Hancock County, Ohio

Hancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 74,920. Its county seat and largest city is Findlay. The county was created in 1820 and later organized in 1828. It was named for John Hancock, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Hancock County comprises the Findlay, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area.

WWW co.hancock.oh.us

History

Hancock County was established on January 21, 1828, by the Ohio General Assembly from the southern portions of Wood County. Originally containing only Findlay Township, the county would add Amanda and Welfare townships later in April of that year. Additional townships were laid out as follows: Jackson in 1829; Liberty and Marion in December 1830; Big Lick, Blanchard, and Van Buren in 1831; Washington, Union, and Eagle in 1832; Cass and Portage in 1833; Pleasant in 1835; Orange in 1836; Madison in 1840, and finally Allen in 1850. Originally nearly 24 miles square, Hancock County would lose some of its southeast portion in 1845 to the new Wyandot County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 74,920. The median age was 40.3 years. 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.3 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 88.9% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. [Hispanic and Race (United States Census)|Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino] residents of any race comprised 5.6% of the population.
68.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 31.8% lived in rural areas.
There were 31,107 households in the county, of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.5% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 33,655 housing units, of which 7.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.2% were owner-occupied and 29.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.2%.

Racial and ethnic composition

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 1980	Pop 1990	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 1980	% 1990	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone	62,299	62,808	66,733	67,888	65,107	96.47%	95.84%	93.60%	90.78%	86.90%
Black or African American alone	510	562	756	1,084	1,363	0.79%	0.86%	1.06%	1.45%	1.82%
Native American or Alaska Native alone	62	81	119	127	79	0.10%	0.12%	0.17%	0.17%	0.11%
Asian alone	191	383	865	1,258	1,393	0.30%	0.58%	1.21%	1.68%	1.86%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone	x	x	11	11	26	x	x	0.02%	0.01%	0.03%
Other race alone	87	22	45	68	220	0.13%	0.03%	0.06%	0.09%	0.29%
Mixed race or Multiracial	x	x	579	983	2,534	x	x	0.81%	1.31%	3.38%
Hispanic or Latino	1,432	1,680	2,187	3,363	4,198	2.22%	2.56%	3.07%	4.50%	5.60%
Total	64,581	65,536	71,295	74,782	74,920	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 74,782 people, 30,197 households, and 19,884 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 33,174 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 93.4% white, 1.7% Asian, 1.5% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 43.1% were German, 11.0% were Irish, 10.3% were English, and 6.6% were American.
Of the 30,197 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.2% were non-families, and 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 38.5 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $49,070 and the median income for a family was $59,600. Males had a median income of $42,479 versus $31,631 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,158. About 8.5% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 71,295 people, 27,898 households, and 19,138 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 29,785 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 95.14% White, 1.11% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 3.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 27,898 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.40% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.70% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $43,856, and the median income for a family was $51,490. Males had a median income of $37,139 versus $24,374 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,991. About 5.20% of families and 7.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.80% of those under age 18 and 6.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Villages

Townships

Unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Moffit

Politics

Although in the period up to World War I Hancock County's German heritage caused it to lean Democratic, since that war – when German Americans were driven from the Democratic Party by Woodrow Wilson’s postwar settlement policies and James M. Cox’s refusal to accept German language instruction – the county has been powerfully Republican. Since 1920 no Democratic presidential candidate has obtained an absolute majority of Hancock County's vote – although Franklin D. Roosevelt did win narrow pluralities in his 1932 and 1936 landslides – and it was one of just five Ohio counties that voted for Barry Goldwater over Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Although Goldwater won by just sixty-three votes, no Democratic presidential nominee since has cracked three-eighths of the county's vote.