Defiance County, Ohio

County in Ohio, United States

U.S. county in Ohio

Defiance County

U.S. county

Defiance County Courthouse

Defiance County Courthouse

Official seal of Defiance County

Seal

Map of Ohio highlighting Defiance County

Location within the U.S. state of Ohio

Ohio's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Ohio
Founded| April 7, 1845[1]
Named for| Fort Defiance
Seat| Defiance
Largest city| Defiance
Area

• Total| 414 sq mi (1,070 km2)
• Land| 411 sq mi (1,060 km2)
• Water| 2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.7%%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 38,286
• Density| 92/sq mi (36/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 5th
Website| www.defiance-county.com

Defiance County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,286.[2] Its county seat is Defiance.[3] The county was named after an early Army fortification, Fort Defiance, which was so named by Mad Anthony Wayne to signify the settlers' "defiance" of the Indians.[4][5] The Defiance, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Defiance County.

## Contents

* 1 Geography
* 1.1 Adjacent counties
* 2 Demographics
* 2.1 2000 census
* 2.2 2010 census
* 3 Politics
* 4 Communities
* 4.1 City
* 4.2 Villages
* 4.3 Townships
* 4.4 Unincorporated communities
* 5 In popular culture
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 414 square miles (1,070 km2), of which 411 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (0.7%) is water.[6]

### Adjacent counties

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* Williams County (north)
* Henry County (east)
* Putnam County (southeast)
* Paulding County (south)
* Allen County, Indiana (southwest)
* DeKalb County, Indiana (west)

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1850| 6,966| | —
1860| 11,886| | 70.6%
1870| 15,719| | 32.2%
1880| 22,515| | 43.2%
1890| 25,769| | 14.5%
1900| 26,387| | 2.4%
1910| 24,498| | −7.2%
1920| 24,549| | 0.2%
1930| 22,714| | −7.5%
1940| 24,367| | 7.3%
1950| 25,925| | 6.4%
1960| 31,508| | 21.5%
1970| 36,949| | 17.3%
1980| 39,987| | 8.2%
1990| 39,350| | −1.6%
2000| 39,500| | 0.4%
2010| 39,037| | −1.2%
2020| 38,286| | −1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2020 [11]

### 2000 census

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As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 39,500 people, 15,138 households, and 11,020 families living in the county. The population density was 96 people per square mile (37/km2). There were 16,040 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.59% White, 1.75% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.59% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 7.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.6% were of German, 13.5% American, 6.8% Irish and 5.1% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 15,138 households, out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 23.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,938, and the median income for a family was $50,876. Males had a median income of $37,936 versus $23,530 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,667. About 4.50% of families and 5.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.40% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 39,037 people, 15,268 households, and 10,792 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 94.9 inhabitants per square mile (36.6/km2). There were 16,729 housing units at an average density of 40.7 per square mile (15.7/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% white, 1.9% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 2.8% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.7% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 42.3% were German, 12.5% were Irish, 9.6% were English, and 7.7% were American.[15]

Of the 15,268 households, 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.3% were non-families, and 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 39.4 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $44,480 and the median income for a family was $54,472. Males had a median income of $44,354 versus $30,610 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,139. About 11.2% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.[16]

## Politics

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Prior to 1940, Defiance County was a Democratic stronghold, voting Republicans only 3 times since 1856. But starting with the 1940 election, it has become a Republican stronghold with Lyndon Johnson in 1964 the lone Democrat to win the county since.

