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Lucas County, Ohio

Coordinates: 41°41′N 83°30′W / 41.68°N 83.50°W / 41.68; -83.50
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Not to be confused with Lucas, Ohio.

Lucas County
County
The Lucas County Courthouse in Toledo
The Lucas County Courthouse in Toledo
Flag of Lucas County
Flag
Official seal of Lucas County
Seal
Map of Ohio highlighting Lucas County
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Map of the United States highlighting Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°41′N 83°30′W / 41.68°N 83.5°W / 41.68; -83.5
Country United States
State Ohio
FoundedJune 20, 1835[1]
Named forRobert Lucas
SeatToledo
Largest cityToledo
Area
 • Total
596 sq mi (1,540 km2)
 • Land341 sq mi (880 km2)
 • Water255 sq mi (660 km2)  43%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
431,279
 • Estimate 
(2021)
429,191 Decrease
 • Density720/sq mi (280/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district9th
Websitewww.co.lucas.oh.us

Lucas County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. It is bordered to the east by Lake Erie, and to the southeast by the Maumee River, which runs to the lake. As of the 2020 census, the population was 431,279.[2] Its county seat and largest city is Toledo, located at the mouth of the Maumee River on the lake.[3] The county was named for Robert Lucas, 12th governor of Ohio, in 1835 during his second term.[4] Its establishment provoked the Toledo War conflict with the Michigan Territory, which claimed some of its area. Lucas County is the central county of the Toledo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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Exterior view of Lucas County Courthouse with man walking and pile of snow.
Lucas County Courthouse, 1910s

On August 20, 1794, near the site of the present-day town of Maumee, American forces led by General Anthony Wayne won a decisive victory over allied Indian forces at the Battle of Fallen Timbers after years of conflict in what was known as the Northwest Indian War. The defeat of the Native forces resulted in the opening of the entire Northwest Territory for white settlement. Northwest Ohio was occupied chiefly by villages and bands of the Odawa people, who had trading relations with the French at Fort Detroit since 1701. Other Odawa were located in southeast Michigan and further north on the peninsula. They ceded much of that territory in the Treaty of Greenville but retained control of lands along the Maumee River until after the War of 1812. The last Odawa band, that of Ottokee, grandson of Chief Pontiac, left the Maumee River area for Kansas in 1839.[5][6]

The disputed portion of Michigan Territory claimed by the state of Ohio known as the Toledo Strip.

Lucas County was established in 1835. At that time, both Ohio and Michigan Territory claimed sovereignty over a 468-square-mile (1,210 km2) region along their border (see Toledo War). When Michigan petitioned Congress for statehood in 1835, it sought to include the disputed territory within its bounds. In response, the Ohio General Assembly formally organized part of the area as Lucas County, naming it after the incumbent governor of Ohio, Robert Lucas.

Geography

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Devonian shell of Sylvania

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 596 square miles (1,540 km2), of which 341 square miles (880 km2) is land and 255 square miles (660 km2) (43%) is water.[7] It is the fourth-smallest county in Ohio by land area. Much of the county lies within what was at the time of its establishment, a vast network of forests, wetlands, and grasslands known as the Great Black Swamp.

Rivers

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Adjacent counties

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National protected areas

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18409,382—
185012,36331.8%
186025,831108.9%
187046,72280.9%
188067,37744.2%
1890102,29651.8%
1900153,55950.1%
1910192,72825.5%
1920275,72143.1%
1930347,70926.1%
1940344,333−1.0%
1950395,55114.9%
1960456,93115.5%
1970484,3706.0%
1980471,741−2.6%
1990462,361−2.0%
2000455,054−1.6%
2010441,815−2.9%
2020431,279−2.4%
2021 (est.)429,191[8]−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[2]

2000 census

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As of the census of 2000, there were 455,054 people, 182,847 households, and 116,290 families living in the county. The population density was 1,337 inhabitants per square mile (516/km2). There were 196,259 housing units at an average density of 576 units per square mile (222 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.50% White, 16.98% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.86% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. 4.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 182,847 households, out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.70% were married couples living together, 14.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.40% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,004, and the median income for a family was $48,190. Males had a median income of $39,415 versus $26,447 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,518. About 10.70% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.70% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 441,815 people, 180,267 households, and 111,016 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 1,296.2 inhabitants per square mile (500.5/km2). There were 202,630 housing units at an average density of 594.5 units per square mile (229.5 units/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 74.0% white, 19.0% black or African American, 1.5% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 2.0% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.1% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 29.8% were German, 13.2% were Irish, 9.7% were Polish, 8.0% were English, and 3.8% were American.[15]

Of the 180,267 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, and 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 37.0 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $42,072 and the median income for a family was $54,855. Males had a median income of $46,806 versus $33,394 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,981. About 14.0% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Economy

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Top Employers

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According to the county's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[17] the top ten employers in the county are:

# Employer # of employees
1 Promedica Health Services 11,517
2 University of Toledo 8,502
3 Fiat Chrysler - Toledo North Plant; Toledo South Plant 6,759
4 Mercy Health Partners 5,880
5 Toledo Public Schools 3,193
6 Lucas County 2,821
7 City of Toledo 2,748
8 Kroger 2,300
9 Walmart 1,954
10 General Motors - Powertrain 1,778

Politics

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Like most populous urban counties, Lucas County is a Democratic stronghold. The only Republicans to win a majority or plurality in the county since 1932 have been Thomas E. Dewey in 1944, Dwight D. Eisenhower in both 1952 and 1956, and Ronald Reagan in 1980 (plurality) and 1984.[18] Although Ronald Reagan carried the county twice, no other Republican has won the county in the last 50 years.[19] In 1972, for instance, it was one of only two counties in the entire state that supported George McGovern.

