Fort Towson

Defiance County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,286.[2] Its county seat and largest city is Defiance.[3] The county was named after an early Army fortification, Fort Defiance, which was so named by Mad Anthony Wayne to signify the settlers' "defiance" of the Indians.[4][5] The Defiance, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Defiance County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 414 square miles (1,070 km2), of which 411 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (0.7%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18506,966
186011,88670.6%
187015,71932.2%
188022,51543.2%
189025,76914.5%
190026,3872.4%
191024,498−7.2%
192024,5490.2%
193022,714−7.5%
194024,3677.3%
195025,9256.4%
196031,50821.5%
197036,94917.3%
198039,9878.2%
199039,350−1.6%
200039,5000.4%
201039,037−1.2%
202038,286−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2020 [2]

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 39,500 people, 15,138 households, and 11,020 families living in the county. The population density was 96 inhabitants per square mile (37/km2). There were 16,040 housing units at an average density of 39 units per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.59% White, 1.75% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.59% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 7.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.6% were of German, 13.5% American, 6.8% Irish and 5.1% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 15,138 households, out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,938, and the median income for a family was $50,876. Males had a median income of $37,936 versus $23,530 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,667. About 4.50% of families and 5.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.40% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 39,037 people, 15,268 households, and 10,792 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 94.9 inhabitants per square mile (36.6/km2). There were 16,729 housing units at an average density of 40.7 units per square mile (15.7 units/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% white, 1.9% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 2.8% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.7% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 42.3% were German, 12.5% were Irish, 9.6% were English, and 7.7% were American.[14]

Of the 15,268 households, 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.3% were non-families, and 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 39.4 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $44,480 and the median income for a family was $54,472. Males had a median income of $44,354 versus $30,610 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,139. About 11.2% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Politics

Prior to 1940, Defiance County was a Democratic stronghold, voting Republicans only three times since 1856. Starting with the 1940 election, it has been a Republican stronghold, with the exception of Democrat Lyndon Johnson in the 1964 presidential election.

United States presidential election results for Defiance County, Ohio[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 13,038 67.27% 5,981 30.86% 362 1.87%
2016 11,688 63.70% 5,368 29.26% 1,293 7.05%
2012 10,176 55.49% 7,732 42.16% 431 2.35%
2008 10,407 54.11% 8,399 43.67% 426 2.22%
2004 11,397 61.55% 6,975 37.67% 144 0.78%
2000 9,540 58.74% 6,175 38.02% 527 3.24%
1996 7,469 47.00% 6,343 39.91% 2,081 13.09%
1992 7,195 41.80% 5,735 33.32% 4,281 24.87%
1988 9,566 63.13% 5,448 35.95% 139 0.92%
1984 10,951 67.89% 5,004 31.02% 175 1.08%
1980 9,358 59.84% 5,096 32.59% 1,185 7.58%
1976 7,526 55.02% 5,850 42.77% 303 2.22%
1972 8,914 65.40% 4,377 32.11% 339 2.49%
1968 7,348 52.64% 5,686 40.73% 925 6.63%
1964 5,048 36.70% 8,707 63.30% 0 0.00%
1960 8,912 63.12% 5,207 36.88% 0 0.00%
1956 8,786 69.03% 3,941 30.97% 0 0.00%
1952 8,834 67.98% 4,161 32.02% 0 0.00%
1948 5,927 56.94% 4,454 42.79% 28 0.27%
1944 7,450 67.21% 3,634 32.79% 0 0.00%
1940 8,010 65.00% 4,313 35.00% 0 0.00%
1936 5,000 42.84% 5,608 48.05% 1,062 9.10%
1932 3,871 36.54% 6,532 61.65% 192 1.81%
1928 6,289 64.33% 3,487 35.67% 0 0.00%
1924 4,841 52.55% 3,227 35.03% 1,145 12.43%
1920 5,987 60.54% 3,723 37.64% 180 1.82%
1916 2,565 42.36% 3,359 55.47% 131 2.16%
1912 872 15.84% 2,784 50.58% 1,848 33.58%
1908 2,531 39.05% 3,754 57.91% 197 3.04%
1904 3,032 47.43% 3,216 50.31% 144 2.25%
1900 2,684 40.80% 3,766 57.25% 128 1.95%
1896 2,414 36.01% 4,239 63.24% 50 0.75%
1892 2,062 35.09% 3,311 56.35% 503 8.56%
1888 2,245 37.23% 3,567 59.15% 218 3.62%
1884 2,184 39.57% 3,288 59.58% 47 0.85%
1880 1,977 38.41% 3,140 61.01% 30 0.58%
1876 1,520 34.43% 2,888 65.41% 7 0.16%
1872 1,093 38.31% 1,720 60.29% 40 1.40%
1868 1,108 36.85% 1,899 63.15% 0 0.00%
1864 1,146 42.15% 1,573 57.85% 0 0.00%
1860 1,038 43.87% 1,304 55.11% 24 1.01%
1856 821 46.81% 895 51.03% 38 2.17%

Communities

Map of Defiance County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels

City

Villages

Townships

Unincorporated communities

In popular culture

The closeness of elections in Defiance County has also been referenced in fiction; the ABC political drama Scandal in its second season had as the center of the ongoing plot of the first half of that season, a vote manipulation conspiracy which bent the presidential election towards Republican candidate Fitzgerald Grant based on tampering of the voting machines in Defiance County.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ohio County Profiles: Defiance County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  2. ^ a b 2020 census
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor". Archived from the original on June 28, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2007.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 102.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  13. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  14. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  15. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 1, 2018.

External links

41°19′N 84°29′W / 41.32°N 84.49°W / 41.32; -84.49