United States presidential election results for Defiance County, Ohio[17] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 13,038  | 67.27% | 5,981  | 30.86%  | 362  | 1.87%
2016 | 11,688  | 63.70% | 5,368  | 29.26%  | 1,293  | 7.05%
2012 | 10,176  | 55.49% | 7,732  | 42.16%  | 431  | 2.35%
2008 | 10,407  | 54.11% | 8,399  | 43.67%  | 426  | 2.22%
2004 | 11,397  | 61.55% | 6,975  | 37.67%  | 144  | 0.78%
2000 | 9,540  | 58.74% | 6,175  | 38.02%  | 527  | 3.24%
1996 | 7,469  | 47.00% | 6,343  | 39.91%  | 2,081  | 13.09%
1992 | 7,195  | 41.80% | 5,735  | 33.32%  | 4,281  | 24.87%
1988 | 9,566  | 63.13% | 5,448  | 35.95%  | 139  | 0.92%
1984 | 10,951  | 67.89% | 5,004  | 31.02%  | 175  | 1.08%
1980 | 9,358  | 59.84% | 5,096  | 32.59%  | 1,185  | 7.58%
1976 | 7,526  | 55.02% | 5,850  | 42.77%  | 303  | 2.22%
1972 | 8,914  | 65.40% | 4,377  | 32.11%  | 339  | 2.49%
1968 | 7,348  | 52.64% | 5,686  | 40.73%  | 925  | 6.63%
1964 | 5,048  | 36.70%  | 8,707  | 63.30% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 8,912  | 63.12% | 5,207  | 36.88%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 8,786  | 69.03% | 3,941  | 30.97%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 8,834  | 67.98% | 4,161  | 32.02%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 5,927  | 56.94% | 4,454  | 42.79%  | 28  | 0.27%
1944 | 7,450  | 67.21% | 3,634  | 32.79%  | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 8,010  | 65.00% | 4,313  | 35.00%  | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 5,000  | 42.84%  | 5,608  | 48.05% | 1,062  | 9.10%
1932 | 3,871  | 36.54%  | 6,532  | 61.65% | 192  | 1.81%
1928 | 6,289  | 64.33% | 3,487  | 35.67%  | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 4,841  | 52.55% | 3,227  | 35.03%  | 1,145  | 12.43%
1920 | 5,987  | 60.54% | 3,723  | 37.64%  | 180  | 1.82%
1916 | 2,565  | 42.36%  | 3,359  | 55.47% | 131  | 2.16%
1912 | 872  | 15.84%  | 2,784  | 50.58% | 1,848  | 33.58%
1908 | 2,531  | 39.05%  | 3,754  | 57.91% | 197  | 3.04%
1904 | 3,032  | 47.43%  | 3,216  | 50.31% | 144  | 2.25%
1900 | 2,684  | 40.80%  | 3,766  | 57.25% | 128  | 1.95%
1896 | 2,414  | 36.01%  | 4,239  | 63.24% | 50  | 0.75%
1892 | 2,062  | 35.09%  | 3,311  | 56.35% | 503  | 8.56%
1888 | 2,245  | 37.23%  | 3,567  | 59.15% | 218  | 3.62%
1884 | 2,184  | 39.57%  | 3,288  | 59.58% | 47  | 0.85%
1880 | 1,977  | 38.41%  | 3,140  | 61.01% | 30  | 0.58%
1876 | 1,520  | 34.43%  | 2,888  | 65.41% | 7  | 0.16%
1872 | 1,093  | 38.31%  | 1,720  | 60.29% | 40  | 1.40%
1868 | 1,108  | 36.85%  | 1,899  | 63.15% | 0  | 0.00%
1864 | 1,146  | 42.15%  | 1,573  | 57.85% | 0  | 0.00%
1860 | 1,038  | 43.87%  | 1,304  | 55.11% | 24  | 1.01%
1856 | 821  | 46.81%  | 895  | 51.03% | 38  | 2.17%

## Communities

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File:Map of Defiance County Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels.PNGMap of Defiance County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels

### City

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* Defiance (county seat)

### Villages

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* Hicksville
* Ney
* Sherwood

### Townships

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* Adams
* Defiance
* Delaware
* Farmer
* Hicksville
* Highland
* Mark
* Milford
* Noble
* Richland
* Tiffin
* Washington

https://web.archive.org/web/20160715023447/http://www.ohiotownships.org/township-websites

### Unincorporated communities

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* Evansport
* Farmer
* Jewell
* Mark Center

## In popular culture

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The closeness of elections in Defiance County has also been referenced in fiction; the ABC political drama Scandal in its second season had as the center of the ongoing plot of the first half of that season, a vote manipulation conspiracy which bent the presidential election towards Republican candidate Fitzgerald Grant based on tampering of the voting machines in Defiance County.

