Highland County, Ohio | |
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 Flag .svg) Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOhio | |
 Ohio's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:39°11′N83°36′W / 39.18°N 83.6°W /39.18; -83.6 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | May 1, 1805[1] |
| Named after | hilly topography which divides theLittle Miami andScioto river watersheds |
| Seat | Hillsboro |
| Largest city | Hillsboro |
| Area | |
• Total | 558 sq mi (1,450 km2) |
| • Land | 553 sq mi (1,430 km2) |
| • Water | 4.7 sq mi (12 km2) 0.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 43,317 |
| • Density | 78.3/sq mi (30.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | co |
Highland County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofOhio. As of the2020 census, the population was 43,317.[2] Itscounty seat isHillsboro.[3] The county isnamed for the topography which is hilly and divides the watersheds of theLittle Miami andScioto Rivers.[4] Highland County was created on May 1, 1805, from land taken from Ross, Adams, and Clermont counties.[5]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 558 square miles (1,450 km2), of which 553 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 4.7 square miles (12 km2) (0.8%) is water.[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 5,766 | — | |
| 1820 | 12,308 | 113.5% | |
| 1830 | 16,345 | 32.8% | |
| 1840 | 22,269 | 36.2% | |
| 1850 | 25,781 | 15.8% | |
| 1860 | 27,773 | 7.7% | |
| 1870 | 29,133 | 4.9% | |
| 1880 | 30,281 | 3.9% | |
| 1890 | 29,048 | −4.1% | |
| 1900 | 30,982 | 6.7% | |
| 1910 | 28,711 | −7.3% | |
| 1920 | 27,610 | −3.8% | |
| 1930 | 25,416 | −7.9% | |
| 1940 | 27,099 | 6.6% | |
| 1950 | 28,188 | 4.0% | |
| 1960 | 29,716 | 5.4% | |
| 1970 | 28,996 | −2.4% | |
| 1980 | 33,477 | 15.5% | |
| 1990 | 35,728 | 6.7% | |
| 2000 | 40,875 | 14.4% | |
| 2010 | 43,589 | 6.6% | |
| 2020 | 43,317 | −0.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2020[2] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[11] | Pop 1990[12] | Pop 2000[13] | Pop 2010[14] | Pop 2020[15] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 32,532 | 34,785 | 39,472 | 41,852 | 40,492 | 97.18% | 97.36% | 96.57% | 96.02% | 93.48% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 682 | 685 | 603 | 597 | 518 | 2.04% | 1.92% | 1.48% | 1.37% | 1.20% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 74 | 72 | 88 | 99 | 109 | 0.22% | 0.20% | 0.22% | 0.23% | 0.25% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 64 | 71 | 128 | 99 | 110 | 0.19% | 0.20% | 0.31% | 0.23% | 0.25% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[16] | x[17] | 14 | 1 | 8 | x | x | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 11 | 7 | 26 | 25 | 96 | 0.03% | 0.02% | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.22% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[18] | x[19] | 328 | 597 | 1,560 | x | x | 0.80% | 1.37% | 3.60% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 114 | 108 | 216 | 319 | 424 | 0.34% | 0.30% | 0.53% | 0.73% | 0.98% |
| Total | 33,477 | 35,728 | 40,875 | 43,589 | 43,317 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 United States census, there were 43,589 people, 16,693 households, and 11,819 families residing in the county.[20] The population density was 78.8 inhabitants per square mile (30.4/km2). There were 19,380 housing units at an average density of 35.0 per square mile (13.5/km2).[21] The racial makeup of the county was 96.5% white, 1.4% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.[20] In terms of ancestry, 23.8% wereGerman, 14.9% wereIrish, 14.3% wereAmerican, and 10.7% wereEnglish.[22]
Of the 16,693 households, 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.2% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age was 39.2 years.[20]
The median income for a household in the county was $39,844 and the median income for a family was $48,604. Males had a median income of $38,892 versus $29,167 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,966. About 12.4% of families and 16.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.[23]
As of thecensus[24] of 2010, there were 43,589 people living in Highland County. Thepopulation density is 78.8 people per square mile. The county is made up of 96.4%White, 1.5%Black orAfrican American, 0.3%Native American, 0.3%Asian, 1.5% from two or more races, and 0.8%Hispanic orLatino.
This county is also made up of 6.2% of people under the age of 5, 24.7% of people under the age of 18, and 16.5% of people over the age of 65. The median age is 39.2. The county is also 51% female.
There are 16,963 households in Highland County as of the 2010 census. The average household size is 2.58 persons, while the average family size is 3.04 persons. According to the 2010 census, 41.9% of the houses in Highland County had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.07% of the houses were married couples living together, 11.09% of the houses had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.91% of the houses were non-families. Individuals made up 24.33% of all households, and 11.02% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
According to the census, 81.5% of people over the age of 25 is at least a high school graduate and 11.1% of people over the age of 25 have earned at least a bachelor's degree. The median household income is $39,641 and 17.6% of people live below thepoverty line. Theper capita income of Highland County is $19,557.
