Ottawa County, Ohio
Encyclopedia
Ottawa County is a county located in the state
of Ohio
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,428. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/39123.html Its county seat
is Port Clinton
and is named either for the Ottawa
Indians who lived there, or for an Indian word meaning "trader".
Ottawa County is part of the Toledo
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
, nine vessels of the United States Navy
under Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, decisively defeated six vessels of Great Britain
’s Royal Navy
in the Battle of Lake Erie
near Put-in-Bay. This action was one of the major battles of the war.
, the county has a total area of 585 square miles (1,515 km²).255 square miles (660 km²) of it is land and 330 square miles (855 km²) of it (56.43%) is water.
of 2000, there were 40,985 people, 16,474 households, and 11,729 families residing in the county. The population density
was 161 people per square mile (62/km²). There were 25,532 housing units at an average density of 100 per square mile (39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.56% White
, 0.65% Black
or African American
, 0.21% Native American
, 0.23% Asian
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
, 1.44% from other races
, and 0.87% from two or more races. 3.75% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 16,474 households out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples
living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.30% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,224, and the median income for a family was $51,919. Males had a median income of $39,823 versus $24,727 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $21,973. About 4.20% of families and 5.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.40% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,428. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/39/39123.html Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Port Clinton
Port Clinton, Ohio
Port Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,056 at the 2010 census. The city has been nicknamed the "Walleye Capital of the World."...
and is named either for the Ottawa
Ottawa (tribe)
The Odawa or Ottawa, said to mean "traders," are a Native American and First Nations people. They are one of the Anishinaabeg, related to but distinct from the Ojibwe nation. Their original homelands are located on Manitoulin Island, near the northern shores of Lake Huron, on the Bruce Peninsula in...
Indians who lived there, or for an Indian word meaning "trader".
Ottawa County is part of the Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Toledo metropolitan area
The Toledo Metropolitan Area is a metropolitan area centered in the American city of Toledo, Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 651,429.According to the U.S...
.
History
On September 10, 1813, during the War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, nine vessels of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
under Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, decisively defeated six vessels of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
’s Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in the Battle of Lake Erie
Battle of Lake Erie
The Battle of Lake Erie, sometimes called the Battle of Put-in-Bay, was fought on 10 September 1813, in Lake Erie off the coast of Ohio during the War of 1812. Nine vessels of the United States Navy defeated and captured six vessels of Great Britain's Royal Navy...
near Put-in-Bay. This action was one of the major battles of the war.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 585 square miles (1,515 km²).255 square miles (660 km²) of it is land and 330 square miles (855 km²) of it (56.43%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Across Lake ErieLake ErieLake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
lies Essex County, OntarioEssex County, OntarioEssex County is a county and census division located in Southwestern Ontario and covers an area at the southernmost tip of Canada. The administrative seat is Essex...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(north and east) - Erie CountyErie County, OhioAs of the census of 2000, there were 79,551 people, 31,727 households, and 21,764 families residing in the county. The population density was 312 people per square mile . There were 35,909 housing units at an average density of 141 per square mile...
(southeast) - Sandusky CountySandusky County, OhioSandusky County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,944. Its county seat is Fremont and it is named for a native word meaning "water" ....
(south) - Wood CountyWood County, OhioWood County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 125,488. Its county seat is Bowling Green. The county was named for Captain Eleazer D. Wood, the engineer for General William Henry Harrison's army, who built Fort Meigs in the War of 1812...
(west) - Lucas CountyLucas County, Ohio----...
(northwest)
National protected areas
- Ottawa National Wildlife RefugeOttawa National Wildlife RefugeThe Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1961 to preserve habitat for migrating birds. Staff at the refuge also manage Cedar Point and West Sister Island refuges...
(part) - Perry's Victory and International Peace MemorialPerry's Victory and International Peace MemorialPerry's Victory and International Peace Memorial commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie, near Ohio's South Bass Island, in which Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry led a fleet to victory in one of the most significant naval battles to occur in the War of 1812...
