Mercer County, Ohio

Mercer County is located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,528.[1] Its county seat is Celina.[2] The county was created in 1820 and later organized in 1824.[3] It is named for Hugh Mercer, an officer in the American Revolutionary War.[4]

Mercer County
County
Mercer County courthouse
Mercer County courthouse
Flag of Mercer County
Flag
Official seal of Mercer County
Seal
Map of Ohio highlighting Mercer County
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Map of the United States highlighting Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°32′N 84°38′W
Country United States
State Ohio
FoundedJanuary 2, 1824
Named forHugh Mercer
SeatCelina
Largest cityCelina
Area
 • Total473 sq mi (1,230 km2)
 • Land462 sq mi (1,200 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)  2.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total42,528 Increase
 • Density90/sq mi (30/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.mercercountyohio.org
Grand Lake St. Marys State Park
Graftonoceras fossil nautiloid, found near Coldwater, southern Mercer County.

Mercer County comprises the Celina, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area

History

Mercer County was founded in 1820 which set it apart from Darke County. Land south of the Greenville Treaty Line was still part of Darke County. An act establishing Mercer County took place on January 2, 1824. In 1837 Van Wert County was detached and the county line established is the current northern border of Mercer County. In 1839 Celina was established as the capital of Mercer County, St. Marys, Ohio was the previous capital. In 1848 the area south of the Greenville Treaty Line to the current southern county line, was attached. When Auglaize County, Ohio was formed, Mercer County's eastern border was moved 6 miles west with the exception of the area south of the Greenville Treaty line. This created the sharp point at Mercer County's south-east corner and was the last county line modification.

In the mid to late 1800s Mercer county became home to many German immigrants, most of whom became farmers in the new world. Many of these German immigrants migrated from northwestern Germany.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 473 square miles (1,230 km2), of which 462 square miles (1,200 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (2.3%) is water.[5] The entire county has an elevation difference of less than 300 feet. The highest point is on the southern county line at 1071 feet above sea level. This is in proximity to the head waters for the Wabash River. The lowest point in the county is 780 feet above sea level. This point is located on the northern county line where the St. Marys River crosses over.

Drainage basins

Mercer County has two rivers running through it; the Wabash and the St. Marys. The Wabash watershed is part of the Gulf of Mexico's watershed. The St. Marys watershed is part of Lake Erie's watershed. Creeks between these two watersheds are within a mile of each other at some places in Mercer County. This area/line that divides the drainage basins is known as the St. Lawrence Continental Divide

Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek is the longest and largest creek in Mercer County. It stretches 19.7 miles and has two sections. The first section begins in southern farmland in the county and flows through the town of Montezuma, Ohio and into Grand Lake St. Marys. The other section of the creek begins as a spillway and empties into the Wabash River. Beaver Creek was originally one piece, but was split into two sections after the construction of Grand Lake. The creeks' spillway, and last section, has been the subject of controversy and multimillion-dollar lawsuits. Farmers along Beaver Creek claim their land floods because of the spillway that was put up in 1997, replacing the previous spillway, built in 1913.[6]

See also: Grand Lake St. Marys State Park

Government

Mercer County has a 3-member Board of County Commissioners that oversee the various County departments, similar to all but 2 of the 88 Ohio counties. Mercer County's elected commissioners are: Jerry Laffin, Rick Muhlenkamp, and Greg Homan.[7]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
182095—
18301,1101,068.4%
18408,277645.7%
18507,712−6.8%
186014,10482.9%
187017,25422.3%
188021,80826.4%
189027,22024.8%
190028,0212.9%
191027,536−1.7%
192026,872−2.4%
193025,096−6.6%
194026,2564.6%
195028,3117.8%
196032,55915.0%
197035,2658.3%
198038,3348.7%
199039,4432.9%
200040,9243.8%
201040,814−0.3%
202042,5284.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2020 [1]

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 40,814 people, 14,756 households, and 11,022 families living in the county. The population density was 88 inhabitants per square mile (34/km2). There were 15,875 housing units at an average density of 34 units per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.44% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 1.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,756 households, out of which 37.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.10% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.30% were non-families. 22.70% 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 2.74 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.60% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,742, and the median income for a family was $50,157. Males had a median income of $35,508 versus $22,857 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,531. About 4.60% of families and 6.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.90% of those under age 18 and 7.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 40,814 people, 15,532 households, and 11,172 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 88.3 inhabitants per square mile (34.1/km2). There were 17,633 housing units at an average density of 38.1 units per square mile (14.7 units/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 97.4% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific islander, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.6% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 58.7% were German, 8.8% were American, 8.3% were Irish, and 6.2% were English.[15]

