Holmes County
County
Official seal of Holmes County
Seal
Map of Ohio highlighting Holmes County
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Map of the United States highlighting Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°34′N 81°56′W / 40.56°N 81.93°W / 40.56; -81.93
Country United States
State Ohio
FoundedJanuary 20, 1824[1]
Named forAndrew Holmes, an officer killed in the War of 1812
SeatMillersburg
Largest villageMillersburg
Area
 • Total424 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Water1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.24%
Population
 (2000)
 • Total38,943
 • Density92/sq mi (36/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Websitewww.holmescounty.com
Amish couple in a horse-drawn buggy in rural Holmes County

Holmes County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 42,336. [1] It was formed in 1824 from portions of Coshocton, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties and organized the following year. The county was named after Andrew Holmes, an officer killed in the War of 1812.[2] Its county seat is Millersburg.Template:GR Holmes County is home to the world's largest population of Amish residents, which draw many visitors to the county, thus making tourism an important sector of the local economy.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 424 square miles (1,098.2 km2). 423 square miles (1,095.6 km2) is land and 1 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.24%) is water.

Adjacent counties

History

Holmes County was formed on January 20, 1824 from portions of Coshocton, Tuscarawas and Wayne Counties. It was named after Andrew Holmes, an officer in the War of 1812. During the Civil War, small-scale riots broke out in ethnic German areas. Holmes County was an isolated localistic areas dominated by Pennsylvania Dutch and some recent German immigrants. It was a Democratic stronghold and few men dared speak out in favor of conscription. Local politicians denounced Lincoln and Congress as despotic, seeing the draft law as a violation of their local autonomy. In June 1863, small scale disturbance broke out; they ended when the Army send in armed units.[3]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18309,135—
184018,08898.0%
185020,45213.1%
186020,5890.7%
187018,177−11.7%
188020,77614.3%
189021,1391.7%
190019,511−7.7%
191017,909−8.2%
192016,965−5.3%
193016,726−1.4%
194017,8766.9%
195018,7604.9%
196021,59115.1%
197023,0246.6%
198029,41627.8%
199032,84911.7%
200038,94318.6%
Amish farmer plowing fields with mules

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 38,943 people, 11,337 households, and 9,194 families residing in the county. The population density was 92 people per square mile (36/km²). There were 12,280 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 99.03% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population. 56.1% spoke English, 20.1% Pennsylvania Dutch, 15.8% German and 7.1% Dutch as their first language.

There were 11,337 households out of which 44.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.50% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.90% were non-families. 16.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.35 and the average family size was 3.82.

In the county, the population was spread out with 35.60% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 17.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,944, and the median income for a family was $40,230. Males had a median income of $28,490 versus $20,602 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,197. About 10.50% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.40% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

Holmes County has a relatively high number of residents who do not speak English at home. According to the 2000 census, almost 36% of the population speak either Pennsylvania German or German at home, and a further 7% speak Dutch. 42.92% of the total population and 50.28% of the children in 5-17 age range uses German/Pennsylvania German or Dutch at home.[4]

Government

Communities

Map of Holmes County, Ohio With Municipal and Township Labels

Villages

Townships

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ohio County Profiles: Holmes County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  2. ^ "Holmes County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved 2007-04-28. [dead link]
  3. ^ Kenneth H. Wheeler, "Local autonomy and civil war draft resistance: Holmes County, Ohio," Civil War History, June 1999, Vol. 45 Issue 2, pp 147-58
  4. ^ http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=39&county_id=75&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r
Places adjacent to Holmes County, Ohio
Municipalities and communities of Holmes County, Ohio, United States
Villages
Map of Ohio highlighting Holmes County
Townships
CDPs
Unincorporated
communities
Footnotes
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Columbus (capital)
Topics
Society
Regions
Metro areas
Largest cities
Counties

40°34′N 81°56′W / 40.56°N 81.93°W / 40.56; -81.93

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