Allen County, Ohio

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Allen County

| state = Ohio

| flag = Flag of Allen County, Ohio.png

| seal = AllenCountyOhioSeal.png

| founded = March 1, 1831

| seat wl = Lima

| largest city = Lima

| area_total_sq_mi = 407

| area_land_sq_mi = 402

| area_water_sq_mi = 4.4

| area percentage = 1.1%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 102206 {{decrease}}

| pop_est_as_of = 2024

| population_est =

| density_sq_mi = 250

| time zone = Eastern

| web = https://allencountyohio.com/

| named for = John Allen

| ex image = Lima-ohio-courthouse.jpg

| ex image cap = Allen County Courthouse in Lima

| district = 4th

}}

Allen County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. Its county seat and largest city is Lima.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }} The county was created in 1820 and organized in 1831.{{cite web|url=http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/OH_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|title=Ohio: Individual County Chronologies|work=Ohio Atlas of Historical County Boundaries|publisher=The Newberry Library|date=2007|access-date=February 12, 2015|archive-date=April 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406154847/http://publications.newberry.org/ahcbp/documents/OH_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm|url-status=dead}} The county is named in honor of Colonel John Allen, who was killed leading his men at the Battle of Frenchtown during the War of 1812.{{efn|It has been claimed the county was named for Revolutionary War soldier Ethan Allen,{{cite book | last = Wood | first = Helen Winemiller | title = The Naming of Allen County: The Story of Colonel John Allen in the War of 1812 | publisher = Longmeier Printing & Advertising | year = 1975 | location = Lima, Ohio }} but the weight of the evidence in favor of John Allen led the General Assembly to declare in 1976 that the county was named for him.Resolution of 111th Ohio General Assembly designating John Allen as the person for which Allen County was named.}}

Allen County comprises the Lima metropolitan statistical area, and as of the 2020 census, the population was 102,206.[https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 census] Allen County also comprises the entirety of the Lima, OH media market.

History

File:Reorganization-of-1848.png

Under the terms of the Treaty of Greenville signed in 1795, northwestern Ohio was reserved for Native Americans. Thus the area now comprising Allen County was off-limits to European settlement until the Treaty of Maumee Rapids in 1817.{{cite book

| last = Harrison

| first = R. H.

| title = Atlas of Allen County, Ohio, from Records and Original Surveys

| publisher = R.H. Harrison

| year = 1880

| location = Philadelphia

| pages = 20}} Under the terms of this treaty, the Shawnee tribe was assigned reservations at Wapakonetta and at their "Hog Creek" settlement along the Ottawa River which comprised most of what is the present-day Shawnee Township. The latter treaty opened the way for the Ohio Legislature on March 1, 1820, to create fourteen counties, including Allen, which was defined as Ranges 5 through 8 east and Towns 3 through 6 south.

The first permanent settlement within Allen County's present day bounds took place in 1824, when Christopher S. Wood and his family settled in section 7 of Bath Township.{{cite book

| title = History of Allen County, Ohio

| publisher = Warner, Beers & Company

| year = 1885

| location = Chicago

| pages = 417–418}} The organization of Bath Township predates that of Allen County, with its first township meeting held on March 2, 1829.{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} On February 12, 1829, an act of the legislature set aside land for a "county town".{{cite book

| last = Knapp

| first = H. S.

| title = History of Allen County in Historical Atlas of Allen County, Ohio

| publisher = H.H. Hardesty & Co.

| year = 1875

| location = Chicago

| pages = 19}} Wood was appointed commissioner to determine the location of this "seat of justice" for Allen County. This was done on March 3, 1831, with Wood appointed as Town Director. He laid out plots of land to be sold in section 31 of Bath Township,{{cite book

| last = Harrison

| first = R. H.

| title = Atlas of Allen County, Ohio, from Records and Original Surveys

| publisher = R.H. Harrison

| year = 1880

| location = Philadelphia

| pages = 33 1/4}} and the plat was filed April 20, 1831, creating what was the beginning of the city of Lima.

Allen County organization's dates from the first meeting of the county commissioners, held on June 6, 1831. Present at this meeting were Commissioners James Daniels, John G. Wood, and Samuel Stewart. Also present was William G. Wood, county auditor; Adam White, county treasurer; and Henry Lippincott, sheriff.{{cite book

| last = Knapp

| first = H. S.

| title = History of Allen County in Historical Atlas of Allen County, Ohio

| publisher = H.H. Hardesty & Co.

| year = 1875

| location = Chicago

| pages = 15}}

The first court of justice was held in August 1831, and it is believed the assembly of men, in informal session, selected the name for the seat of justice by drawing names from a hat.{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} The meeting was held at the cabin of James Daniels, which was on the bank of the Ottawa River near the current location of Market Street. Patrick G. Goode of Montgomery County, special prosecuting attorney at that session, is given credit{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} for having offered up the name of "Lima" (capital of Peru and source of the quinine used to treat the malaria prevalent in the area of the Great Black Swamp). At the County Commission session on June 6, 1831, the formation of a second township, Jackson, was approved.

