Lucas County, Ohio
| Lucas County, Ohio | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 The Lucas County Courthouse in Toledo | |||
| |||
 Location in the state of 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.) | |||
| • (2013) | 436,393 | ||
| • Density | 1,296/sq mi (500/km²) | ||
| Congressional districts | 5th, 9th | ||
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 | ||
| Website |
www | ||
Lucas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 441,815.[2] Its county seat is Toledo.[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.
Lucas County is part of the Toledo, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
On August 20, 1794, near the present-day town of Maumee, American forces led by General Anthony Wayne won a decisive victory over Indian forces at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. The battle opened the entire Northwest Territory for white settlement.
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 the 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
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.[5] 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
- Monroe County, Michigan (north)
- Essex County, Ontario (northeast)
- Ottawa County (southeast)
- Wood County (south)
- Henry County (southwest)
- Fulton County (west)
- Lenawee County, Michigan (northwest)
National protected areas
- Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge
- Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- West Sister Island National Wildlife Refuge
Major highways
Interstate 75
Interstate 80
Interstate 90
Interstate 280
Interstate 475
U.S. Highway 20
U.S. Highway 23
U.S. Highway 24
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 9,382 | — | |
| 1850 | 12,363 | 31.8% | |
| 1860 | 25,831 | 108.9% | |
| 1870 | 46,722 | 80.9% | |
| 1880 | 67,377 | 44.2% | |
| 1890 | 102,296 | 51.8% | |
| 1900 | 153,559 | 50.1% | |
| 1910 | 192,728 | 25.5% | |
| 1920 | 275,721 | 43.1% | |
| 1930 | 347,709 | 26.1% | |
| 1940 | 344,333 | −1.0% | |
| 1950 | 395,551 | 14.9% | |
| 1960 | 456,931 | 15.5% | |
| 1970 | 484,370 | 6.0% | |
| 1980 | 471,741 | −2.6% | |
| 1990 | 462,361 | −2.0% | |
| 2000 | 455,054 | −1.6% | |
| 2010 | 441,815 | −2.9% | |
| Est. 2013 | 436,393 | −1.2% | |
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.
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.[10] 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.[11] 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.
Communities
Cities
- Maumee
- Oregon
- Sylvania
- Toledo (county seat)
- Waterville
Villages
Townships
Census-designated places
Other communities
Ghost towns
See also
References
- ↑ "Ohio County Profiles: Lucas County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ "Lucas County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
- ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ↑ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ↑ David Leip's Presidential Atlas (Maps for Ohio by election)
- ↑ The New York Times electoral map (Zoom in on Ohio)
External links
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Lenawee County, Michigan | Monroe County, Michigan | | |
| Fulton County |  |
Lake Erie | ||
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| Henry County | Wood County | Ottawa County |
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