Erie County, Ohio


Erie County is a county in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 [United States census|2020 census], the population was 75,622. Its county seat and largest city is Sandusky. The county is List of [Ohio county name etymologies|named] for the Erie tribe, whose name was their word for "wildcat". It was formed in 1838 from the northern third of Huron County and a portion of Sandusky County.
Erie County is included in the Sandusky, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area.

History

Erie County was created in 1838 from a portion of Huron County. A few subsequent changes to Erie County's boundaries occurred shortly after its initial formation.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the second-smallest county in Ohio by land area after Lake County. The county is bordered on the north by Lake Erie; the opposite shore is made up of two counties in Ontario, Canada.
It is drained by the Huron and Vermilion rivers. Near the Huron River are several ancient earthwork mounds and enclosures constructed by early indigenous peoples. Sandusky has extensive quarries of valuable limestone. The surface is generally level, and the soil alluvial and exceedingly fertile.

Adjacent counties and municipalities

Major highways

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Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 75,622. The median age was 46.1 years, 20.0% of residents were under the age of 18, and 23.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.5 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 82.1% White, 9.0% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 6.9% from two or more races. Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino] residents of any race comprised 4.1% of the population.
71.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 28.2% lived in rural areas.
There were 32,360 households in the county, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.3% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 38,262 housing units, of which 15.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.5% were owner-occupied and 31.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.

Racial and ethnic composition

Race / Ethnicity Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone 72,47468,86169,51065,46361,06190.98%89.69%87.38%84.93%80.75%
Black or African American alone 5,8446,2646,8206,5346,6557.34%8.16%8.57%8.48%8.80%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 631401331881210.08%0.18%0.17%0.24%0.16%
Asian alone 1532562974564740.19%0.33%0.37%0.59%0.63%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone xx2610xx0.00%0.01%0.01%
Race and ethnicity in [the United States census|Other race] alone 947859662320.12%0.10%0.07%0.09%0.31%
Mixed race or Multiracial xx1,0661,7623,939xx1.34%2.29%5.21%
Hispanic or Latino 1,0271,1801,6642,6043,1301.29%1.54%2.09%3.38%4.14%
Total79,65576,77979,55177,07975,622 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 77,079 people, 31,860 households, and 21,011 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 37,845 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% white, 8.6% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.7% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 38.8% were German, 15.2% were Irish, 11.7% were English, 8.5% were Italian, and 4.6% were American.
Of the 31,860 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.1% were non-families, and 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 43.4 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,593 and the median income for a family was $61,247. Males had a median income of $46,211 versus $32,621 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,290. About 8.5% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 79,551 people, 31,727 households, and 21,764 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 35,909 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 88.64% White, 8.64% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.60% from two or more races. 2.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.7% were of German, 9.2% Irish, 8.2% English, 8.1% Italian, and 7.8% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 31,727 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.70% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,746, and the median income for a family was $51,756. Males had a median income of $39,249 versus $23,697 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,530. About 6.00% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Patrick Shenigo is the Chairman of the Erie County Commission, the highest elected position in the county.
From 1992 to 2012, Erie County consistently voted Democratic. In 2016, however, it swung from a 12.3% margin for Barack Obama to a 9.5% margin for Donald Trump, tracking with Trump's unexpectedly strong showing in the Rust Belt. Trump further increased his margin of victory to 11.5% in 2020. In 2024, Trump won the highest percentage of the vote in the county since 1984.

Courthouse

Erie County's courthouse at 323 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky was built in 1872 by Cleveland architects Myer and Holmes in a richly ornamented Second Empire style. Most of the façade was remodeled beginning in 1936 in Art Deco in a WPA project led locally by architect Henry Millott. Some of the original façade remains visible around the bottom row of windows.

Education

All or part of eleven school districts serve Erie County and its residents:

Communities

Cities

Villages

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Places of interest