Hardin County, Ohio | |
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 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofOhio | |
 Ohio's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:40°40′N83°40′W / 40.66°N 83.66°W /40.66; -83.66 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | March 1, 1833 |
| Named after | John Hardin |
| Seat | Kenton |
| Largest city | Kenton |
| Area | |
• Total | 471 sq mi (1,220 km2) |
| • Land | 470 sq mi (1,200 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.52 km2) 0.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 30,696 |
• Estimate (2024)[1] | 30,402 |
| • Density | 64.7/sq mi (25.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | hardincountyohio |
Hardin County is acounty located in the west central portion of theU.S. state ofOhio. As of the2020 census, the population was 30,696.[2] Itscounty seat and largest city isKenton.[3] The county was created in 1820 and later organized in 1833.[4] It isnamed forJohn Hardin, an officer in theAmerican Revolution.[5]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 471 square miles (1,220 km2), of which 470 square miles (1,200 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.1%) is water.[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 22 | — | |
| 1830 | 210 | 854.5% | |
| 1840 | 4,598 | 2,089.5% | |
| 1850 | 8,251 | 79.4% | |
| 1860 | 13,570 | 64.5% | |
| 1870 | 18,714 | 37.9% | |
| 1880 | 27,023 | 44.4% | |
| 1890 | 28,939 | 7.1% | |
| 1900 | 31,187 | 7.8% | |
| 1910 | 30,407 | −2.5% | |
| 1920 | 29,167 | −4.1% | |
| 1930 | 27,635 | −5.3% | |
| 1940 | 27,061 | −2.1% | |
| 1950 | 28,673 | 6.0% | |
| 1960 | 29,633 | 3.3% | |
| 1970 | 30,813 | 4.0% | |
| 1980 | 32,719 | 6.2% | |
| 1990 | 31,111 | −4.9% | |
| 2000 | 31,945 | 2.7% | |
| 2010 | 32,058 | 0.4% | |
| 2020 | 30,696 | −4.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 30,402 | −1.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2020[2] 2024[1] | |||
| 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) | 32,268 | 30,555 | 31,009 | 30,774 | 28,389 | 98.62% | 98.21% | 97.07% | 95.99% | 92.48% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 204 | 232 | 220 | 255 | 256 | 0.62% | 0.75% | 0.69% | 0.80% | 0.83% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 25 | 57 | 74 | 44 | 48 | 0.08% | 0.18% | 0.23% | 0.14% | 0.16% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 60 | 112 | 138 | 180 | 169 | 0.18% | 0.36% | 0.43% | 0.56% | 0.55% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[16] | x[17] | 1 | 3 | 8 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 32 | 10 | 12 | 19 | 69 | 0.10% | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.06% | 0.22% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[18] | x[19] | 243 | 376 | 1,060 | x | x | 0.76% | 1.17% | 3.45% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 130 | 145 | 248 | 407 | 697 | 0.40% | 0.47% | 0.78% | 1.27% | 2.27% |
| Total | 32,719 | 31,111 | 31,945 | 32,058 | 30,696 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 United States census, there were 32,058 people, 11,762 households, and 7,950 families living in the county.[20] The population density was 68.1 inhabitants per square mile (26.3/km2). There were 13,100 housing units at an average density of 27.8 per square mile (10.7/km2).[21] The racial makeup of the county was 96.7% white, 0.8% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population.[20] In terms of ancestry, 33.0% wereGerman, 15.1% wereIrish, 13.2% wereAmerican, and 9.6% wereEnglish.[22]
Of the 11,762 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.4% were non-families, and 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 34.7 years.[20]
The median income for a household in the county was $41,343 and the median income for a family was $55,274. Males had a median income of $41,191 versus $32,313 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,100. About 9.6% of families and 16.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.[23]
At the 2000census,[24] there were 31,945 people, 11,963 households and 8,134 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 68 people per square mile (26 people/km2). There were 12,907 housing units at an average density of 27 units per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.54%White, 0.70%Black orAfrican American, 0.25%Native American, 0.43%Asian, 0.23% fromother races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 96.9% spokeEnglish and 1.4%German as their first language.
There were 11,963 households, of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% weremarried couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.
24.30% of the population were under the age of 18, 15.40% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.
