Fayette County, Ohio | |
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 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOhio | |
| Coordinates:39°34′N83°27′W / 39.56°N 83.45°W /39.56; -83.45 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | March 1, 1810[1] |
| Named after | Marquis de Lafayette |
| Seat | Washington Court House |
| Largest city | Washington Court House |
| Area | |
• Total | 407 sq mi (1,050 km2) |
| • Land | 406 sq mi (1,050 km2) |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2) 0.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 28,951 |
| • Density | 71.3/sq mi (27.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 2nd,15th |
| Website | www |
Fayette County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofOhio. As of the2020 census, the population was 28,951.[2] Itscounty seat and largest city isWashington Court House.[3] The county wasnamed for theMarquis de Lafayette,[4] a Frenchman who was an officer in the American Army in theRevolution, when established on March 1, 1810. Fayette County comprises theWashington Court House, OHMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in theColumbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH Combined Statistical Area. Recently, onApril 2, 2025, it was one of a fewcounties with minor damage from an EF-1tornado in southern Ohio. The total costs of the damage have yet to be determined.
Fayette County was formed on March 1, 1810, from portions of Highland and Ross Counties. It was named afterMarie-Joseph Motier, Marquis de La Fayette, a French general and politician who took the side of the Colonials during the American Revolutionary War and who played an important role in the French Revolution.[5]
Tri-County Triangle Trail - This trail goes betweenWashington Court House andChillicothe.[6]
Clinton-Fayette Friendship Trail - This trail goes between Melvin to Borum Road and starts back at Bush Road to Jamison Road.[citation needed]
Xenia-Jamestown Connector - Opened in 2022, this trail allows travel fromXenia toOcta. This trail is 18.5 miles (29.8 km) long.[7][8]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 407 square miles (1,050 km2), of which 406 square miles (1,050 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.2%) is water.[9]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 1,854 | — | |
| 1820 | 6,316 | 240.7% | |
| 1830 | 8,182 | 29.5% | |
| 1840 | 10,984 | 34.2% | |
| 1850 | 12,726 | 15.9% | |
| 1860 | 15,935 | 25.2% | |
| 1870 | 17,170 | 7.8% | |
| 1880 | 20,364 | 18.6% | |
| 1890 | 22,309 | 9.6% | |
| 1900 | 21,725 | −2.6% | |
| 1910 | 21,744 | 0.1% | |
| 1920 | 21,518 | −1.0% | |
| 1930 | 20,755 | −3.5% | |
| 1940 | 21,385 | 3.0% | |
| 1950 | 22,554 | 5.5% | |
| 1960 | 24,775 | 9.8% | |
| 1970 | 25,461 | 2.8% | |
| 1980 | 27,467 | 7.9% | |
| 1990 | 27,466 | 0.0% | |
| 2000 | 28,433 | 3.5% | |
| 2010 | 29,030 | 2.1% | |
| 2020 | 28,951 | −0.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2020[14] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 28,951. The median age was 41.5 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.5 males age 18 and over.[15][16]
The racial makeup of the county was 91.6%White, 1.9%Black or African American, 0.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 4.8% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.4% of the population.[16]
51.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 48.1% lived in rural areas.[17]
There were 11,752 households in the county, of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.0% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 12,663 housing units, of which 7.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.8% were owner-occupied and 37.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%.[15]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[18] | Pop 1990[19] | Pop 2000[20] | Pop 2010[21] | Pop 2020[22] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 26,519 | 26,544 | 27,022 | 27,227 | 26,260 | 96.55% | 96.64% | 95.04% | 93.79% | 90.70% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 718 | 655 | 568 | 569 | 521 | 2.61% | 2.38% | 2.00% | 1.96% | 1.80% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 20 | 49 | 41 | 59 | 43 | 0.07% | 0.18% | 0.14% | 0.20% | 0.15% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 50 | 98 | 130 | 151 | 171 | 0.18% | 0.36% | 0.46% | 0.52% | 0.59% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[23] | x[24] | 2 | 8 | 11 | x | x | 0.01% | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 24 | 31 | 17 | 32 | 88 | 0.09% | 0.11% | 0.06% | 0.11% | 0.30% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[25] | x[26] | 301 | 464 | 1,176 | x | x | 1.06% | 1.60% | 4.06% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 136 | 89 | 352 | 520 | 681 | 0.50% | 0.32% | 1.24% | 1.79% | 2.35% |
| Total | 27,467 | 27,466 | 28,433 | 29,030 | 28,951 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of thecensus[27] of 2010, there were 29,030 people, 11,436 households, and 7,834 families living in the county. The population density was 71.4 inhabitants per square mile (27.6/km2). There were 12,693 housing units at an average density of 31.2 units per square mile (12.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.63%White, 2.02%Black orAfrican American, 0.23%Native American, 0.54%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.80% fromother races, and 1.74% from two or more races. 1.79% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 11,436 households, out of which 32.53% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.05% weremarried couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.34% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.67% under the age of 18, 7.88% from 18 to 24, 24.89% from 25 to 44, 27.59% from 45 to 64, and 14.97% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.4 years. For every 100 females there were 96.69 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.56 males.
