Franklin County, Ohio

Franklin County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,323,807,[2] making it the most populous county in Ohio. Most of its land area is taken up by its county seat, Columbus,[3] the state capital and most populous city in Ohio. The county was established on April 30, 1803, less than two months after Ohio became a state, and was named after Benjamin Franklin.[4] Originally, Franklin County extended north to Lake Erie before it was subdivided into smaller counties. Franklin County is the central county of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Not to be confused with Franklin, Ohio.

Franklin County
County
The Franklin County Government Center
The Franklin County Government Center
Flag of Franklin County
Flag
Coat of arms of Franklin County
Coat of arms
Etymology: Benjamin Franklin
Map of Ohio highlighting Franklin County
Map of Ohio highlighting Franklin County
Coordinates: 39°58′N 83°00′W
CountryUnited States
StateOhio
RegionCentral Ohio
FoundedApril 30, 1803[1]
County seatColumbus
Area
 • Total544 sq mi (1,410 km2)
 • Land532 sq mi (1,380 km2)
 • Water11 sq mi (30 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,323,807
 • Estimate 
(2022)
1,321,820 Decrease
 • Density2,400/sq mi (940/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (North American EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Area code614
Websitefranklincountyohio.gov

Franklin County, particularly Columbus, has been a centerpiece for presidential and congressional politics, most notably the 2000 presidential election, the 2004 presidential election, and the 2006 midterm elections. Franklin County is home to one of the largest universities in the United States, Ohio State University, which has about 60,000 students on its main Columbus campus.[5]

It shares a name with Franklin County in Kentucky, where Frankfort is located. This makes it one of two pairs of capital cities in counties of the same name, along with Marion Counties in Indiana and Oregon.

History
See also: History of Columbus, Ohio

On March 30, 1803, the Ohio government authorized the creation of Franklin County. The county originally was part of Ross County. Residents named the county in honor of Benjamin Franklin.[6] In 1816, Franklin County's Columbus became Ohio's state capital. Surveyors laid out the city in 1812, and officials incorporated it in 1816. Columbus was not Ohio's original capital, but the state legislature chose to move the state government there after its location for a short time at Chillicothe and at Zanesville. Columbus was chosen as the site for the new capital because of its central location within the state and access by way of major transportation routes (primarily rivers) at that time. The legislature chose it as Ohio's capital over a number of other competitors, including Franklinton, Dublin, Worthington, and Delaware.

On May 5, 1802, a group of prospective settlers founded the Scioto Company at the home of Rev. Eber B. Clark in Granby, Connecticut, for the purpose of forming a settlement between the Muskingum River and Great Miami River in the Ohio Country. James Kilbourne was elected president and Josiah Topping secretary.[7] On August 30, 1802, James Kilbourne and Nathaniel Little arrived at Colonel Thomas Worthington's home in Chillicothe. They tentatively reserved land along the Scioto River on the Pickaway Plains for their new settlement.[8]

On October 5, 1802, the Scioto Company met again in Granby and decided not to purchase the lands along the Scioto River on the Pickaway Plains, but rather to buy land 30 miles (48 km) farther north from Jonas Stanbery and his partner, an American Revolutionary War general, Jonathan Dayton. Sixteen thousand acres (65 km2; 6,500 ha) were purchased along the Whetstone River (now known as the Olentangy River) at $1.50 per acre.[9] This land was part of the United States Military District surveyed by Israel Ludlow in 1797 and divided into townships 5 miles (8.0 km) square.[10]

Before the state legislature's decision in 1812, Columbus did not exist. The city was originally designed as the state's new capital, preparing itself for its role in Ohio's political, economic, and social life. In the years between the first ground-breaking and the actual movement of the capital in 1816, Columbus and Franklin County grew significantly. By 1813, workers had built a penitentiary, and by the following year, residents had established the first church, school, and newspaper in Columbus. Workers completed the Ohio Statehouse in 1861. Columbus and Franklin County grew quickly in population, with the city having 700 people by 1815. Columbus officially became the county seat in 1824. By 1834, the population of Columbus was 4,000 people, officially elevating it to "city" status.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 544 square miles (1,410 km2), of which 532 square miles (1,380 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (2.1%) is water.[11] The county is located in the Till Plains and the Appalachian Plateau land regions.

