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.
Defiance County | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Ohio | |
 Ohio's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 41°19′N 84°29′W / 41.32°N 84.49°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | April 7, 1845[1] |
| Named for | Fort Defiance |
| Seat | Defiance |
| Largest city | Defiance |
| Area | |
• Total | 414 sq mi (1,070 km2) |
| • Land | 411 sq mi (1,060 km2) |
| • Water | 2.7 sq mi (7 km2) 0.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 38,286  |
| • Density | 92/sq mi (36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 9th |
| Website | www |
Geography
editAccording 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
edit- Williams County (north)
- Henry County (east)
- Putnam County (southeast)
- Paulding County (south)
- Allen County, Indiana (southwest)
- DeKalb County, Indiana (west)
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 6,966 | — | |
| 1860 | 11,886 | 70.6% | |
| 1870 | 15,719 | 32.2% | |
| 1880 | 22,515 | 43.2% | |
| 1890 | 25,769 | 14.5% | |
| 1900 | 26,387 | 2.4% | |
| 1910 | 24,498 | −7.2% | |
| 1920 | 24,549 | 0.2% | |
| 1930 | 22,714 | −7.5% | |
| 1940 | 24,367 | 7.3% | |
| 1950 | 25,925 | 6.4% | |
| 1960 | 31,508 | 21.5% | |
| 1970 | 36,949 | 17.3% | |
| 1980 | 39,987 | 8.2% | |
| 1990 | 39,350 | −1.6% | |
| 2000 | 39,500 | 0.4% | |
| 2010 | 39,037 | −1.2% | |
| 2020 | 38,286 | −1.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2020 [2] | |||
2000 census
editAs 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
editAs 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
editPrior 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.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 13,302 | 69.07% | 5,667 | 29.42% | 291 | 1.51% |
| 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
edit
City
edit- Defiance (county seat)
Villages
editTownships
editUnincorporated communities
editEducation
editSchool districts include:[17]
In popular culture
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2023) |
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
editReferences
edit- ^ "Ohio County Profiles: Defiance County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
- ^ a b 2020 census
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor". Archived from the original on June 28, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2007.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 102.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Defiance County, OH" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 11, 2024. - Text list