Wood County, Ohio

History

Wood County was established on February 12, 1820, following a treaty and land purchase from local Indian tribes. Perrysburg was the first county seat, and remained the county seat until 1870, when it was moved to Bowling Green.

Wood County established its first health department in 1920.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 620 sqmi, of which 617 sqmi is land and 3.3 sqmi (0.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Lucas County (north)
• Ottawa County (northeast)
• Sandusky County (east)
• Seneca County (southeast)
• Hancock County (south)
• Putnam County (southwest)
• Henry County (west)

Demographics

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

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 132,248. The median age was 36.8 years. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.7 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 87.2% White, 2.4% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% Asian,

69.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 30.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 53,202 households in the county, of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.3% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 56,863 housing units, of which 6.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 65.9% were owner-occupied and 34.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.3%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 125,488 people, 49,043 households, and 30,923 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012522/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39173 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213184027/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39173 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022547/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39173 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 49,043 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.9% were non-families, and 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 35.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,298 and the median income for a family was $69,768. Males had a median income of $51,038 versus $35,472 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,671. About 6.4% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=December 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213032114/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39173 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 121,065 people, 45,172 households, and 29,678 families living in the county. The population density was 196 /mi2. There were 47,468 housing units at an average density of 77 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 94.83% White, 1.27% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.45% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 3.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 36.3% were of German, 9.9% American, 8.2% English, 8.0% Irish and 5.8% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 45,172 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 17.20% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,442, and the median income for a family was $56,468. Males had a median income of $40,419 versus $26,640 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,284. About 4.70% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.40% of those under age 18 and 5.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Wood County formerly was a Republican stronghold county, but since 1964 the county has become a bellwether county. Wood County has voted for the losing candidate twice since then, Gerald Ford in 1976 and Donald Trump in 2020. |}

Government

County officials

Source:

Libraries

While there is no countywide library entity, the Wood County District Public Library serves Bowling Green and other portions of the county, not otherwise served by another library entity, from its main location in Bowling Green and a branch in Walbridge. In 2019, the library had a total circulation of 783,166 items and provided 1,473 programs to its patrons. Total holdings in 2019 were 158,861 print materials, 21,469 video recordings, 12,967 audio recordings, and 171 periodical subscriptions.

Additional libraries include:

• North Baltimore Public Library
• Pemberville Public Library, and branches in Luckey and Stony Ridge
• Rossford Public Library
• Way Public Library in Perrysburg
• Wayne Public Library
• Weston Public Library, and Grand Rapids branch

A small portion of the county located in the Fostoria city limits is served by the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library, located in the Seneca County portion of the city.

All Wood County and Fostoria library locations participate in Woodlink, a joint catalog system.

Communities

Cities

• Bowling Green (county seat)
• Fostoria (a small portion)
• Northwood
• Perrysburg
• Rossford

Villages

• Bairdstown
• Bloomdale
• Bradner
• Custar
• Cygnet
• Grand Rapids
• Haskins
• Hoytville
• Jerry City
• Luckey
• Millbury
• Milton Center
• North Baltimore
• Pemberville
• Portage
• Risingsun
• Tontogany
• Walbridge
• Wayne
• West Millgrove
• Weston

Townships

• Bloom
• Center
• Freedom
• Grand Rapids
• Henry
• Jackson
• Lake
• Liberty
• Middleton
• Milton
• Montgomery
• Perry
• Perrysburg
• Plain
• Portage
• Troy
• Washington
• Webster
• Weston

Census-designated places

• Rudolph
• Stony Ridge

Unincorporated communities

• Bays
• Bloom Center
• Cloverdale
• Denver
• Digby
• Dowling
• Ducat
• Dunbridge
• Eagleville
• Galatea
• Hammansburg
• Hatton
• Hull Prairie
• Lemoyne
• Lime City
• Mermill
• Moline
• Mungen
• New Rochester
• Otsego
• Scotch Ridge
• Six Points
• Sugar Ridge
• Trombley
• Wingston
• Woodside

Economy

According to the 2019 Wood County Comprehensive annual report, the largest employers in the county were:

Community Resources

The Cocoon

The Cocoon is a protective shelter for sexual and domestic violence victims in Wood County, Ohio. Beyond providing housing for survivors and their families, The Cocoon provides medical counsel, legal counsel, and support in finding permanent employment and residence. Organizing for the shelter began in 2000 with Bowling Green State University's Women's Center and Transformation Project in response to a rise in domestic violence homicides in Wood County. The Cocoon began operation in June 2005, and by 2012 all of its services were being conducted from its undisclosed location. By October 2015, The Cocoon had integrated sexual violence recovery and support as part of its programs.

Like many community organizations, The Cocoon faced sharp budget cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the United States began lock downs in March 2020, The Cocoon witnessed a forty percent increase in calls from survivors and a fifty percent increase in sexual violence reports. In 2019, At the same time, the Victims of Crime Act's fund, which provides The Cocoon with approximately half of its funding (approximately $300,000), was cut by thirty-nine percent in October 2020. Although this did not halt operations, it significantly impacted The Cocoon's ability to provide comprehensive support for survivors.

In 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act granted Woods County $25 million in pandemic relief funds, of which Director Mulls requested $800,000. The Wood County Commissioners approved the request in March 2022. County Administrator Andrew Kalmar noted, "They've had a substantial reduction in revenue in the past few years, primarily because they've lost grant money from the federal government."

Footnotes

References

1. "Ohio County Profiles: Wood County". Ohio Department of Development.
2. "2020 Population and Housing State Data".
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. (June 2016). "Wood County data". [[Ohio State University]] Extension Data Center }}{{dead link.
5. "History".
6. "A Brief History of Perrysburg".
7. "National Public Health Week recognizes major health impacts over 100 years".
8. "Health department celebrates 100-year anniversary".
9. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
12. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
13. (April 2, 2001). "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
16. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
17. "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".
18. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Ohio: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin".
19. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wood County, Ohio".
20. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wood County, Ohio".
21. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wood County, Ohio".
22. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
23. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
24. not an option in the 1980 Census
25. not an option in the 1990 Census
26. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
27. David Wasserman. (October 6, 2020). "The 10 Bellwether Counties That Show How Trump Is in Serious Trouble". [[The New York Times]].
28. "Wood County Election Results".
29. "Wood County, Ohio | Elected Officials".
30. "Archived copy".
31. "2019 Ohio Public Library Statistics".
32. "Woodlink".
33. "TOWNSHIP WEBSITES | Ohio Township Association".
34. (October 2022). "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report".
35. "Services – The Cocoon".
36. "About Us – The Cocoon".
37. Writer, Peter Kuebeck, Sentinel-Tribune Staff. "BG Council asked to consider funding for Cocoon".
38. Perricone, Sophia. (November 10, 2020). "Bowling Green domestic violence shelter faces changes after funding cut".
39. "Cocoon – BG Independent News".