Hocking County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,050.[2] Its county seat is Logan.[3] The county was organized on March 1, 1818, from land given by Athens, Fairfield, and Ross counties.[4] Its name is from the Hocking River, the origins of which are disputed but is said to be a Delaware Indian word meaning "bottle river".[5] Hocking County is included in the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Hocking County
Hocking County Courthouse
Flag of Hocking County
Official seal of Hocking County
Map of Ohio highlighting Hocking County
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Map of the United States highlighting Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°30′N 82°29′W / 39.50°N 82.48°W / 39.50; -82.48
Country United States
State Ohio
FoundedMarch 1, 1818[1]
Named forHocking River, perhaps from the Lenape language for "bottle river"
SeatLogan
Largest cityLogan
Area
 • Total424 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Land421 sq mi (1,090 km2)
 • Water2.3 sq mi (6 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total28,050 Decrease
 • Density66/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.co.hocking.oh.us

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 424 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 421 square miles (1,090 km2) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) (0.5%) is water.[6]

Waterways

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The major waterway of Hocking County is the Hocking River, which flows roughly from WNW to ESE, arising in Fairfield County and flowing from Hocking County into Athens County. This river drains about half the county. To the southwest, much of the rest of the county is drained by Salt Creek, which flows from there into Vinton County. A small part of the southeastern county is drained by Raccoon Creek, which also flows into Vinton County. The easternmost area of the county is within the Monday Creek watershed. A small area in the north of the county is drained by Rush Creek.[7]

Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18202,130
18304,00888.2%
18409,741143.0%
185014,11944.9%
186017,05720.8%
187017,9255.1%
188021,12617.9%
189022,6587.3%
190024,3987.7%
191023,650−3.1%
192023,291−1.5%
193020,407−12.4%
194021,5045.4%
195019,520−9.2%
196020,1683.3%
197020,3220.8%
198024,30419.6%
199025,5335.1%
200028,24110.6%
201029,3804.0%
202028,050−4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2020[2]

2000 census

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As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 28,241 people, 10,843 households, and 7,828 families living in the county. The population density was 67 inhabitants per square mile (26/km2). There were 12,141 housing units at an average density of 29/sq mi (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.32% White, 0.92% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,843 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.50% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,261, and the median income for a family was $40,888. Males had a median income of $31,951 versus $24,123 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,095. About 10.30% of families and 13.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.80% of those under age 18 and 14.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 29,380 people, 11,369 households, and 7,948 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 69.7 inhabitants per square mile (26.9/km2). There were 13,417 housing units at an average density of 31.8 per square mile (12.3/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 97.5% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 25.3% were German, 15.0% were American, 14.1% were Irish, and 9.0% were English.[15]

Of the 11,369 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.1% were non-families, and 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 40.9 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,586 and the median income for a family was $48,796. Males had a median income of $39,219 versus $30,371 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,048. About 12.3% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Politics

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Hocking County has been considered to be a swing county in presidential elections as most were won by close margins. Barack Obama came within 105 votes in 2008 and 128 in 2012; Bill Clinton was the last Democrat to win it, in 1996. However, the margins of victory grew during the Donald Trump administration.

United States presidential election results for Hocking County, Ohio[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 9,737 70.28% 3,880 28.00% 238 1.72%
2016 8,497 65.72% 3,775 29.20% 657 5.08%
2012 6,285 49.22% 6,157 48.22% 326 2.55%
2008 6,364 48.89% 6,259 48.09% 393 3.02%
2004 6,936 52.55% 6,175 46.78% 88 0.67%
2000 5,702 53.01% 4,474 41.60% 580 5.39%
1996 4,017 38.79% 4,646 44.86% 1,693 16.35%
1992 3,761 35.57% 3,935 37.21% 2,878 27.22%
1988 5,426 58.70% 3,706 40.10% 111 1.20%
1984 6,071 64.16% 3,280 34.66% 112 1.18%
1980 4,588 52.02% 3,765 42.69% 466 5.28%
1976 4,114 43.78% 5,126 54.56% 156 1.66%
1972 5,407 63.67% 2,874 33.84% 211 2.48%
1968 3,998 45.94% 3,701 42.53% 1,003 11.53%
1964 2,858 32.44% 5,951 67.56% 0 0.00%
1960 5,262 56.47% 4,057 43.53% 0 0.00%
1956 4,925 59.63% 3,334 40.37% 0 0.00%
1952 4,743 54.64% 3,938 45.36% 0 0.00%
1948 3,733 45.46% 4,462 54.34% 17 0.21%
1944 4,535 54.63% 3,766 45.37% 0 0.00%
1940 5,336 48.40% 5,688 51.60% 0 0.00%
1936 3,960 37.09% 6,580 61.62% 138 1.29%
1932 3,811 40.77% 5,287 56.56% 250 2.67%
1928 5,497 67.92% 2,502 30.92% 94 1.16%
1924 4,086 50.46% 2,854 35.24% 1,158 14.30%
1920 4,335 50.84% 4,082 47.87% 110 1.29%
1916 2,357 43.45% 2,907 53.59% 161 2.97%
1912 1,354 27.02% 2,295 45.79% 1,363 27.19%
1908 2,749 47.72% 2,864 49.71% 148 2.57%
1904 2,979 55.18% 2,304 42.67% 116 2.15%
1900 2,923 49.58% 2,896 49.13% 76 1.29%
1896 2,746 46.00% 3,177 53.22% 47 0.79%
1892 2,034 41.65% 2,522 51.65% 327 6.70%
1888 2,113 43.47% 2,541 52.27% 207 4.26%
1884 1,819 41.66% 2,426 55.57% 121 2.77%
1880 1,830 42.15% 2,422 55.78% 90 2.07%
1876 1,475 39.47% 2,259 60.45% 3 0.08%
1872 1,350 41.69% 1,860 57.44% 28 0.86%
1868 1,369 39.34% 2,111 60.66% 0 0.00%
1864 1,381 42.30% 1,884 57.70% 0 0.00%
1860 1,329 40.93% 1,784 54.94% 134 4.13%
1856 1,092 41.04% 1,454 54.64% 115 4.32%

Government

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Hocking County Officials

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Office Officeholder Party
Hocking County Commissioner Jessica Elizabeth Dicken Republican
Hocking County Commissioner Jason Anthony Donofrio Republican
Hocking County Commissioner Sandra Lee Ogle Democratic
Auditor Christopher Donald Robers Republican
Clerk of Courts Rhonda Lynn Wykle Democratic
Coroner David Cummin Republican
Engineer Douglas Dillon Democratic
Prosecutor Ryan Black Republican
Recorder Sandra Leach Hunt Democratic
Sheriff Lanny North Republican
Treasurer Janie Harris Democratic

Communities

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Map of Hocking County with municipal and township boundaries

City

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Villages

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Townships

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ohio County Profiles: Hocking County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  2. ^ a b 2020 census
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ History of Hocking Valley, Ohio. Inter-State Publishing Co. 1883. pp. 831.
  5. ^ "Hocking County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved April 28, 2007.[dead link]
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  7. ^ "State of Ohio GIS Databases". Archived from the original on August 21, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  10. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  14. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  15. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  16. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
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