Of the 15,532 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.1% were non-families, and 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 39.4 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $49,719 and the median income for a family was $60,215. Males had a median income of $42,441 versus $31,069 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,348. About 6.3% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Politics

Prior to 1940, Mercer County was primarily Democratic, only voting Republican once from 1856 to 1936 for Ohioan Warren G. Harding in 1920. From 1940 to 1968, the county was a Republican-leaning swing county, voting for Republican candidates four times and Democratic candidates three times, although John F. Kennedy came within 5 votes of carrying it in 1960. The 1972 election began the county's streak of being a Republican stronghold presidentially, with the party's margins of victory increasing to well over 50 percent in recent elections.

United States presidential election results for Mercer County, Ohio[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 19,452 81.79% 4,030 16.94% 302 1.27%
2016 17,506 80.24% 3,384 15.51% 926 4.24%
2012 16,561 76.40% 4,745 21.89% 370 1.71%
2008 15,100 70.90% 5,853 27.48% 346 1.62%
2004 15,650 74.92% 5,118 24.50% 122 0.58%
2000 12,485 68.25% 5,212 28.49% 597 3.26%
1996 8,832 50.03% 6,300 35.69% 2,521 14.28%
1992 8,683 46.82% 4,883 26.33% 4,979 26.85%
1988 11,162 68.54% 4,978 30.57% 146 0.90%
1984 11,542 71.49% 4,422 27.39% 180 1.11%
1980 8,673 56.54% 5,506 35.90% 1,160 7.56%
1976 7,678 51.71% 6,724 45.28% 447 3.01%
1972 8,587 57.60% 5,798 38.89% 522 3.50%
1968 6,313 44.43% 6,801 47.86% 1,095 7.71%
1964 4,373 30.25% 10,081 69.75% 0 0.00%
1960 7,735 50.02% 7,730 49.98% 0 0.00%
1956 9,456 68.88% 4,272 31.12% 0 0.00%
1952 9,058 65.72% 4,725 34.28% 0 0.00%
1948 5,266 47.01% 5,928 52.92% 8 0.07%
1944 7,712 63.04% 4,522 36.96% 0 0.00%
1940 7,905 60.72% 5,114 39.28% 0 0.00%
1936 3,602 27.28% 7,217 54.66% 2,385 18.06%
1932 3,314 27.78% 8,462 70.94% 153 1.28%
1928 5,129 45.29% 6,155 54.34% 42 0.37%
1924 4,215 40.40% 5,135 49.21% 1,084 10.39%
1920 5,692 56.13% 4,404 43.43% 44 0.43%
1916 2,065 33.81% 3,803 62.27% 239 3.91%
1912 1,324 23.30% 3,591 63.19% 768 13.51%
1908 2,148 31.92% 4,456 66.22% 125 1.86%
1904 2,173 38.70% 3,286 58.52% 156 2.78%
1900 2,015 30.69% 4,460 67.93% 91 1.39%
1896 1,991 29.16% 4,790 70.16% 46 0.67%
1892 1,526 25.86% 3,688 62.51% 686 11.63%
1888 1,841 30.01% 4,146 67.58% 148 2.41%
1884 1,384 26.95% 3,728 72.59% 24 0.47%
1880 1,473 30.33% 3,367 69.34% 16 0.33%
1876 1,128 28.39% 2,840 71.48% 5 0.13%
1872 1,026 32.65% 2,090 66.52% 26 0.83%
1868 884 26.97% 2,394 73.03% 0 0.00%
1864 834 30.21% 1,927 69.79% 0 0.00%
1860 832 34.01% 1,606 65.66% 8 0.33%
1856 629 33.07% 1,159 60.94% 114 5.99%

Communities

City

Villages

Townships

Unincorporated communities

The county is the fictional setting of the Amazon Prime Video series Tales from the Loop.[18]

See also

References
  1. 2020 census
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Ohio: Individual County Chronologies". Ohio Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  4. "Mercer County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  6. "State may be ready to allow lake water out". The Daily Standard. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  7. "Mercer County Commissioners". Mercer County Ohio Homepage. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  10. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. "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.
  14. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  15. "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.
  16. "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.
  17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  18. Reinstein, Mara (April 3, 2020). "Tales From the Loop Brings Simon Stalenhag's Futuristic Artwork to Life". Architectural Digest. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
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