The county is drained by the Olentangy River and the Scioto River. Major creeks in the county include Big Darby Creek, Big Walnut Creek, and Alum Creek. There are two large reservoirs in the county, Hoover Reservoir and Griggs Reservoir.[12]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18103,486—
182010,292195.2%
183014,74143.2%
184025,04969.9%
185042,90971.3%
186050,36117.4%
187063,01925.1%
188086,79737.7%
1890124,08743.0%
1900164,46032.5%
1910221,56734.7%
1920283,95128.2%
1930361,05527.2%
1940388,7127.7%
1950503,41029.5%
1960682,96235.7%
1970833,24922.0%
1980869,1324.3%
1990961,43710.6%
20001,068,97811.2%
20101,163,4148.8%
20201,323,80713.8%
2022 (est.)1,321,820[13]−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010-2020[2]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 1,163,414 people, 477,235 households, and 278,030 families living in the county.[18] The population density was 2,186.1 inhabitants per square mile (844.1/km2). There were 527,186 housing units at an average density of 990.6 per square mile (382.5/km2).[19] The racial makeup of the county was 69.2% white, 21.2% black or African American, 3.9% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.3% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.8% of the population.[18] In terms of ancestry, 24.2% were German, 14.4% were Irish, 9.1% were English, 5.5% were Italian, and 5.0% were American.[20]

Of the 477,235 households, 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 41.7% were non-families, and 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 33.4 years.[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $49,087 and the median income for a family was $62,372. Males had a median income of $45,920 versus $37,685 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,909. About 12.1% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.[21]

Ethnic origins in Franklin County

Economy

Top Employers

According to the county's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[22] the top employers in the county are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Ohio State University 33,335
2 OhioHealth 23,836
3 State of Ohio 21,342
4 JP Morgan Chase & Co. 18,400
5 Nationwide 12,500
6 Nationwide Children's Hospital 10,875
7 Kroger Co. 10,563
8 City of Columbus 8,963
9 Mount Carmel Health System 8,776
10 L Brands, Inc. 8,616

Politics

For most of the 20th century, Franklin County was a Republican bastion, as has long been the case with most of central Ohio. From 1896 to 1992, it went Republican all but five times. However, it has gone Democratic in every election since 1996, reflecting the Democratic trend in most other urban counties nationwide. Columbus and most of its northern and western suburbs lean Democratic, while the more blue-collar southern section of the county leans Republican. From 1996 to 2004, Democratic nominees carried the county by single digit margins, but it swung significantly in favor of Barack Obama in 2008. The county has swung towards Democrats in every subsequent Presidential election, with each candidate breaking the previous county record for both largest Democratic vote share and largest Democratic margin of victory in county history. Most recently, Democratic nominee Joe Biden won the county with 64.7 percent of the vote and a 31.4 percent margin of victory.[23]

In Congress, it is split between two districts. Most of Columbus itself is in the 3rd district, represented by Democrat Joyce Beatty. The southwestern portion is in 15th district, represented by Republican Mike Carey.[24]

