Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Highland County, Ohio, United States, approximately west of Chillicothe and east of Cincinnati. The population was 6,481 at the 2020 census.

History

Hillsboro was platted in 1807, and most likely named for the hills near the original town site. One of the late 19th century's largest reform organizations, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union that went on to play important roles in achieving women's suffrage and prohibition, was founded in Hillsboro in 1873.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Hillsboro is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 50 and 62 and State Routes 73, 124, 138, and 247.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Hillsboro had a population of 6,481. The median age was 41.4 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 81.2 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,834 households in Hillsboro, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 33.0% were married-couple households, 20.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 38.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 5,756 || 88.8%

|-

| Black or African American || 287 || 4.4%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 36 || 0.6%

|-

| Asian || 52 || 0.8%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 4 || 0.1%

|-

| Some other race || 52 || 0.8%

|-

| Two or more races || 294 || 4.5%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 95 || 1.5%

|}

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,605 people, 2,755 households, and 1,612 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 3,181 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 90.0% White, 5.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 2,755 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.5% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 38.7 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 22.4% were from 45 to 64; and 20.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.9% male and 55.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census

Arts and culture

Since 1976 the city hosts the "Festival of the Bells" during the fourth of July weekend.

Hillsboro has a public library, a branch of the Highland County District Library.

Education

thumb|upright|Oak Street Water Tower, constructed 1962

Hillsboro City Schools operates two public elementary schools, one middle school, and Hillsboro High School. Parochial schools in Hillsboro include Hillsboro Christian Academy and St. Mary Catholic Elementary School.

The Central Campus of Southern State Community College is located within the city.

Media

Newspapers

  • The Highland County Press — weekly
  • The Times-Gazette — daily except Sunday and Monday

Radio

  • WLRU-LP - Catholic programming
  • WSRW — country music format

Notable people

  • John J. Ballentine, U.S. Navy admiral
  • Robert N. Baskin, mayor of Salt Lake City (1892 – 1895)
  • Milton Caniff, cartoonist (Terry and the Pirates, Steve Canyon)
  • Joe Crawford, Major League Baseball Player
  • Edwin Hamilton Davis, physician and archaeologist
  • Jonas R. Emrie, U.S. Representative, and postmaster of Hillsboro (1939 - 1941)
  • Hugh Fullerton, sportswriter who exposed the 1919 Black Sox Scandal
  • Drew Hastings, comedian and former mayor of the city
  • Joseph J. McDowell, U.S. Representative
  • Bob McEwen, U.S. Representative (1981 - 1993)
  • William H. McSurely, Illinois state legislator and judge
  • Jacob J. Pugsley, U.S. Representative
  • Moses F. Shinn, Methodist Episcopal Church minister
  • John Armstrong Smith, U.S. Representative (1869 - 1873)
  • Eliza Thompson, temperance advocate who inspired the founding of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
  • Allen Trimble, 8th & 10th Governor of Ohio (1822, 1826 - 1830)
  • Brad Wenstrup, U.S. representative (2013–2025)
  • Kirby White, MLB player
  • Wilbur M. White, U.S. Representative
  • Jimmy Yeary, country singer and songwriter

References

  • City of Hillsboro