Huron County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,565. Its county seat is Norwalk. The county was created in 1809 and later organized in 1815. Huron County is included in the Norwalk, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area.

History

Huron County was named in honor of the Huron Indians (more correctly called the Wendat, or their successor people "Wyandot"), an Iroquoian-speaking tribe who occupied large areas in the Great Lakes region. The word "Huron" may be French, although this origin is disputed.

In the late 18th century, this area was in the U.S. Northwest Territory, part of the Connecticut Western Reserve in a sub-region called the Firelands. Connecticut had originally claimed the land as part of its original colony, then afterward wanted to use it to grant land to veterans in lieu of cash payment for their service in the war. In 1795, the Connecticut Land Company purchased this land for resale and development. Later, it was solely administered by the "Fire Land Company". Many of the townships in Huron County are named for places in Connecticut.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.7%) is water.

Adjacent counties

  • Erie County (north)
  • Lorain County (east)
  • Ashland County (southeast)
  • Richland County (south)
  • Crawford County (southwest)
  • Seneca County (west)
  • Sandusky County (northwest)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 58,565 and a median age of 41.0 years. The age distribution included 23.5% of residents under the age of 18 and 18.4% aged 65 or older, with 97.0 males per 100 females overall and 94.4 males per 100 females age 18 and over.

As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 89.5% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.5% from some other race, and 6.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.0% of the population.

As of the 2020 census, 48.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 51.4% lived in rural areas.

As of the 2020 census, there were 23,406 households in the county, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.3% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

!Pop 1990

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020

!% 1980

!% 1990

!% 2000

!% 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020

|-

|White alone (NH)

|53,191

|54,390

|56,057

|54,649

|style='background: #ffffe6; |51,242

|97.41%

|96.71%

|94.23%

|91.65%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |87.50%

|-

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|571

|589

|557

|560

|style='background: #ffffe6; |562

|1.05%

|1.05%

|0.94%

|0.94%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.96%

|-

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|43

|84

|96

|116

|style='background: #ffffe6; |139

|0.08%

|0.15%

|0.16%

|0.19%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.24%

|-

|Asian alone (NH)

|94

|148

|149

|170

|style='background: #ffffe6; |216

|0.17%

|0.26%

|0.25%

|0.29%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37%

|-

|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|x

|x

|4

|10

|style='background: #ffffe6; |12

|x

|x

|0.01%

|0.02%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02%

|-

|Other race alone (NH)

|28

|23

|38

|22

|style='background: #ffffe6; |106

|0.05%

|0.04%

|0.06%

|0.04%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.18%

|-

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|x

|x

|469

|766

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,204

|x

|x

|0.79%

|1.28%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.76%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|681

|1,006

|2,117

|3,333

|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,084

|1.25%

|1.79%

|3.56%

|5.59%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.97%

|-

|Total

|54,608

|56,240

|59,487

|59,626

|style='background: #ffffe6; |58,565

|100.00%

|100.00%

|100.00%

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

|}

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 59,626 people, 22,820 households, and 16,141 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 25,196 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.9% white, 1.0% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.6% of the population.

Of the 22,820 households, 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.3% were non-families, and 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 38.4 years.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 59,487 people, 22,307 households, and 16,217 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 23,594 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.98% White, 0.97% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 3.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,307 households, out of which 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 23.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.30% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,558, and the median income for a family was $46,911. Males had a median income of $35,760 versus $22,785 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,133. About 6.50% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.00% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Huron County has almost always been a Republican stronghold. However, in the election of 1996, Bill Clinton narrowly carried the county by a margin of 0.5%.

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==Government==<!-- This section is linked from Greenwich, Ohio -->

Officials

Commissioner - James R. Morgan Appointed in October 2025 to fulfill Bradley Mesenburg's term he resigned from on September 12, 2025

Commissioner - Harry Brady

Commissioner - Tom Dunlap

Auditor - Roland Tkach

Clerk of Courts - Gina Hartman

Coroner - Jeffery Harwood

Engineer - Lee Tansey

Prosecutor - Joel Sitterly

Recorder - Jan Tkach

Treasurer - Megan Bursley

Sheriff - Todd Corbin

Judge of Court of Common Pleas - James Conway

Court Secretary (non-elected position) - Julie Wise

Education

Infrastructure

Major highways

  • 20px US Route 20
  • 25px US Route 224
  • 25px US Route 250
  • 20px State Route 4
  • 20px State Route 13
  • 20px State Route 18
  • 20px State Route 60
  • 20px State Route 61
  • 20px State Route 99
  • 25px State Route 103
  • 25px State Route 113
  • 25px State Route 162
  • 25px State Route 269
  • 25px State Route 303
  • 25px State Route 547
  • 25px State Route 598
  • 25px State Route 601
  • 25px State Route 603

Communities

thumb|right|250 px|Map of Huron County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels

Cities

  • Bellevue
  • Norwalk (county seat)
  • Willard

Villages

  • Greenwich
  • Milan
  • Monroeville
  • New London
  • North Fairfield
  • Plymouth
  • Wakeman

Townships

  • Bronson
  • Clarksfield
  • Fairfield
  • Fitchville
  • Greenfield
  • Greenwich
  • Hartland
  • Lyme
  • New Haven
  • New London
  • Norwalk
  • Norwich
  • Peru
  • Richmond
  • Ridgefield
  • Ripley
  • Sherman
  • Townsend
  • Wakeman

Census-designated places

  • Celeryville
  • Collins
  • Holiday Lakes
  • New Haven

Unincorporated communities

  • Boughtonville
  • Centerton
  • Clarksfield
  • Delphi
  • East Townsend
  • Fitchville
  • Havana
  • Hunts Corners
  • New Pittsburgh
  • North Monroeville
  • Olena
  • Steuben

Notable people

  • Phillip Johnson, American Architect
  • Laura Owens, American Painter
  • Ezekiel S. Sampson, two-term Republican Congressman from Iowa's 6th congressional district; born in Huron County.
  • Paul Brown, American college and professional football coach; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
  • Lefty Grove, American baseball player, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame

See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Huron County, Ohio

References

Further reading

  • William W. Williams, History of the Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of the Prominent Men and Pioneers. Cleveland, OH: Press of Leader Printing Company, 1879.

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  • Huron County Commissioners
  • Huron County Development Council
  • Huron County Clerk