Darke County | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOhio | |
 Ohio's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:40°08′N84°37′W / 40.13°N 84.62°W /40.13; -84.62 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | March 1, 1817 |
| Named after | William Darke |
| Seat | Greenville |
| Largest city | Greenville |
| Area | |
• Total | 600 sq mi (2,000 km2) |
| • Land | 598 sq mi (1,550 km2) |
| • Water | 1.7 sq mi (4 km2) 0.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 51,881 |
| • Density | 86/sq mi (33/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | www |
Darke County is acounty in theU.S. state ofOhio. As of the2020 census, the population was 51,881.[1] Itscounty seat and largest city isGreenville.[2] The county was created in 1809 and later organized in 1817.[3] It isnamed forWilliam Darke, an officer in theAmerican Revolutionary War.[4] Darke County comprises the Greenville, OHMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in theDayton-Springfield-Sidney, OHCombined Statistical Area.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 600 square miles (1,600 km2), of which 598 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.3%) is water.[5]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 3,622 | — | |
| 1830 | 6,204 | 71.3% | |
| 1840 | 13,282 | 114.1% | |
| 1850 | 20,276 | 52.7% | |
| 1860 | 26,009 | 28.3% | |
| 1870 | 32,278 | 24.1% | |
| 1880 | 40,496 | 25.5% | |
| 1890 | 42,961 | 6.1% | |
| 1900 | 42,532 | −1.0% | |
| 1910 | 42,933 | 0.9% | |
| 1920 | 42,911 | −0.1% | |
| 1930 | 38,009 | −11.4% | |
| 1940 | 38,831 | 2.2% | |
| 1950 | 41,799 | 7.6% | |
| 1960 | 45,612 | 9.1% | |
| 1970 | 49,141 | 7.7% | |
| 1980 | 55,096 | 12.1% | |
| 1990 | 53,619 | −2.7% | |
| 2000 | 53,309 | −0.6% | |
| 2010 | 52,959 | −0.7% | |
| 2020 | 51,881 | −2.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2020[1] | |||
As of thecensus[10] of 2000, there were 53,309 people, 20,419 households, and 14,905 families living in the county. The population density was 89 inhabitants per square mile (34/km2). There were 21,583 housing units at an average density of 36 units per square mile (14/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.09%White, 0.39%Black orAfrican American, 0.17%Native American, 0.25%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.34% fromother races, and 0.74% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 43.1% were ofGerman, 20.1%American, 8.1%English, 6.8%Irish and 5.8%French ancestry according toCensus 2000.
There were 20,419 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% weremarried couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56, and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,307, and the median income for a family was $45,735. Males had a median income of $32,933 versus $23,339 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,670. About 6.00% of families and 8.00% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 10.10% of those under age 18 and 9.20% of those age 65 or over.
As of the2010 United States Census, there were 52,959 people, 20,929 households, and 14,673 families living in the county.[11] The population density was 88.5 inhabitants per square mile (34.2/km2). There were 22,730 housing units at an average density of 38.0 units per square mile (14.7 units/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 38.9% wereGerman, 11.5% wereAmerican, 10.6% wereIrish, and 9.0% wereEnglish.[13]
Of the 20,929 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.9% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50, and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 40.8 years.[11]
The median income for a household in the county was $44,280, and the median income for a family was $53,454. Males had a median income of $40,402 versus $28,310 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,483. About 7.5% of families and 10.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.[14]
Originally settled by numerous migrants from the South, Darke County supported Democratic presidential candidates prior to 1912. It voted for Republicans only three times from 1856 to 1908. The county was a bellwether from 1912 to 1936.