United States presidential election results for Franklin County, Ohio[25]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 211,237 33.40% 409,144 64.68% 12,151 1.92%
2016 199,331 33.93% 351,198 59.78% 36,995 6.30%
2012 215,997 37.75% 346,373 60.53% 9,818 1.72%
2008 218,486 38.89% 334,709 59.58% 8,568 1.53%
2004 237,253 45.12% 285,801 54.35% 2,773 0.53%
2000 197,862 47.78% 202,018 48.79% 14,194 3.43%
1996 178,412 44.55% 192,795 48.14% 29,308 7.32%
1992 186,324 41.89% 176,656 39.72% 81,821 18.39%
1988 226,265 59.96% 147,585 39.11% 3,507 0.93%
1984 250,360 64.12% 131,530 33.68% 8,584 2.20%
1980 200,948 53.87% 143,932 38.58% 28,165 7.55%
1976 189,645 55.66% 141,624 41.57% 9,443 2.77%
1972 219,771 63.74% 117,562 34.09% 7,475 2.17%
1968 148,933 51.78% 101,240 35.20% 37,451 13.02%
1964 131,345 45.95% 154,527 54.05% 0 0.00%
1960 161,178 59.37% 110,283 40.63% 0 0.00%
1956 151,544 65.78% 78,852 34.22% 0 0.00%
1952 138,894 60.25% 91,620 39.75% 0 0.00%
1948 98,707 53.36% 84,806 45.84% 1,486 0.80%
1944 99,292 52.62% 89,394 47.38% 0 0.00%
1940 92,533 48.92% 96,601 51.08% 0 0.00%
1936 63,830 40.39% 90,746 57.42% 3,471 2.20%
1932 67,957 52.21% 58,539 44.97% 3,664 2.81%
1928 92,019 65.86% 47,084 33.70% 609 0.44%
1924 61,891 57.68% 26,505 24.70% 18,899 17.61%
1920 59,691 54.23% 48,452 44.02% 1,921 1.75%
1916 24,107 40.36% 34,103 57.10% 1,517 2.54%
1912 12,791 25.22% 20,697 40.81% 17,227 33.97%
1908 28,914 53.45% 23,314 43.10% 1,869 3.45%
1904 27,439 61.49% 15,502 34.74% 1,681 3.77%
1900 22,237 52.16% 19,809 46.46% 590 1.38%
1896 20,291 51.96% 18,320 46.91% 442 1.13%
1892 14,341 46.51% 15,495 50.25% 999 3.24%
1888 13,453 47.59% 14,126 49.97% 692 2.45%
1884 11,194 47.68% 11,842 50.44% 441 1.88%
1880 9,438 48.30% 9,863 50.47% 240 1.23%
1876 7,557 44.36% 9,383 55.07% 97 0.57%
1872 5,796 43.92% 7,345 55.66% 56 0.42%
1868 5,079 41.64% 7,119 58.36% 0 0.00%
1864 4,819 45.73% 5,719 54.27% 0 0.00%
1860 4,295 45.99% 4,846 51.90% 197 2.11%
1856 3,488 44.42% 3,791 48.27% 574 7.31%

Government
See also: Franklin County Government Center and Ohio county government

Franklin County Officials
OfficeOfficeholderParty
Franklin County CommissionerErica CrawleyDemocratic
Franklin County CommissionerKevin BoyceDemocratic
Franklin County CommissionerJohn O'Grady Democratic
AuditorMichael StinzianoDemocratic
Clerk of CourtsMaryellen O'ShaughnessyDemocratic
CoronerNate OvermireDemocratic
EngineerCornell RobertsonRepublican
ProsecutorGary TyackDemocratic
RecorderDanny O'ConnorDemocratic
SheriffDallas BaldwinDemocratic
TreasurerCheryl Brooks SullivannDemocratic

Ohio House of Representatives
DistrictRepresentativeParty
1Dontavius JarrellsDemocratic
2Latyna HumphreyDemocratic
3Ismail MohamedDemocratic
4Mary LightbodyDemocratic
5Richard BrownDemocratic
6Adam MillerDemocratic
7Allison RussoDemocratic
8Beth ListonDemocratic
9Munira AbdullahiDemocratic
10David DobosRepublican
11Anita SomaniDemocratic
12Brian StewartRepublican

Ohio State Senate
DistrictSenatorParty
3Michele Reynolds Republican
15Hearcel CraigDemocratic
16Stephanie KunzeRepublican
25Bill DeMora Democratic

United States House of Representatives
DistrictRepresentativeParty
03Joyce BeattyDemocratic
15Mike CareyRepublican

United States Senate
SenatorParty
Sherrod BrownDemocratic
J. D. VanceRepublican

[26]

Communities
Map of Franklin County with municipal and township labels

Franklin County is currently made up of 16 cities, 10 villages, and 17 townships.

Cities

Villages

Townships

Defunct Townships
  • Marion (completely annexed by the city of Columbus)

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Education

School districts include:[28]

City school districts:

Local school districts:

State-operated schools include:

See also

Footnotes
  1. "Ohio County Profiles: Franklin County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Franklin County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Archived from the original on December 3, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  5. "Statistical Summary". osu.edu. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  6. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 131.
  7. McCormick 1998:7
  8. McCormick 1998:17
  9. McCormick 1998:19-27
  10. "A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 - 1875". memory.loc.gov. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  11. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  12. Query of Geographic Names Information System
  13. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  14. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  15. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  16. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  17. "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 7, 2015.
  18. "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.
  19. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  20. "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.
  21. "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.
  22. "Franklin County, Ohio Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the Year Ended December 31, 2019" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  23. "Election Archive Franklin County Board of Elections". vote.franklincountyohio.gov.
  24. "Franklin County Board of Elections". vote.franklincountyohio.gov.
  25. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  26. "Franklin County Elected Officials".
  27. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Franklin County, OH" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 23, 2022. - Text list

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