Delaware County, Ohio | |
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 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOhio | |
 Ohio's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:40°17′N83°01′W / 40.28°N 83.01°W /40.28; -83.01 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | February 10, 1808[1] |
| Named after | theDelaware Indians |
| Seat | Delaware |
| Largest city | Delaware |
| Area | |
• Total | 457 sq mi (1,180 km2) |
| • Land | 443 sq mi (1,150 km2) |
| • Water | 14 sq mi (36 km2) 3.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 214,124 |
• Estimate (2022) | 226,296 |
| • Density | 483/sq mi (187/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 4th,12th |
| Website | www |
| *Based on population just within the county.[2] | |
Delaware County is located in the central portion of theU.S. state ofOhio. As of the2020 census, the population was 214,124.[3] Itscounty seat and largest city isDelaware.[4] The county was formed in 1808 fromFranklin County, Ohio. Both the county and its seat arenamed after theDelaware Indian tribe.[5] It is a frequent placeholder on theList of highest-income counties in the United States; Delaware County was listed as the 35th wealthiest county in the United States in 2020.[6][7] Delaware County is included in theColumbus, Ohio, metropolitan area. U.S. PresidentRutherford B. Hayes was born and raised in Delaware County. It is also home to theColumbus Zoo and Aquarium.
The area including Delaware County was once home to numerousNative Americantribes. In 1804, Colonel Moses Byxbe and Henry Baldwin, among others, migrated to central Ohio fromBerkshire County,Massachusetts, and built a town on the west bank of the Olentangy River.[8] On February 10, 1808, the Ohio government authorized the creation of Delaware County.[9] Following theWar of 1812, settlers began to arrive in the county and settled down inDelaware. The town wasincorporated in 1816, being the first incorporated town in the county.Powell, originally named Middlebury, was founded in 1801, but was not incorporated until 1947.Sunbury was founded in 1816.Ohio Wesleyan University, aliberal arts college, was founded byMethodists in 1842.
Delaware County hadNorthern sympathies during theCivil War, andabolitionists brought theUnderground Railroad through the area. A local road,Africa Road, derives its name from the era. Camp Delaware was one of the few Civil War camps that deployed African American soldiers. The Civil War played an important part in Delaware County's growth, bringing railroad business and technology. By 1900, Delaware had its first electric streetway, and an electric interurban railroad connectingMarion andColumbus ran through the county. TheLittle Brown Jug race was founded in 1946, and is one of the races in theTriple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers.
In 2008,Forbes magazine ranked Delaware County as the fifth best place in the United States to raise a family and the second best in Ohio, behindGeauga County.[10] In 2020, Delaware was rated the best county to live in Ohio and 24th in the United States byNiche,[11] 17th healthiest county byUS News,[12] and 24th best counties to live in by 247WallSt.[13]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 457 square miles (1,180 km2), of which 443 square miles (1,150 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (3.1%) is water.[14] The county has an even terrain and a fertile soil.[15]
The major rivers of the county are theScioto River,Olentangy River,Alum Creek, and theBig Walnut Creek. These waterways run from north to south across the county. The Alum Creek Lake[16] and the Delaware Lake[17] are reservoirs created on Alum Creek and the Olentangy River, respectively.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 2,000 | — | |
| 1820 | 7,639 | 282.0% | |
| 1830 | 11,504 | 50.6% | |
| 1840 | 22,060 | 91.8% | |
| 1850 | 21,817 | −1.1% | |
| 1860 | 23,902 | 9.6% | |
| 1870 | 25,175 | 5.3% | |
| 1880 | 27,381 | 8.8% | |
| 1890 | 27,189 | −0.7% | |
| 1900 | 26,401 | −2.9% | |
| 1910 | 27,182 | 3.0% | |
| 1920 | 26,013 | −4.3% | |
| 1930 | 26,016 | 0.0% | |
| 1940 | 26,780 | 2.9% | |
| 1950 | 30,278 | 13.1% | |
| 1960 | 36,107 | 19.3% | |
| 1970 | 42,908 | 18.8% | |
| 1980 | 53,840 | 25.5% | |
| 1990 | 66,929 | 24.3% | |
| 2000 | 109,989 | 64.3% | |
| 2010 | 174,214 | 58.4% | |
