Lucas County, Ohio

Not to be confused with Lucas, Ohio.
Lucas County, Ohio

The Lucas County Courthouse in Toledo

Flag
Seal
Map of Ohio highlighting Lucas County
Location in the U.S. state of Ohio
Map of the United States highlighting Ohio
Ohio's location in the U.S.
Founded June 20, 1835[1]
Named for Robert Lucas
Seat Toledo
Largest city Toledo
Area
 • Total 596 sq mi (1,544 km2)
 • Land 341 sq mi (883 km2)
 • Water 255 sq mi (660 km2), 43%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 433,689
 • Density 1,296/sq mi (500/km²)
Congressional districts 5th, 9th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.co.lucas.oh.us

Lucas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio and bordered on the east by Lake Erie, and on the southeast by the Maumee River, which runs to the lake. As of the 2010 census, the population was 441,815.[2] Its county seat is Toledo, located at the mouth of the Maumee River on the lake.[3] The county was named for Robert Lucas, 12th governor of Ohio, in 1835 during his second term.[4] Its establishment provoked the Toledo War conflict with the Michigan Territory, which claimed some of its area.

Lucas County is part of the Toledo, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

On August 20, 1794, near the site of the present-day town of Maumee, American forces led by General Anthony Wayne won a decisive victory over allied Indian forces at the Battle of Fallen Timbers after years of conflict in what was known as the Northwest Indian War. The defeat of the Native forces resulted in the opening of the entire Northwest Territory for white settlement. Northwest Ohio was occupied chiefly by villages and bands of the Odawa people, who had trading relations with the French at Fort Detroit since 1701. Other Odawa were located in southeast Michigan and further north on the peninsula. They ceded much of that territory in the Treaty of Greenville but retained control of lands along the Maumee River until after the War of 1812. The last Odawa band, that of Ottokee, grandson of Chief Pontiac, left the Maumee River area for Kansas in 1839.[5][6]

The disputed portion of Michigan Territory claimed by the state of Ohio known as the Toledo Strip.

Lucas County was established in 1835. At that time, both Ohio and Michigan Territory claimed sovereignty over a 468-square-mile (1,210 km2) region along their border (see Toledo War). When Michigan petitioned Congress for statehood in 1835, it sought to include the disputed territory within its bounds. In response, the Ohio General Assembly formally organized part of the area as Lucas County, naming it after the incumbent governor of Ohio, Robert Lucas.

Geography

Devonian shell of Sylvania

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 596 square miles (1,540 km2), of which 341 square miles (880 km2) is land and 255 square miles (660 km2) (43%) is water.[7] It is the fourth-smallest county in Ohio by land area. Much of the county lies within what was at the time of its establishment, a vast network of forests, wetlands, and grasslands known as the Great Black Swamp.

Rivers

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18409,382—
185012,36331.8%
186025,831108.9%
187046,72280.9%
188067,37744.2%
1890102,29651.8%
1900153,55950.1%
1910192,72825.5%
1920275,72143.1%
1930347,70926.1%
1940344,333−1.0%
1950395,55114.9%
1960456,93115.5%
1970484,3706.0%
1980471,741−2.6%
1990462,361−2.0%
2000455,054−1.6%
2010441,815−2.9%
Est. 2015433,689[8]−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2013[2]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 455,054 people, 182,847 households, and 116,290 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,337 people per square mile (516/km²). There were 196,259 housing units at an average density of 576 per square mile (223/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 77.50% White, 16.98% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.86% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. 4.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 182,847 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.70% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.40% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,004, and the median income for a family was $48,190. Males had a median income of $39,415 versus $26,447 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,518. About 10.70% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.70% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 441,815 people, 180,267 households, and 111,016 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 1,296.2 inhabitants per square mile (500.5/km2). There were 202,630 housing units at an average density of 594.5 per square mile (229.5/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 74.0% white, 19.0% black or African American, 1.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 2.0% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.1% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 29.8% were German, 13.2% were Irish, 9.7% were Polish, 8.0% were English, and 3.8% were American.[15]

Of the 180,267 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, and 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 37.0 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $42,072 and the median income for a family was $54,855. Males had a median income of $46,806 versus $33,394 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,981. About 14.0% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Politics

Presidential election results[17]
Year Republican Democrat
2016 38.31% 74,102 55.51% 107,363
2012 33.21% 69,940 64.86% 136,616
2008 33.43% 73,706 64.80% 142,852
2004 39.54% 87,160 60.21% 132,715
2000 39.15% 73,342 57.83% 108,344

Government and politics

Unlike most counties in northwest Ohio, Lucas County is strongly Democratic. Although Ronald Reagan carried the county twice, no other Republican has won the county in the last 50 years.[18] In 1972, for instance, it was one of only two counties in the entire state that supported George McGovern.

In the last five Presidential elections the Democratic candidate's margin of victory has ranged from 18% to 30.5% in the case of Barack Obama.[19] The eastern portion of Lucas County lies in Ohio's 9th congressional district, and it is represented by Marcy Kaptur, who is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The western portion, however, lies in Ohio's 5th congressional district, and is represented by Bob Latta.

County officials

Office Name Party
Commissioner Carol A. Contrada Democrat
Commissioner Peter L. Gerken Democrat
Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak Democrat
Prosecutor Julia R. Bates Democrat
Sheriff John R. Tharp Democrat
Clerk of Courts J. Bernie Quilter Democrat
Recorder Phillip D. Copeland Democrat
Treasurer Wade P. Kapszukiewicz Democrat
Engineer Keith G. Earley Democrat
Coroner James R. Patrick Democrat
Auditor Anita L. Lopez Democrat

[20]

Communities

Map of Lucas County, Ohio with Municipal and Township labels

Cities

Villages

Townships

Census-designated places

Unincorporated Communities

Ghost towns

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ohio County Profiles: Lucas County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ↑ "Lucas County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  5. ↑ Helen Hornbeck Tanner, ed., Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History (University of Oklahoma Press: Norman, 1986) pp. 3, 58–59
  6. ↑ Larry Angelo (2nd chief of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma), The Migration of the Ottawas from 1615 to Present, (1997), pp. 3-6
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  8. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  14. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  15. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  16. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  17. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  18. ↑ David Leip's Presidential Atlas (Maps for Ohio by election)
  19. ↑ The New York Times electoral map (Zoom in on Ohio)
  20. ↑ Lucas County elected officials

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lucas County.
 Lenawee County, Michigan Monroe County, Michigan
Fulton County Lake Erie
   Lucas County, Ohio  
Henry County Wood County Ottawa County

Coordinates: 41°41′N 83°30′W / 41.68°N 83.50°W / 41.68; -83.50

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/19/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.