In the last five presidential elections, the Democratic candidate's margin of victory has ranged from 16% in 2020, the narrowest margin in the county since 1988, to 30.5% in the case of Barack Obama.[20] The entirety of Lucas County, including Toledo, lies in Ohio's 9th congressional district, and it is represented by Marcy Kaptur, who is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

United States presidential election results for Lucas County, Ohio[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 79,972 43.01% 102,377 55.06% 3,600 1.94%
2020 81,763 40.66% 115,411 57.39% 3,933 1.96%
2016 75,698 38.07% 110,833 55.74% 12,299 6.19%
2012 69,940 33.21% 136,616 64.86% 4,065 1.93%
2008 73,706 33.43% 142,852 64.80% 3,899 1.77%
2004 87,160 39.54% 132,715 60.21% 555 0.25%
2000 73,342 39.15% 108,344 57.83% 5,664 3.02%
1996 58,120 31.98% 104,911 57.72% 18,716 10.30%
1992 63,297 31.18% 99,989 49.25% 39,733 19.57%
1988 83,788 45.27% 99,755 53.89% 1,552 0.84%
1984 100,285 50.25% 97,293 48.76% 1,976 0.99%
1980 86,653 45.30% 85,341 44.61% 19,304 10.09%
1976 76,069 41.36% 103,658 56.36% 4,180 2.27%
1972 88,401 48.38% 90,142 49.34% 4,166 2.28%
1968 69,403 38.98% 91,346 51.31% 17,288 9.71%
1964 57,782 31.08% 128,110 68.92% 0 0.00%
1960 94,679 47.94% 102,825 52.06% 0 0.00%
1956 100,501 53.15% 88,598 46.85% 0 0.00%
1952 97,490 51.71% 91,043 48.29% 0 0.00%
1948 66,798 46.76% 74,064 51.85% 1,991 1.39%
1944 77,247 50.37% 76,109 49.63% 0 0.00%
1940 76,405 49.50% 77,948 50.50% 0 0.00%
1936 45,853 34.48% 74,155 55.76% 12,971 9.75%
1932 47,796 40.83% 64,902 55.44% 4,362 3.73%
1928 78,435 63.21% 44,977 36.25% 669 0.54%
1924 53,670 55.39% 11,948 12.33% 31,284 32.28%
1920 52,449 59.08% 30,452 34.30% 5,868 6.61%
1916 16,711 33.01% 30,779 60.80% 3,136 6.19%
1912 5,622 14.95% 13,999 37.22% 17,989 47.83%
1908 18,715 48.46% 16,208 41.97% 3,697 9.57%
1904 22,924 67.33% 8,259 24.26% 2,862 8.41%
1900 17,128 51.20% 15,390 46.01% 932 2.79%
1896 16,758 54.45% 13,759 44.71% 259 0.84%
1892 11,211 52.02% 9,860 45.75% 481 2.23%
1888 9,443 51.29% 8,638 46.92% 331 1.80%
1884 8,341 51.86% 7,384 45.91% 360 2.24%
1880 7,157 52.67% 5,985 44.04% 447 3.29%
1876 6,524 54.55% 5,155 43.10% 281 2.35%
1872 5,253 62.66% 3,083 36.77% 48 0.57%
1868 4,873 61.22% 3,087 38.78% 0 0.00%
1864 3,790 64.40% 2,095 35.60% 0 0.00%
1860 2,889 58.85% 1,820 37.07% 200 4.07%
1856 1,639 41.07% 1,866 46.76% 486 12.18%

Government

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See also: Ohio county government

County officials

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Office Name Party
Commissioner Lisa Sobecki Democratic
Commissioner Peter L. Gerken Democratic
Commissioner Anita L. Lopez Democratic
Prosecutor Julia R. Bates Democratic
Sheriff Mike Navarre Democratic
Clerk of Courts J. Bernie Quilter Democratic
Recorder Michael Ashford Democratic
Treasurer Lindsay Webb Democratic
Engineer Mike Pniewski Democratic
Coroner Tom Blomquist Democratic
Auditor Katie Moline Democratic

[22]

Communities

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Map of Lucas County, Ohio with Municipal and Township labels
Historical map of Lucas County, 1899

Cities

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Villages

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Townships

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost towns

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ohio County Profiles: Lucas County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Lucas County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved April 28, 2007.[dead link‍]
  5. ^ Helen Hornbeck Tanner, ed., Atlas of Great Lakes Indian History (University of Oklahoma Press: Norman, 1986) pp. 3, 58–59
  6. ^ Larry Angelo (2nd chief of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma), The Migration of the Ottawas from 1615 to Present, (1997), pp. 3-6
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  11. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "Lucas County, Ohio Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2019". Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  18. ^ Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
  19. ^ "David Leip's Presidential Atlas (Maps for Ohio by election)". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  20. ^ "President Map - Election Results 2008 - The New York Times". elections.nytimes.com. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  21. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  22. ^ "Lucas County elected officials". lucas.oh.us. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h "TOWNSHIP WEBSITES | Ohio Township Association". Archived from the original on July 15, 2016.
[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lucas County.

41°41′N 83°30′W / 41.68°N 83.50°W / 41.68; -83.50

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