As of 2013[update], the median income for a household in the county was $37,619, and the median income for a family was $45,108. Males had a median income of $30,516 versus $20,223 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $20,603. About 16.1% of families and 20.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.4% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Fayette County is a stronghold of the Republican party in presidential elections; it has voted Democratic only four times since 1856.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 9,706 | 76.94% | 2,773 | 21.98% | 136 | 1.08% |
| 2020 | 9,473 | 75.03% | 2,975 | 23.56% | 178 | 1.41% |
| 2016 | 7,995 | 71.18% | 2,739 | 24.39% | 498 | 4.43% |
| 2012 | 6,620 | 59.97% | 4,249 | 38.49% | 169 | 1.53% |
| 2008 | 7,102 | 60.61% | 4,401 | 37.56% | 215 | 1.83% |
| 2004 | 7,376 | 62.74% | 4,334 | 36.86% | 47 | 0.40% |
| 2000 | 5,685 | 61.27% | 3,363 | 36.25% | 230 | 2.48% |
| 1996 | 4,831 | 50.29% | 3,665 | 38.15% | 1,111 | 11.56% |
| 1992 | 4,916 | 48.74% | 2,976 | 29.51% | 2,194 | 21.75% |
| 1988 | 6,186 | 69.72% | 2,623 | 29.56% | 64 | 0.72% |
| 1984 | 6,838 | 75.80% | 2,126 | 23.57% | 57 | 0.63% |
| 1980 | 5,827 | 64.26% | 2,810 | 30.99% | 431 | 4.75% |
| 1976 | 5,719 | 55.18% | 4,477 | 43.20% | 168 | 1.62% |
| 1972 | 6,970 | 73.25% | 2,344 | 24.63% | 201 | 2.11% |
| 1968 | 5,339 | 51.99% | 2,966 | 28.88% | 1,964 | 19.13% |
| 1964 | 4,567 | 42.70% | 6,128 | 57.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 7,085 | 64.11% | 3,966 | 35.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 6,696 | 66.00% | 3,449 | 34.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 6,800 | 63.66% | 3,882 | 36.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 4,865 | 57.95% | 3,513 | 41.85% | 17 | 0.20% |
| 1944 | 5,933 | 60.06% | 3,945 | 39.94% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 5,984 | 53.27% | 5,249 | 46.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 4,841 | 45.29% | 5,807 | 54.33% | 41 | 0.38% |
| 1932 | 4,254 | 44.74% | 5,157 | 54.24% | 97 | 1.02% |
| 1928 | 5,251 | 65.23% | 2,752 | 34.19% | 47 | 0.58% |
| 1924 | 4,542 | 60.27% | 2,696 | 35.77% | 298 | 3.95% |
| 1920 | 5,446 | 58.55% | 3,812 | 40.98% | 43 | 0.46% |
| 1916 | 2,772 | 50.53% | 2,616 | 47.69% | 98 | 1.79% |
| 1912 | 2,186 | 39.72% | 2,261 | 41.08% | 1,057 | 19.20% |
| 1908 | 3,343 | 56.84% | 2,451 | 41.68% | 87 | 1.48% |
| 1904 | 3,331 | 62.47% | 1,880 | 35.26% | 121 | 2.27% |
| 1900 | 3,380 | 57.25% | 2,438 | 41.29% | 86 | 1.46% |
| 1896 | 3,357 | 54.54% | 2,748 | 44.65% | 50 | 0.81% |
| 1892 | 2,838 | 55.26% | 1,989 | 38.73% | 309 | 6.02% |
| 1888 | 3,316 | 58.44% | 2,192 | 38.63% | 166 | 2.93% |
| 1884 | 3,171 | 58.87% | 2,160 | 40.10% | 55 | 1.02% |
| 1880 | 2,830 | 56.99% | 2,111 | 42.51% | 25 | 0.50% |
| 1876 | 2,436 | 55.59% | 1,874 | 42.77% | 72 | 1.64% |
| 1872 | 2,140 | 57.88% | 1,545 | 41.79% | 12 | 0.32% |
| 1868 | 1,970 | 58.88% | 1,376 | 41.12% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 1,848 | 59.83% | 1,241 | 40.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 1,458 | 50.59% | 1,121 | 38.90% | 303 | 10.51% |
| 1856 | 1,209 | 49.11% | 880 | 35.74% | 373 | 15.15% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 8,712 | 70.30% | 3,207 | 25.88% | 474 | 3.82% |
Fayette County has a 3-member Board of County Commissioners that oversee the various County departments, similar to all but 2 of the 88 Ohio counties. As of 2025, Fayette County's elected commissioners are Tony Anderson, Donnie Fleak, and Jim Garland.[30]
Fayette County Airport is ageneral aviation facility owned by the county and located northeast of the city ofWashington Court House.
Places adjacent to Fayette County, Ohio | |
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Municipalities and communities ofFayette County, Ohio,United States | ||
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| Villages | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