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Defiance County, Ohio

## References

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1. ^ "Ohio County Profiles: Defiance County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
2. ^ 2020 census
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ "Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor". Archived from the original on June 28, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2007.
5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 102.
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
9. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
11. ^ 2020 census
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. ^ a b c "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 1, 2018.

## External links

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* Defiance County Government's website

Places adjacent to Defiance County, Ohio

|  | Williams County |

|
|

|  |
DeKalb County, Indiana |

Defiance County, Ohio

| Henry County
|  |
Allen County, Indiana | Paulding County | Putnam County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Defiance County, Ohio, United States

County seat: Defiance

City|

* Defiance

File:Map of Ohio highlighting Defiance County.svgMap of Ohio highlighting Defiance County

Villages|

* Hicksville
* Ney
* Sherwood

Townships|

* Adams
* Defiance
* Delaware
* Farmer
* Hicksville
* Highland
* Mark
* Milford
* Noble
* Richland
* Tiffin
* Washington

CDP|

* Brunersburg

Unincorporated
communities|

* Ayersville
* Brunersburg
* Evansport
* Farmer
* Independence
* Jewell
* Mark Center
* Moats
* Rosedale

Ghost towns|

* Arrowsmiths
* Cicero
* Clarksville
* Nebo

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Ohio

Columbus (capital)

Topics|

* Outline
* Geography
* Government
* Administrative divisions
* Delegations
* Elections
* History
* Law
* People
* Symbols
* Motto
* Tourist attractions
* Portal

Society|

* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Colleges and universities
* Politics
* Sports

Regions|

* Allegheny Plateau
* Appalachian Ohio
* The Bluegrass
* Glacial till plains
* Great Black Swamp
* Lake Erie (List of Lake Erie Islands)
* Mahoning Valley
* Miami Valley
* Northeast Ohio
* Northwest Ohio
* Vacationland
* Western Reserve

Metro areas|

* Akron
* Canton
* Cincinnati
* Cleveland
* Columbus
* Dayton
* Findlay-Tiffin
* Huntington-Ashland
* Lima
* Mansfield
* Steubenville
* Toledo
* Youngstown-Warren

Largest cities|

* Akron
* Canton
* Cincinnati
* Cleveland
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* Cuyahoga Falls
* Dayton
* Dublin
* Elyria
* Euclid
* Hamilton
* Kettering
* Lakewood
* Lorain
* Middletown
* Newark
* Parma
* Springfield
* Toledo
* Youngstown

Counties|

* Adams
* Allen
* Ashland
* Ashtabula
* Athens
* Auglaize
* Belmont
* Brown
* Butler
* Carroll
* Champaign
* Clark
* Clermont
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* Defiance
* Delaware
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* Hamilton
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* Hardin
* Harrison
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* Highland
* Hocking
* Holmes
* Huron
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Knox
* Lake
* Lawrence
* Licking
* Logan
* Lorain
* Lucas
* Madison
* Mahoning
* Marion
* Medina
* Meigs
* Mercer
* Miami
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Morgan
* Morrow
* Muskingum
* Noble
* Ottawa
* Paulding
* Perry
* Pickaway
* Pike
* Portage
* Preble
* Putnam
* Richland
* Ross
* Sandusky
* Scioto
* Seneca
* Shelby
* Stark
* Summit
* Trumbull
* Tuscarawas
* Union
* Van Wert
* Vinton
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Williams
* Wood
* Wyandot

Coordinates: 41°19′N 84°29′W﻿ / ﻿41.32°N 84.49°W﻿ / 41.32; -84.49
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*[%±]: Percent change
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