In 1832 the Shawnees, including those living in the Hog Creek reservation (present day Shawnee Township), were removed to eastern Kansas. They received payment of $30 000 in fifteen annual installments for their lands which had an estimated value of over $200 000 at that time.{{cite book

| last = Harrison

| first = R. H.

| title = Atlas of Allen County, Ohio, from Records and Original Surveys

| publisher = R.H. Harrison

| year = 1880

| location = Philadelphia

| pages = 19}} They arrived at their new home with few provisions and immediately suffered an epidemic of cholera.

Lima was established as a village in 1841, and the town of Lima was organized March 29, 1842. Henry DeVilliers Williams was elected the first mayor and Amos Clutter was elected the first town marshal.{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}}

In 1848, Allen County's boundaries changed with a reorganization that created Auglaize County, Ohio, from the southern half of the original county. Town 2S, Range 7E (Monroe Twp.); Town 2S, Range 8E (Richland Twp.); the southern half of Town 2S, Range 5E, and the southern half of Town 2S, Range 6E (Sugar Creek Twp.) were transferred from Putnam County to Allen County. Parts of Van Wert and Mercer Counties were also transferred to Allen to form Spencer Township and part of Marion Township. In May 1853, Allen and Putnam Counties agreed on a cash settlement for Putnam's loss.{{cite book

| title = History of Allen County, Ohio

| publisher = Warner, Beers & Company

| year = 1885

| location = Chicago

| pages = 280–281}}

There were several practical implications of these changes to the boundaries of Allen County. Lima, the county seat, became near the county's center, rather than in the northern quarter. The county's western part gained a significant stretch of the Miami and Erie Canal, which was completed in 1845. The reorganization also brought the towns of Spencerville, laid out in 1844 on the canal,{{cite book

| last = Harrison

| first = R. H.

| title = Atlas of Allen County, Ohio, from Records and Original Surveys

| publisher = R.H. Harrison

| year = 1880

| location = Philadelphia

| pages = 30}} and Bluffton within the bounds of the county.

In 1885, oil was discovered in Lima. This began a boom in Allen County which lasted until after 1910.

=Allen County Fair=

One of Allen County's notable annual events is its County Fair. Run every August in Lima since 1851, the Fair is among Western Ohio's foremost agricultural showcasing events. In 2005, there were over 220,000 visitors and almost 3,000 exhibitors, making it the largest in the state.

The fair attracted many nationally known performers during the 1980s and 1990s, and combined with significant renovations to the county show grounds, these factors led to a marked increase in attendance and notoriety over the past two decades.{{cite web| url= http://www.allencountyfair.org/ |title = Allen County Fair |access-date=April 5, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070402045704/http://www.allencountyfair.org/| archive-date= April 2, 2007 | url-status= live}}

Geography

Image:Allentownships.PNG

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|407|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|402|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.4|sqmi}} (1.1%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_39.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 7, 2015 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504223453/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_39.txt |archive-date=May 4, 2014 }}

=Adjacent counties=

Putnam County (north)
Hancock County (northeast)
Hardin County (east)
Auglaize County (south)
Van Wert County (west)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1830= 578

|1840= 9079

|1850= 12109

|1860= 19185

|1870= 23623

|1880= 31314

|1890= 40644

|1900= 47976

|1910= 56580

|1920= 68223

|1930= 69419

|1940= 73303

|1950= 88183

|1960= 103691

|1970= 111144

|1980= 112241

|1990= 109755

|2000= 108743

|2010= 106331

|2020= 102206

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref={{cite web|title= QuickFacts - Allen County, Ohio|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/allencountyohio/PST045219 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 8, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2010-2019/counties/totals/|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=March 26, 2020}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 7, 2015 }}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=February 7, 2015}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/oh190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=February 7, 2015}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=February 7, 2015}} 2020 [https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 census]

}}

=2000 census=

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 108,473 people, 40,646 households, and 28,208 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|268|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 44,245 housing units at an average density of {{convert|109|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 84.95% White, 12.19% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. 1.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.8% were of German, 14.2% American, 8.8% Irish, and 6.6% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 40,646 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,048, and the median income for a family was $44,723. Males had a median income of $35,546 versus $23,537 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,511. About 9.60% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

=2010 census=

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 106,331 people, 40,619 households, and 26,982 families living in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39003

|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data

|access-date=December 27, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213021745/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US39003

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|264.2|PD/sqmi}}. There were 44,999 housing units at an average density of {{convert|111.8|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39003

|access-date=December 27, 2015

|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213184314/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US39003

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup of the county was 83.8% white, 11.9% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.8% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 34.7% were German, 12.6% were Irish, 9.7% were American, and 7.1% were English.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39003

|title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=December 27, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213021842/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US39003

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 40,619 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.6% were non-families, and 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 38.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,632 and the median income for a family was $55,549. Males had a median income of $43,277 versus $31,148 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,713. About 12.0% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39003

|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=December 27, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023752/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US39003

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Politics

Although strongly Democratic up to World War I, when the only Democrat to lose the county was Alton B. Parker in 1904, Allen County has since become a very solid Republican county. Along with Delaware, Fulton, Hancock and Union, it was one of five Ohio counties to remain loyal to Barry Goldwater in 1964, and the last Democrat to carry the county was Franklin Roosevelt in his 1936 landslide.Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 274-279 {{ISBN|0786422173}}

{{PresHead|place=Allen County, Ohio|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 1, 2018}}}}

{{U.S. SenHead|place=Allen County, Ohio|Seat=1|source={{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/ohio-senate-results}}}}