Lorain County () is a county in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio As of the 2020 census, the population was 312,964. Its county seat is Elyria, and its largest city is Lorain. The county was physically established in 1822, becoming judicially independent in 1824. Lorain County is part of the Cleveland, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is home to Oberlin College.
History
Lorain County was established in 1822 from portions of several of its adjacent counties. This county became judicially-independent in 1824. The original proposed name for the county was "Colerain". The final name "Lorain" was chosen by Heman Ely, who had founded and named the city of Elyria. The county's name is based on the former German and now French province of Lorraine.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has an area of , of which is land and (47%) is water. It is Ohio's fourth-largest county by area.
Adjacent counties
- Cuyahoga County (east)
- Medina County (southeast)
- Ashland County (south)
- Huron County (southwest)
- Erie County (west)
Major highways
- 20px Interstate 80 (Ohio Turnpike)
- 20px Interstate 90 (Ohio Turnpike)
- 25px Interstate 480
- 20px U.S. Route 6
- 20px U.S. Route 20
- 20px State Route 2
- 20px State Route 10
- 20px State Route 18
- 20px State Route 57
- 20px State Route 58
- 20px Ohio Route 82
- 20px Ohio Route 83
- 25px State Route 113
- 25px Ohio Route 162
- 25px Ohio Route 252
- 25px Ohio Route 254
- 25px Ohio Route 301
- 25px Ohio Route 303
- 25px Ohio Route 511
- 25px Ohio Route 611