Starting with the 1940 election, it has become a Republican stronghold in presidential elections.Lyndon B. Johnson was the only Democratic candidate supported by county voters since then.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 22,234 | 82.01% | 4,583 | 16.90% | 295 | 1.09% |
| 2020 | 22,004 | 81.01% | 4,731 | 17.42% | 426 | 1.57% |
| 2016 | 20,012 | 78.17% | 4,470 | 17.46% | 1,119 | 4.37% |
| 2012 | 18,108 | 71.21% | 6,826 | 26.84% | 496 | 1.95% |
| 2008 | 17,290 | 66.92% | 7,964 | 30.82% | 584 | 2.26% |
| 2004 | 18,306 | 69.57% | 7,846 | 29.82% | 161 | 0.61% |
| 2000 | 14,817 | 63.68% | 7,741 | 33.27% | 709 | 3.05% |
| 1996 | 10,798 | 46.88% | 8,871 | 38.52% | 3,363 | 14.60% |
| 1992 | 11,098 | 45.44% | 7,016 | 28.72% | 6,312 | 25.84% |
| 1988 | 14,914 | 67.93% | 6,851 | 31.21% | 189 | 0.86% |
| 1984 | 16,379 | 72.81% | 5,904 | 26.25% | 211 | 0.94% |
| 1980 | 12,773 | 58.17% | 7,635 | 34.77% | 1,550 | 7.06% |
| 1976 | 11,580 | 52.75% | 9,901 | 45.10% | 472 | 2.15% |
| 1972 | 13,862 | 65.71% | 6,534 | 30.97% | 700 | 3.32% |
| 1968 | 10,926 | 53.78% | 7,371 | 36.28% | 2,018 | 9.93% |
| 1964 | 8,581 | 40.83% | 12,433 | 59.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 14,048 | 64.55% | 7,715 | 35.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 13,447 | 65.32% | 7,138 | 34.68% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 13,670 | 64.28% | 7,597 | 35.72% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 8,956 | 50.28% | 8,770 | 49.23% | 87 | 0.49% |
| 1944 | 11,135 | 58.08% | 8,036 | 41.92% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 11,147 | 53.60% | 9,651 | 46.40% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 8,375 | 41.29% | 11,114 | 54.79% | 794 | 3.91% |
| 1932 | 8,284 | 41.65% | 11,122 | 55.92% | 483 | 2.43% |
| 1928 | 11,765 | 66.34% | 5,822 | 32.83% | 147 | 0.83% |
| 1924 | 9,166 | 52.92% | 7,316 | 42.24% | 839 | 4.84% |
| 1920 | 9,552 | 52.59% | 8,459 | 46.58% | 151 | 0.83% |
| 1916 | 4,322 | 39.78% | 6,186 | 56.94% | 357 | 3.29% |
| 1912 | 3,107 | 30.43% | 5,027 | 49.24% | 2,075 | 20.33% |
| 1908 | 4,951 | 42.60% | 6,391 | 54.99% | 281 | 2.42% |
| 1904 | 5,203 | 49.26% | 5,030 | 47.62% | 329 | 3.11% |
| 1900 | 4,834 | 43.79% | 6,003 | 54.38% | 201 | 1.82% |
| 1896 | 4,384 | 41.28% | 6,151 | 57.92% | 84 | 0.79% |
| 1892 | 3,737 | 39.99% | 4,916 | 52.61% | 691 | 7.40% |
| 1888 | 4,267 | 41.84% | 5,495 | 53.88% | 437 | 4.28% |
| 1884 | 4,390 | 44.29% | 5,442 | 54.91% | 79 | 0.80% |
| 1880 | 4,046 | 43.46% | 5,167 | 55.51% | 96 | 1.03% |
| 1876 | 3,577 | 43.38% | 4,667 | 56.60% | 1 | 0.01% |
| 1872 | 3,069 | 52.35% | 2,760 | 47.07% | 34 | 0.58% |
| 1868 | 2,989 | 48.73% | 3,145 | 51.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 2,584 | 48.90% | 2,700 | 51.10% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 2,460 | 49.23% | 2,479 | 49.61% | 58 | 1.16% |
| 1856 | 2,086 | 48.70% | 1,988 | 46.42% | 209 | 4.88% |
Darke County has a three-member Board of County Commissioners who oversee the various county departments, in similar fashion to all but two of the 88 Ohio counties. Darke County's elected commissioners are Mike Rhoades, Mike Stegall, and Matt Aultman.[16]
School districts (this includes any school district with portions of the county, no matter how slight, even if the schools and/or administrative offices are in another county)[17]
Darke County has 25 places listed on theNational Register of Historic Places, including theDarke County Courthouse, Sheriff's House, and Jail, and theVersailles Town Hall and Wayne Township House.
Darke County is home to theEldora Speedway located nearNew Weston, which hosts many big events throughout the year.
Places adjacent to Darke County, Ohio | |
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Municipalities and communities ofDarke County, Ohio,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