| 2020 | 214,124 | 22.9% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 237,966 | [18] | 11.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[19] 1790-1960[20] 1900-1990[21] 1990-2000[22] 2010-2020[23] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980 | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000[24] | Pop 2010[25] | Pop 2020[26] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 51,920 | 64,670 | 102,943 | 153,969 | 171,420 | 96.43% | 96.62% | 93.59% | 88.38% | 80.06% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,254 | 1,411 | 2,743 | 5,756 | 7,702 | 2.33% | 2.11% | 2.49% | 3.30% | 3.60% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 53 | 101 | 150 | 216 | 242 | 0.10% | 0.15% | 0.14% | 0.12% | 0.11% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 123 | 377 | 1,684 | 7,393 | 18,158 | 0.23% | 0.56% | 1.53% | 4.24% | 8.48% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[27] | x[28] | 35 | 47 | 60 | x | x | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 180 | 34 | 169 | 258 | 823 | 0.33% | 0.05% | 0.15% | 0.15% | 0.38% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[29] | x[30] | 1,156 | 2,906 | 8,707 | x | x | 1.05% | 1.67% | 4.07% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 310 | 336 | 1,109 | 3,669 | 7,012 | 0.58% | 0.50% | 1.01% | 2.11% | 3.27% |
| Total | 53,840 | 66,929 | 109,989 | 174,214 | 214,124 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 214,124 people, 77,713 households living in the county.[31] The racial makeup of the county was 80.9% white, 8.5% Asian, 5.6% from two or more races, 3.7% black or African American, Hispanic or Latino origin 3.3%, 1.1% from other races, 0.2% American Indian.[31]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 174,214 people, 62,760 households, and 47,977 families living in the county.[32] The population density was 393.2 inhabitants per square mile (151.8/km2). There were 66,378 housing units at an average density of 149.8 units per square mile (57.8 units/km2).[33] The racial makeup of the county was 89.7% white, 4.3% Asian, 3.4% black or African American, 0.1% American Indian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.1% of the population.[32] In terms of ancestry, 34.2% wereGerman, 16.3% wereIrish, 14.0% wereEnglish, 8.1% wereItalian, and 5.7% wereAmerican.[34]
Of the 62,760 households, 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 23.6% were non-families, and 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.16. The median age was 37.4 years.[32]
The median income for a household in the county was $87,908 and the median income for a family was $101,698. Males had a median income of $70,949 versus $48,913 for females. The per capita income for the county was $40,682. About 3.4% of families and 4.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.[35]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 109,989 people, 39,674 households, and 30,668 families living in the county. Thepopulation density is 249 people per square mile (96 people/km2). There were 42,374 housing units at an average density of 96 units per square mile (37 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.25%White, 2.52%Black orAfrican American, 0.14%Native American, 1.54%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.38% fromother races, and 1.14% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.01% of the population. 26.8% were ofGerman, 11.7%Irish, 11.3%English, 10.7%American and 6.9%Italian ancestry according to2000 census.
There were 39,674 households, out of which 40.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.70% weremarried couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.70% were non-families. 18.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $67,258, and the median income for a family was $76,453. Males had a median income of $51,428 versus $33,041 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $31,600. About 2.90% of families and 3.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.40% of those under the age of 18 and 4.80% of those 65 and older.
By 2007, the median income for a household and for a family had risen to $80,526 and $94,099 respectively.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, Delaware County is the 21st fastest growing county in the United States.[citation needed]
Delaware County is considered a Republican stronghold, and has been for most of the party's history. The county is very well-educated, with an estimated 58% of its adult population having bachelor's degrees.[36] It is the most highly educated county in Ohio.[citation needed] The only Democratic presidential candidate to win the county from 1856 to the present day wasWoodrow Wilson in his 1912 and 1916 electoral victories.
However, in 2020,Joe Biden came within single digits of flipping the county, the closest result sinceLyndon Johnson's landslide victory in 1964. The growth of suburban Columbus, which has been growing increasingly Democratic in recent years, is one of the factors driving Delaware County away from its former overwhelming Republican support.[37] In 2024,Kamala Harris won 46% of the vote in the county, the highest percentage for a Democratic presidential nominee since 1964.
