Pike County, Ohio | |
|---|---|
 Pike County Courthouse inWaverly. | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOhio | |
 Ohio's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:39°05′N83°04′W / 39.08°N 83.07°W /39.08; -83.07 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | February 1, 1815[1] |
| Named after | Zebulon Pike |
| Seat | Waverly |
| Largest city | Waverly |
| Area | |
• Total | 444 sq mi (1,150 km2) |
| • Land | 440 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
| • Water | 3.7 sq mi (9.6 km2) 0.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 27,088 |
| • Density | 61/sq mi (24/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
Pike County is acounty located in the Appalachian (southern) region of theU.S. state ofOhio. As of the2020 census, the population was 27,088.[2] Itscounty seat isWaverly,[3] and the county isnamed for explorerZebulon Pike.[4]
Pike County was organized on February 1, 1815, from portions of Scioto, Ross, and Adams Counties, and was named in honor ofZebulon Pike, the explorer and soldier who had recently been killed in theWar of 1812.
Pike County was the site of thePike County Massacre where eight members of the Rhoden family were shot and killed the evening of April 21–22, 2016.[5]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 444 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 440 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2) (0.8%) is water.[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 4,253 | — | |
| 1830 | 6,024 | 41.6% | |
| 1840 | 7,626 | 26.6% | |
| 1850 | 10,953 | 43.6% | |
| 1860 | 13,643 | 24.6% | |
| 1870 | 15,447 | 13.2% | |
| 1880 | 17,927 | 16.1% | |
| 1890 | 17,482 | −2.5% | |
| 1900 | 18,172 | 3.9% | |
| 1910 | 15,723 | −13.5% | |
| 1920 | 14,151 | −10.0% | |
| 1930 | 13,876 | −1.9% | |
| 1940 | 16,113 | 16.1% | |
| 1950 | 14,607 | −9.3% | |
| 1960 | 19,380 | 32.7% | |
| 1970 | 19,114 | −1.4% | |
| 1980 | 22,802 | 19.3% | |
| 1990 | 24,249 | 6.3% | |
| 2000 | 27,695 | 14.2% | |
| 2010 | 28,709 | 3.7% | |
| 2020 | 27,088 | −5.6% | |
| 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) | 22,365 | 23,736 | 26,666 | 27,610 | 25,470 | 98.08% | 97.88% | 96.28% | 96.17% | 94.03% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 242 | 327 | 240 | 251 | 190 | 1.06% | 1.35% | 0.87% | 0.87% | 0.70% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 34 | 71 | 196 | 138 | 110 | 0.15% | 0.29% | 0.71% | 0.48% | 0.41% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 35 | 40 | 51 | 55 | 70 | 0.15% | 0.16% | 0.18% | 0.19% | 0.26% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[16] | x[17] | 10 | 3 | 6 | x | x | 0.04% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 17 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 44 | 0.07% | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.16% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[18] | x[19] | 368 | 431 | 979 | x | x | 1.33% | 1.50% | 3.61% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 109 | 74 | 155 | 207 | 219 | 0.48% | 0.31% | 0.56% | 0.72% | 0.81% |
| Total | 22,802 | 24,249 | 27,695 | 28,709 | 27,088 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 United States census, there were 28,709 people, 11,012 households, and 7,743 families living in the county.[20] The population density was 65.2 inhabitants per square mile (25.2/km2). There were 12,481 housing units at an average density of 28.3 units per square mile (10.9 units/km2).[21] The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 0.9% black or African American, 0.5% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.[20] In terms of ancestry, 19.3% wereGerman, 14.8% wereIrish, 12.9% wereEnglish, and 12.5% wereAmerican.[22]
Of the 11,012 households, 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.7% were non-families, and 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 39.2 years.[20]
The median income for a household in the county was $35,912 and the median income for a family was $43,010. Males had a median income of $40,645 versus $27,422 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,494. About 18.0% of families and 23.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.[23]
As of thecensus[24] of 2000, there were 27,695 people, 10,444 households, and 7,665 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 63 people per square mile (24 people/km2). There were 11,602 housing units at an average density of 26 units per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.72%White, 0.89%Black orAfrican American, 0.74%Native American, 0.18%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.07% fromother races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 10,444 households, out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% weremarried couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 22.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.20% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,649, and the median income for a family was $35,934. Males had a median income of $32,379 versus $20,761 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,093. About 15.10% of families and 18.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 23.20% of those under age 18 and 13.60% of those age 65 or over.
The Garnet A. Wilson Public Library serves area communities from its main branch inWaverly, Ohio and from its branches inBeaver,Piketon, and Western Pike County.