Highland County is a Republican stronghold county in presidential elections. The last time it voted for the Democratic presidential candidate was forLyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 16,269 | 81.32% | 3,609 | 18.04% | 127 | 0.63% |
| 2020 | 15,678 | 79.68% | 3,799 | 19.31% | 199 | 1.01% |
| 2016 | 14,020 | 75.43% | 3,773 | 20.30% | 795 | 4.28% |
| 2012 | 11,413 | 63.83% | 6,054 | 33.86% | 412 | 2.30% |
| 2008 | 11,907 | 61.92% | 6,856 | 35.65% | 468 | 2.43% |
| 2004 | 12,211 | 66.07% | 6,194 | 33.52% | 76 | 0.41% |
| 2000 | 9,728 | 62.98% | 5,328 | 34.49% | 391 | 2.53% |
| 1996 | 7,102 | 48.40% | 5,837 | 39.78% | 1,735 | 11.82% |
| 1992 | 7,020 | 46.06% | 4,866 | 31.92% | 3,356 | 22.02% |
| 1988 | 8,776 | 66.60% | 4,278 | 32.46% | 124 | 0.94% |
| 1984 | 9,000 | 69.90% | 3,784 | 29.39% | 91 | 0.71% |
| 1980 | 7,359 | 59.35% | 4,363 | 35.19% | 678 | 5.47% |
| 1976 | 6,853 | 51.41% | 6,327 | 47.46% | 151 | 1.13% |
| 1972 | 8,524 | 69.72% | 3,464 | 28.33% | 238 | 1.95% |
| 1968 | 6,489 | 51.81% | 3,828 | 30.56% | 2,208 | 17.63% |
| 1964 | 5,985 | 45.12% | 7,281 | 54.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 8,948 | 62.26% | 5,423 | 37.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 8,397 | 63.50% | 4,826 | 36.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 8,568 | 62.15% | 5,219 | 37.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 6,849 | 54.62% | 5,675 | 45.26% | 16 | 0.13% |
| 1944 | 7,963 | 59.88% | 5,336 | 40.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 8,530 | 55.21% | 6,921 | 44.79% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 7,392 | 47.84% | 8,011 | 51.85% | 48 | 0.31% |
| 1932 | 6,924 | 48.98% | 7,079 | 50.07% | 134 | 0.95% |
| 1928 | 8,325 | 68.12% | 3,836 | 31.39% | 60 | 0.49% |
| 1924 | 6,845 | 57.16% | 4,583 | 38.27% | 548 | 4.58% |
| 1920 | 7,570 | 57.06% | 5,654 | 42.62% | 43 | 0.32% |
| 1916 | 3,727 | 47.81% | 3,964 | 50.85% | 105 | 1.35% |
| 1912 | 2,757 | 36.96% | 3,314 | 44.43% | 1,388 | 18.61% |
| 1908 | 4,149 | 51.23% | 3,823 | 47.21% | 126 | 1.56% |
| 1904 | 4,205 | 54.00% | 3,321 | 42.65% | 261 | 3.35% |
| 1900 | 4,078 | 49.53% | 3,938 | 47.83% | 218 | 2.65% |
| 1896 | 4,106 | 50.32% | 3,909 | 47.91% | 144 | 1.76% |
| 1892 | 3,496 | 49.14% | 3,153 | 44.32% | 465 | 6.54% |
| 1888 | 3,576 | 48.61% | 3,489 | 47.42% | 292 | 3.97% |
| 1884 | 3,683 | 50.84% | 3,438 | 47.45% | 124 | 1.71% |
| 1880 | 3,648 | 50.91% | 3,490 | 48.71% | 27 | 0.38% |
| 1876 | 3,341 | 50.06% | 3,323 | 49.79% | 10 | 0.15% |
| 1872 | 3,171 | 51.91% | 2,933 | 48.01% | 5 | 0.08% |
| 1868 | 3,038 | 51.60% | 2,850 | 48.40% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 3,120 | 54.61% | 2,593 | 45.39% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 2,409 | 45.34% | 2,272 | 42.76% | 632 | 11.90% |
| 1856 | 1,810 | 37.37% | 2,140 | 44.18% | 894 | 18.46% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 14,884 | 75.45% | 4,152 | 21.05% | 692 | 3.51% |
Highland County is home to five school districts:Greenfield Exempted Village Schools inGreenfield,[27]Hillsboro City Schools inHillsboro,[28]Fairfield Local School District inLeesburg,[29]Bright Local School District inMowrystown,[30] andLynchburg-Clay Local School District inLynchburg.[31]
Additionally, these districts have territory in the county:Eastern Local School District,East Clinton Local School District, andAdams County/Ohio Valley Local School District.[32]
The Highland County District Library[33] is the public library system serving Highland County, Ohio. The main library is in Hillsboro, with four branches located in Greenfield, Leesburg, Lynchburg, and Rocky Fork. The library is a member of the SEO Consortium which allows patrons access to over 6.9 million items owned by member libraries.
There are currently several recreational areas in Highland County. There isRocky Fork State Park[34] which is located 5 miles east ofHillsboro. It provides opportunities to gocamping,fishing,boating,swimming,hunting,putt-putt, anddisc golf amongst other activities.
There is alsoPaint Creek State Park[35] located 13 miles east of Hillsboro.Paint Creek offers many of the same activities asRocky Fork but also offershorse riding,mountain biking, and winter recreational activities.
Fort Hill State Memorial is a memorial built by theHopewell people that is located 10 miles southeast ofHillsboro[36] and is believed to be around 2000 years old.
Fallsville Wildlife Area[37] is located 4 miles north ofHillsboro. It offersfishing,hunting,hiking, and wildlife watching.
Habitat for Humanity of Highland County[38] was established in 2000, and has since built three homes: one on Johnson St. in Hillsboro and two on 2nd St. in Greenfield. Highland County Habitat is a locally run affiliate ofHabitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization. Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.
Highlands Sanctuary is a chain of nature preserves centered in Highland County and owned by an organization of the same name.
Places adjacent to Highland County, Ohio | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofHighland County, Ohio,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
39°11′N83°36′W / 39.18°N 83.60°W /39.18; -83.60
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