In August 2023, the county voted againstOhio Issue 1, which would have changed the threshold required to modify the Ohio Constitution, by a margin of 57.72-42.28.[38] In November 2023, the county voted forIssue 1, which amended the state constitution to guarantee a woman'sreproductive rights, by a margin of 59.21%-40.79%.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 70,448 | 52.61% | 61,657 | 46.04% | 1,801 | 1.34% |
| 2020 | 66,356 | 52.51% | 57,735 | 45.69% | 2,283 | 1.81% |
| 2016 | 57,568 | 54.50% | 40,872 | 38.69% | 7,199 | 6.81% |
| 2012 | 60,194 | 60.86% | 37,292 | 37.71% | 1,413 | 1.43% |
| 2008 | 54,778 | 59.17% | 36,653 | 39.59% | 1,150 | 1.24% |
| 2004 | 53,143 | 66.05% | 27,048 | 33.62% | 265 | 0.33% |
| 2000 | 36,639 | 66.13% | 17,134 | 30.93% | 1,630 | 2.94% |
| 1996 | 24,123 | 58.25% | 13,463 | 32.51% | 3,829 | 9.25% |
| 1992 | 18,225 | 49.43% | 9,263 | 25.12% | 9,385 | 25.45% |
| 1988 | 20,693 | 72.61% | 7,590 | 26.63% | 215 | 0.75% |
| 1984 | 19,050 | 76.23% | 5,773 | 23.10% | 166 | 0.66% |
| 1980 | 14,740 | 64.48% | 6,417 | 28.07% | 1,704 | 7.45% |
| 1976 | 12,285 | 61.88% | 7,058 | 35.55% | 510 | 2.57% |
| 1972 | 12,950 | 72.40% | 4,452 | 24.89% | 484 | 2.71% |
| 1968 | 9,029 | 57.72% | 4,056 | 25.93% | 2,559 | 16.36% |
| 1964 | 8,395 | 50.96% | 8,080 | 49.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 11,391 | 68.11% | 5,334 | 31.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 10,739 | 72.88% | 3,997 | 27.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 10,682 | 71.59% | 4,239 | 28.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 8,089 | 64.68% | 4,371 | 34.95% | 46 | 0.37% |
| 1944 | 9,186 | 66.78% | 4,569 | 33.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 9,570 | 62.81% | 5,666 | 37.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 7,364 | 50.06% | 7,045 | 47.90% | 300 | 2.04% |
| 1932 | 6,833 | 51.38% | 6,196 | 46.59% | 271 | 2.04% |
| 1928 | 8,049 | 67.75% | 3,720 | 31.31% | 111 | 0.93% |
| 1924 | 6,731 | 60.41% | 3,537 | 31.74% | 874 | 7.84% |
| 1920 | 7,700 | 59.21% | 5,241 | 40.30% | 63 | 0.48% |
| 1916 | 3,461 | 46.97% | 3,754 | 50.95% | 153 | 2.08% |
| 1912 | 2,584 | 35.32% | 2,934 | 40.10% | 1,798 | 24.58% |
| 1908 | 4,007 | 52.77% | 3,330 | 43.86% | 256 | 3.37% |
| 1904 | 4,163 | 58.82% | 2,607 | 36.83% | 308 | 4.35% |
| 1900 | 3,765 | 51.40% | 3,337 | 45.56% | 223 | 3.04% |
| 1896 | 3,789 | 50.39% | 3,612 | 48.04% | 118 | 1.57% |
| 1892 | 3,267 | 49.16% | 2,710 | 40.78% | 668 | 10.05% |
| 1888 | 3,432 | 49.66% | 3,004 | 43.47% | 475 | 6.87% |
| 1884 | 3,513 | 50.55% | 3,078 | 44.29% | 359 | 5.17% |
| 1880 | 3,508 | 52.90% | 2,968 | 44.75% | 156 | 2.35% |
| 1876 | 3,237 | 52.22% | 2,809 | 45.31% | 153 | 2.47% |
| 1872 | 2,713 | 54.72% | 2,013 | 40.60% | 232 | 4.68% |
| 1868 | 2,976 | 57.84% | 2,169 | 42.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 2,900 | 60.28% | 1,911 | 39.72% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 2,699 | 56.94% | 1,967 | 41.50% | 74 | 1.56% |
| 1856 | 2,367 | 55.75% | 1,649 | 38.84% | 230 | 5.42% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 65,715 | 49.41% | 63,697 | 47.89% | 3,582 | 2.69% |
The following school districts are located in Delaware County.[41]
TheOhio Wesleyan University, located in Delaware, is aliberal arts college and one of theFive Colleges of Ohio.
The area is served by the Delaware Municipal Airport,[45] which serves the southern Delaware County area and the north portion of the Franklin County andColumbus areas. The airport contains a 5,000-foot (1,500 m) runway, flight terminal, lounges, and weather briefing areas. It is home to approximately 80 aircraft and an estimated 40,000 operations take place per year. Several smaller airports are located in the county.
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TheDelaware Gazette, a morning daily founded in 1885, is the dominant local newspaper in Delaware County, while the Sunbury News, a weekly community newspaper, serves eastern Delaware County and residents of theBig Walnut Local School District. Both publications are owned byBrown Publishing Company.
Additional local print publications includeThisWeek Delaware News, which covers the city of Delaware and the villages ofGalena andSunbury; andThisWeek Olentangy Valley News, which covers Powell and the Olentangy Local School District. Both weekly papers are among 21 published byThisWeek Community News, headquartered in southern Delaware County. ThisWeek is owned byGateHouse Media, which also owns theColumbus Dispatch. The Village ofShawnee Hills in southwestern Delaware County is served by a monthly newspaper -The Village Gazette.The Village Gazette is independent.
Other local publications includethe Transcript, the student paper atOhio Wesleyan University.
Delaware is famous forThe Little Brown Jug, an internationally famous harness race which is part of the Triple Crown of harness racing.
The Methodist Theological School in Ohio is the Methodist graduate school seminary located between Delaware and Columbus. It is often referred to as METHESCO.
Additional notable places include:
Notable people who have lived in or been associated with the county include:
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Places adjacent to Delaware County, Ohio | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofDelaware County, Ohio,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
40°17′N83°01′W / 40.28°N 83.01°W /40.28; -83.01
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