Hocking County, Ohio | |
|---|---|
 Hocking County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Ohio | |
| Coordinates: 39°30′N 82°29′W / 39.50°N 82.48°W / 39.50; -82.48 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Ohio |
| Founded | March 1, 1818[1] |
| Named after | Hocking River, perhaps from the Lenape language for "bottle river" |
| Seat | Logan |
| Largest city | Logan |
| Area | |
• Total | 424 sq mi (1,100 km2) |
| • Land | 421 sq mi (1,090 km2) |
| • Water | 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) 0.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 28,050  |
| • Density | 66/sq mi (25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www.co.hocking.oh.us |
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 previously included in 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.
Geography
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
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
- Perry County (northeast)
- Athens County (southeast)
- Vinton County (south)
- Ross County (southwest)
- Pickaway County (west)
- Fairfield County (northwest)
National protected area
- Wayne National Forest (part)
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 2,130 | — | |
| 1830 | 4,008 | 88.2% | |
| 1840 | 9,741 | 143.0% | |
| 1850 | 14,119 | 44.9% | |
| 1860 | 17,057 | 20.8% | |
| 1870 | 17,925 | 5.1% | |
| 1880 | 21,126 | 17.9% | |
| 1890 | 22,658 | 7.3% | |
| 1900 | 24,398 | 7.7% | |
| 1910 | 23,650 | −3.1% | |
| 1920 | 23,291 | −1.5% | |
| 1930 | 20,407 | −12.4% | |
| 1940 | 21,504 | 5.4% | |
| 1950 | 19,520 | −9.2% | |
| 1960 | 20,168 | 3.3% | |
| 1970 | 20,322 | 0.8% | |
| 1980 | 24,304 | 19.6% | |
| 1990 | 25,533 | 5.1% | |
| 2000 | 28,241 | 10.6% | |
| 2010 | 29,380 | 4.0% | |
| 2020 | 28,050 | −4.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2020[2] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 28,050. The median age was 43.6 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.3 males age 18 and over.[12][13]
The racial makeup of the county was 94.8% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.8% of the population.[13]
29.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 70.6% lived in rural areas.[14]
There were 11,429 households in the county, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.6% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 12,987 housing units, of which 12.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.1% were owner-occupied and 26.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.8%.[12]
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[15] | Pop 1990[16] | Pop 2000[17] | Pop 2010[18] | Pop 2020[19] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 24,026 | 25,118 | 27,439 | 28,509 | 26,502 | 98.86% | 98.37% | 97.16% | 97.04% | 94.48% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 117 | 234 | 257 | 215 | 139 | 0.48% | 0.92% | 0.91% | 0.73% | 0.50% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 13 | 55 | 78 | 88 | 45 | 0.05% | 0.22% | 0.28% | 0.30% | 0.16% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 38 | 24 | 22 | 47 | 71 | 0.16% | 0.09% | 0.08% | 0.16% | 0.25% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [20] | x [21] | 0 | 3 | 0 | x | x | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 24 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 53 | 0.10% | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.19% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [22] | x [23] | 306 | 305 | 1,008 | x | x | 1.08% | 1.04% | 3.59% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 86 | 93 | 124 | 198 | 232 | 0.35% | 0.36% | 0.44% | 0.67% | 0.83% |
| Total | 24,304 | 25,533 | 28,241 | 29,380 | 28,050 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 29,380 people, 11,369 households, and 7,948 families living in the county.[24] 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).[25] 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.[24] In terms of ancestry, 25.3% were German, 15.0% were American, 14.1% were Irish, and 9.0% were English.[26]
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.[24]
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.[27]
2000 census
As of the census[28] 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.
Politics
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.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | % | № | % | № | % | |
| 2024 | 9,679 | 71.63% | 3,704 | 27.41% | 129 | 0.95% |
| 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% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| № | % | № | % | № | % | |
| 2024 | 8,599 | 64.67% | 4,125 | 31.02% | 572 | 4.30% |
Government
Hocking County Officials
| Office | Officeholder | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Hocking County Commissioner | Michael Linton | Republican |
| Hocking County Commissioner | Jason Anthony Donofrio | Republican |
| Hocking County Commissioner | Andrew Davidson | Republican |
| Auditor | Christopher Donald Robers | Republican |
| Clerk of Courts | Rhonda Lynn Wykle | Democratic |
| Coroner | David Cummin | Republican |
| Engineer | Douglas Dillon | Democratic |
| Prosecutor | Jennifer Graham | Republican |
| Recorder | Teresa Salizzoni | Republican |
| Sheriff | Lanny North | Republican |
| Treasurer | Blaine Davidson | Republican |
Communities
City
- Logan (county seat)
Villages
Townships
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
See also
References
- ^ "Ohio County Profiles: Hocking County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
- ^ a b 2020 census
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ History of Hocking Valley, Ohio. Inter-State Publishing Co. 1883. pp. 831.
- ^ "Hocking County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved April 28, 2007.[dead link]
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ^ "State of Ohio GIS Databases". Archived from the original on August 21, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Ohio- Table 59 - Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980 AND Table 58 - Race by Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 49-67 and 27-47.
- ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Ohio: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 21-95.
- ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Hocking County, Ohio". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hocking County, Ohio". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hocking County, Ohio". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Hocking County Election Results". Hocking County Board of Elections. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
- ^ "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)". Commonwealth of Texas by county. November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
External links
- Hocking County government's website
