
26. not an option in the 1990 Census
27. "Williams County Election Results".
28. "Williams County Commissioners". Williams County Ohio Homepage.