In 2005, the library loaned more than 238,000 items to its 20,000 cardholders. Total holding are over 91,000 volumes with over 210 periodical subscriptions.[25]
Pike County has adopted a county flag with an unusual shape, rounded at the fly end. It bears fourteen stars, representing the county's townships, and various industry symbols within a circular emblem, all upon a green field.[26] The flag is through and through except for the emblem.[27]
Pike County used to be very strongly Democratic in presidential elections, being the only county in the state to vote forAdlai Stevenson in1956.Bill Clinton in1996 was the last Democrat to win the county; afterwards,Barack Obama lost the county by only one vote in2012, the closest a Democrat came to winning the county since 1996. In2016, the county took a sharp turn to the right as RepublicanDonald Trump won over 65% of the vote in the county; he went on to win over 70% of the vote in both2020 and2024. Overall, Pike County shifted to the right from 2012 to 2024 by 54 percentage points, representing one of the strongest such rightward shifts for any county in the country.[28]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 9,352 | 76.39% | 2,793 | 22.81% | 97 | 0.79% |
| 2020 | 9,157 | 73.70% | 3,110 | 25.03% | 157 | 1.26% |
| 2016 | 7,902 | 66.12% | 3,539 | 29.61% | 510 | 4.27% |
| 2012 | 5,685 | 49.03% | 5,684 | 49.02% | 227 | 1.96% |
| 2008 | 6,162 | 49.27% | 6,033 | 48.24% | 311 | 2.49% |
| 2004 | 6,520 | 51.84% | 5,989 | 47.62% | 67 | 0.53% |
| 2000 | 5,333 | 50.50% | 4,923 | 46.62% | 304 | 2.88% |
| 1996 | 3,759 | 34.85% | 5,542 | 51.38% | 1,486 | 13.78% |
| 1992 | 4,094 | 35.93% | 5,057 | 44.39% | 2,242 | 19.68% |
| 1988 | 5,611 | 51.39% | 5,191 | 47.54% | 117 | 1.07% |
| 1984 | 6,318 | 55.90% | 4,895 | 43.31% | 89 | 0.79% |
| 1980 | 4,426 | 45.08% | 4,938 | 50.30% | 454 | 4.62% |
| 1976 | 3,729 | 38.95% | 5,734 | 59.89% | 111 | 1.16% |
| 1972 | 5,037 | 57.49% | 3,531 | 40.30% | 193 | 2.20% |
| 1968 | 3,247 | 40.01% | 3,445 | 42.45% | 1,423 | 17.54% |
| 1964 | 2,567 | 32.50% | 5,331 | 67.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,684 | 45.92% | 4,339 | 54.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 3,447 | 47.15% | 3,863 | 52.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 2,982 | 43.37% | 3,893 | 56.63% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 2,639 | 36.85% | 4,516 | 63.06% | 6 | 0.08% |
| 1944 | 3,117 | 43.99% | 3,968 | 56.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 3,165 | 38.94% | 4,962 | 61.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 2,953 | 35.82% | 5,287 | 64.13% | 4 | 0.05% |
| 1932 | 2,743 | 34.69% | 5,107 | 64.58% | 58 | 0.73% |
| 1928 | 3,246 | 54.51% | 2,709 | 45.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 2,569 | 43.87% | 3,185 | 54.39% | 102 | 1.74% |
| 1920 | 3,075 | 52.08% | 2,799 | 47.41% | 30 | 0.51% |
| 1916 | 1,616 | 43.06% | 2,091 | 55.72% | 46 | 1.23% |
| 1912 | 1,184 | 34.45% | 1,691 | 49.20% | 562 | 16.35% |
| 1908 | 1,798 | 45.54% | 2,085 | 52.81% | 65 | 1.65% |
| 1904 | 1,818 | 45.69% | 2,090 | 52.53% | 71 | 1.78% |
| 1900 | 2,342 | 53.98% | 1,960 | 45.17% | 37 | 0.85% |
| 1896 | 2,228 | 50.64% | 2,145 | 48.75% | 27 | 0.61% |
| 1892 | 1,686 | 44.47% | 1,926 | 50.80% | 179 | 4.72% |
| 1888 | 1,769 | 43.90% | 2,162 | 53.65% | 99 | 2.46% |
| 1884 | 1,792 | 43.78% | 2,238 | 54.68% | 63 | 1.54% |
| 1880 | 1,756 | 44.16% | 2,192 | 55.13% | 28 | 0.70% |
| 1876 | 1,465 | 41.14% | 2,096 | 58.86% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1872 | 1,284 | 45.01% | 1,568 | 54.96% | 1 | 0.04% |
| 1868 | 1,155 | 40.08% | 1,727 | 59.92% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 1,048 | 41.24% | 1,493 | 58.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 958 | 38.44% | 1,397 | 56.06% | 137 | 5.50% |
| 1856 | 523 | 25.23% | 1,175 | 56.68% | 375 | 18.09% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 8,264 | 68.62% | 3,364 | 27.93% | 415 | 3.45% |
Places adjacent to Pike County, Ohio | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofPike County, Ohio,United States | ||
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| Villages |  | |
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
39°05′N83°04′W / 39.08°N 83.07°W /39.08; -83.07
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| National | |
| Other | |