Themedian household income was $34,440 and the median family income was $42,395. Males had a median income of $33,393 compared with $21,695 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,200. About 8.90% of families and 13.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
Hardin County is aRepublican Party stronghold. The last Democrat to win the county wasLyndon B. Johnson in his 1964 landslide. The county is currently represented by Robert McColley in theOhio Senate, and Ty Mathews in theOhio House of Representatives.[25] Federally, the county is drawn into Ohio's 4th Congressional District, represented byJim Jordan.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 9,911 | 76.78% | 2,863 | 22.18% | 134 | 1.04% |
| 2020 | 9,949 | 75.10% | 3,062 | 23.11% | 236 | 1.78% |
| 2016 | 8,717 | 70.56% | 2,920 | 23.64% | 717 | 5.80% |
| 2012 | 7,489 | 60.06% | 4,619 | 37.04% | 362 | 2.90% |
| 2008 | 7,749 | 58.93% | 5,013 | 38.12% | 387 | 2.94% |
| 2004 | 8,441 | 63.03% | 4,891 | 36.52% | 60 | 0.45% |
| 2000 | 7,124 | 59.03% | 4,557 | 37.76% | 387 | 3.21% |
| 1996 | 5,506 | 46.36% | 4,930 | 41.51% | 1,440 | 12.13% |
| 1992 | 5,851 | 44.28% | 4,364 | 33.02% | 3,000 | 22.70% |
| 1988 | 7,291 | 62.82% | 4,145 | 35.71% | 170 | 1.46% |
| 1984 | 8,722 | 69.11% | 3,813 | 30.21% | 85 | 0.67% |
| 1980 | 7,457 | 61.51% | 3,863 | 31.87% | 803 | 6.62% |
| 1976 | 6,076 | 54.86% | 4,650 | 41.99% | 349 | 3.15% |
| 1972 | 8,713 | 69.14% | 3,535 | 28.05% | 354 | 2.81% |
| 1968 | 6,963 | 53.82% | 4,180 | 32.31% | 1,794 | 13.87% |
| 1964 | 5,679 | 43.67% | 7,324 | 56.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 9,042 | 64.41% | 4,996 | 35.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 9,049 | 66.51% | 4,556 | 33.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 9,235 | 64.58% | 5,064 | 35.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 7,441 | 57.38% | 5,474 | 42.21% | 52 | 0.40% |
| 1944 | 8,566 | 62.55% | 5,128 | 37.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 9,192 | 58.40% | 6,547 | 41.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 7,631 | 46.86% | 8,441 | 51.84% | 211 | 1.30% |
| 1932 | 7,215 | 44.86% | 8,717 | 54.20% | 152 | 0.95% |
| 1928 | 8,137 | 60.20% | 5,306 | 39.25% | 74 | 0.55% |
| 1924 | 7,112 | 53.66% | 5,523 | 41.67% | 619 | 4.67% |
| 1920 | 8,071 | 57.64% | 5,817 | 41.54% | 115 | 0.82% |
| 1916 | 4,119 | 48.08% | 4,304 | 50.24% | 144 | 1.68% |
| 1912 | 2,775 | 33.22% | 3,912 | 46.83% | 1,667 | 19.95% |
| 1908 | 4,444 | 50.35% | 4,164 | 47.17% | 219 | 2.48% |
| 1904 | 4,736 | 57.36% | 3,096 | 37.50% | 424 | 5.14% |
| 1900 | 4,389 | 50.07% | 4,190 | 47.80% | 187 | 2.13% |
| 1896 | 4,276 | 49.50% | 4,247 | 49.16% | 116 | 1.34% |
| 1892 | 3,515 | 47.71% | 3,483 | 47.28% | 369 | 5.01% |
| 1888 | 3,611 | 49.54% | 3,339 | 45.81% | 339 | 4.65% |
| 1884 | 3,647 | 51.09% | 3,373 | 47.25% | 119 | 1.67% |
| 1880 | 3,472 | 53.11% | 3,032 | 46.38% | 33 | 0.50% |
| 1876 | 2,830 | 50.98% | 2,702 | 48.68% | 19 | 0.34% |
| 1872 | 2,238 | 53.08% | 1,970 | 46.73% | 8 | 0.19% |
| 1868 | 1,884 | 51.62% | 1,766 | 48.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 1,640 | 52.92% | 1,459 | 47.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 1,432 | 52.72% | 1,198 | 44.11% | 86 | 3.17% |
| 1856 | 1,091 | 53.09% | 882 | 42.92% | 82 | 3.99% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 8,839 | 69.10% | 3,367 | 26.32% | 585 | 4.57% |
Ada Airport (FAALID:0D7) is a privately owned, public-useairport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) northwest of thecentral business district of Ada, a village in Hardin County.
Hardin County Airport (FAALID:I95) is the largest paved facility and is located 3 miles south of Kenton, Ohio on CR 135. The runway is 4,803 feet long at an elevation of 1,030 feet. Maintenance, fuel and storage are available.[28]
Currently, there is a workingArtesian aquifer operating in the county.
Two newspapers, the dailyThe Kenton Times of Kenton and the weeklyThe Ada Herald of Ada, operate in Hardin County.
Radio stations includeWKTN of Kenton andWOHA of Ada, a radio station owned by Holy Family Communications.
WOCB-LP TV48 is a local Christian television station in downtown Kenton covering channels 39.1-39.4.[29]
FromKenton
FromAda
FromAlger
FromDunkirk
Municipalities and communities ofHardin County, Ohio,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Places adjacent to Hardin County, Ohio | |
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| International | |
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