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 40,985 people, 16,474 households, and 11,729 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 161 people per square mile (62/km²). There were 25,532 housing units at an average density of 100 per square mile (39/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.56% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.65% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.21% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.23% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.44% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.87% from two or more races. 3.75% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 16,474 households out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.30% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,224, and the median income for a family was $51,919. Males had a median income of $39,823 versus $24,727 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $21,973. About 4.20% of families and 5.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.40% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Villages
|
Oak Harbor, Ohio Oak Harbor is a village in Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. Oak Harbor is 30 miles east of Toledo. The population was 2,841 at the 2000 census... Put-in-Bay, Ohio Put-in-Bay is a village located on South Bass Island in Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. Many believe that the name originates from some early maps of South Bass Island that showed the harbor being named Pudding Bay, probably because it was shaped like a pudding sack. The... Rocky Ridge, Ohio Rocky Ridge is a village in Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The population was 389 at the 2000 census.Rocky Ridge is home to Kenn Kaufman, an American author and ornithologist who has written several guides to birds and butterflies.-Geography:... |
Townships
|
Catawba Island Township, Ottawa County, Ohio Catawba Island Township is one of the twelve townships of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 3,157 people in the township... Clay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio Clay Township is one of the twelve townships of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 5,118 people in the township, 2,888 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:... Danbury Township, Ottawa County, Ohio Danbury Township is one of the twelve townships of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 4,631 people in the township, 3,869 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:... Erie Township, Ottawa County, Ohio Erie Township is one of the twelve townships of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,328 people in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:... |
Harris Township, Ottawa County, Ohio Harris Township is one of the twelve townships of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 3,009 people in the township, 1,583 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:... Portage Township, Ottawa County, Ohio Portage Township is one of the twelve townships of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,634 people in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:... Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio Put-in-Bay Township is one of the twelve townships of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 763 people in the township, 635 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Islands:... Salem Township, Ottawa County, Ohio Salem Township is one of the twelve townships of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 5,517 people in the township, 2,676 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:... |
Unincorporated communities
|
Forest Park, Ottawa County, Ohio Forest Park is an unincorporated community in northwestern Clay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. It lies at the intersection of Hellwig and Reiman Roads with State Route 51, Gray and Kennard Roads, less than 2 miles northwest of Genoa and a similar distance southwest of Clay Center... Graytown, Ohio Graytown is an unincorporated community in southwestern Benton Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 43432.... Gypsum, Ohio Gypsum is an unincorporated community in eastern Portage Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 43433.... |
Isle Saint George, Ohio Isle St. George is an unincorporated community in Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. It is the only community on North Bass Island in Lake Erie. The North Bass Island Post Office was established on May 25, 1864, and the name changed to Isle Saint George Post Office on March... Lacarne, Ohio Lacarne is an unincorporated community in southwestern Erie Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 43439.... Lakeside, Ohio Lakeside is a private community and census-designated place in northern Ohio, United States, on the shores of Lake Erie. It was formed in 1873 by members of the Methodist Church and remains a church-affiliated vacation resort. It is one of only a few continuously operating Independent Chautauquas... |
Martin, Ohio Martin is an unincorporated community in northeastern Clay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 43445.... Middle Bass, Ohio Middle Bass is an unincorporated community in Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. It is the only town on Middle Bass Island in Lake Erie. Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 43446.... Williston, Ohio Williston is an unincorporated community in northern Allen Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States, located along State Route 579. It is located in the northwestern part of the state, near Toledo. Its ZIP code is 43468. Its population was 211 people, according to the 2000 Census... |
Major highways
|
Other highways
|
 Ohio State Route 105 Ohio State Route 163 Ohio State Route 269 Ohio State Route 590 |
Ohio State Route 2
Ohio State Route 19
Ohio State Route 51
Ohio State Route 53Airports
- Erie-Ottawa Regional AirportErie-Ottawa Regional AirportErie-Ottawa Regional Airport , also known as Carl R. Keller Field, is a public airport located 3.5 miles east of the city of Port Clinton in Ottawa County, Ohio, USA.- External links :*...
- Middle Bass-East Point Airport
- Middle Bass Island AirportMiddle Bass Island AirportMiddle Bass Island Airport is a public airport located on Middle Bass Island in Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. It is owned by the Put-in-Bay Township Port Authority.- Facilities and aircraft :...
- North Bass Island Airport
- Put-in-Bay AirportPut-in-Bay AirportPut-in-Bay Airport is a public airport located in Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island in Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The approach to Runway 21 is complicated by Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, which is almost exactly in line with the runway...
Notable residents
- Crystal BowersoxCrystal BowersoxCrystal Lynn Bowersox is an American singer-songwriter and actress, who was the runner-up on the ninth season of American Idol...
- singer-songwriter, 2010 American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
runner-up, from Elliston - Louis C. ShepardLouis C. ShepardLewis Capet Shepard was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio and was a Union Navy sailor during the American Civil War who received America's highest military decoration the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher...
- American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient from Ashtabula County, buried in Lakeview cemetery, Port Clinton, OhioPort Clinton, OhioPort Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,056 at the 2010 census. The city has been nicknamed the "Walleye Capital of the World."...
.