Fairfield County, Ohio

Fairfield County is located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 158,921.^[2] Its county seat and largest city is Lancaster.^[3] Its name is a reference to the Fairfield area of the original Lancaster. Fairfield County is part of the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Fairfield County originally encompassed all or parts of present day Knox, Hocking, Licking, Perry, and Pickaway Counties.^[4] Fairfield is a descriptive name referring to the beauty of their fields.^[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 509 square miles (1,320 km²), of which 504 square miles (1,310 km²) is land and 4.2 square miles (11 km²) (0.8%) is water.^[6]

Fairfield County sits just on the edge of Ohio's Appalachian region. While the once-glaciated northern portion of the county is fairly flat, as one travels south along U.S. 33 one can easily recognize the foothills of a mountainous region beginning around the village of Carroll. Although not officially part of the state or federal definition of Appalachia, certain areas of Fairfield County—particularly those south of U.S. 22—bear a distinctly Appalachian feel in both physical geography and demographics.

The scenic Hocking Hills region lies immediately to the south, mostly in neighboring Hocking County. A large portion of Buckeye Lake is located in northeastern Fairfield County.

Mudhouse Mansion, an allegedly haunted house, was located in the county.

Adjacent counties

• Licking County (north)
• Perry County (east)
• Hocking County (south)
• Pickaway County (southwest)
• Franklin County (northwest)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 158,921. The median age was 39.7 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.2 males age 18 and over.^[16][17]

The racial makeup of the county was 82.9% White, 8.5% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.5% of the population.^[17]

64.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 35.6% lived in rural areas.^[18]

There were 58,691 households in the county, of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.1% were married-couple households, 14.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[16]

There were 62,466 housing units, of which 6.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.7% were owner-occupied and 26.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.^[16]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 146,156 people, 54,310 households, and 39,846 families living in the county.^[19] The population density was 289.8 inhabitants per square mile (111.9 /km²). There were 58,687 housing units at an average density of 116.3 /mi2.^[20] The racial makeup of the county was 90.2% white, 6.0% black or African American, 1.1% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.7% of the population.^[19] In terms of ancestry, 31.2% were German, 16.2% were Irish, 11.7% were English, 8.6% were American, and 5.2% were Italian.^[21]

Of the 54,310 households, 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.6% were non-families, and 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 38.2 years.^[19]

The median income for a household in the county was $56,796 and the median income for a family was $65,835. Males had a median income of $49,314 versus $37,209 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,130. About 7.5% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.^[22]

2000 census

As of the census^[23] of 2010, there were 146,156 people, 54,310 households, and 39,846 families living in the county. The population density was 289 inhabitants per square mile (112 /km²). There were 58,678 housing units at an average density of 116 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 90.02% White, 6.00% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 1.90% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 54,310 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.40% 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 3.07.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 30.20% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,962, and the median income for a family was $55,539. Males had a median income of $39,566 versus $27,353 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,671. About 4.50% of families and 5.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.40% of those under age 18 and 6.20% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Prior to 1944, Fairfield County was Democratic in presidential elections, only voting for Republicans twice from 1856 to 1940. Starting with the 1944 election, the county has become a Republican stronghold in presidential elections, with Lyndon B. Johnson being the only Democrat to win since then, but Harry S. Truman came within 96 votes of winning it in 1948.

Government

Ohio House of Representatives

Ohio State Senate

United States House of Representatives

United States Senate

Education

School districts and state schools

School districts include:^[24]

• Amanda-Clearcreek Local School District
• Berne Union Local School District
• Bloom-Carroll Local School District
• Canal Winchester Local School District (Franklin & Fairfield)
• Fairfield Union Local School District
• Lancaster City School District
• Liberty Union-Thurston Local School District
• Northern Local School District
• Pickerington Local School District
• Reynoldsburg City Schools
• Southwest Licking Local School District
• Teays Valley Local School District (Almost entirely Pickaway)
• Walnut Township Local School District

Elementary schools

• St. Mary's School
• St. Bernadette School
• Mount Pleasant Elementary
• Medill Elementary (housed at former East Elementary location during reconstruction)
• Sanderson Elementary (to be closed upon completion of Medill Elementary reconstruction)
• Tallmadge Elementary (housed at former West Elementary location during reconstruction)
• Tarhe Trails Elementary
• Gorsuch West Elementary
• Pleasantville Elementary
• Bremen Elementary

High schools

• Amanda-Clearcreek Digital Academy
• Amanda-Clearcreek High School
• Liberty Union High School
• Bloom-Carroll High School
• Fairfield Career Center
• Fairfield Christian Academy
• Fairfield Union High School
• Lancaster Fairfield Alternative School
• Lancaster High School
• Millersport Jr/Sr High School
• Walnut Township Academy
• Pickerington Alternative School
• Pickerington High School Central
• Pickerington High School North
• Berne Union High School
• William V. Fisher Catholic High School

Communities

Cities

• Canal Winchester
• Columbus (mostly in Franklin County and partly in Delaware County)
• Lancaster (county seat)
• Pickerington
• Reynoldsburg

Villages

• Amanda
• Baltimore
• Bremen
• Buckeye Lake
• Carroll
• Lithopolis
• Millersport
• Pleasantville
• Rushville
• Stoutsville
• Sugar Grove
• Tarlton
• Thurston
• West Rushville

Townships

• Amanda
• Berne
• Bloom
• Clearcreek
• Greenfield
• Hocking
• Liberty
• Madison
• Pleasant
• Richland
• Rush Creek
• Violet
• Walnut

Census-designated places

• Fairfield Beach
• Hamburg
• Hide-A-Way Hills

Unincorporated communities

• Cedar Hill
• Clearport
• Colfax
• Delmont
• Drinkle
• Dumontsville
• Geneva
• Greencastle
• Havensport
• Hooker
• Horns Mill
• Jefferson
• Lockville
• Marcy
• New Salem
• North Berne
• Oakland
• Oakthorpe
• Revenge
• Royalton
• Waterloo

Source:^[25]

See also

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

References

1. ^ "Ohio County Profiles: Fairfield County". Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original on March 26, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
2. ^ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". US Census Bureau
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ Miller, Charles Christian (1912). History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens. Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company. p. 82.
5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 123
6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
7. ^ "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". United States Census Bureau. p. 49-67 and 27-47.
8. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Ohio: Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Origin". United States Census Bureau. p. 21-95.
9. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Fairfield County, Ohio". United States Census Bureau
10. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fairfield County, Ohio". United States Census Bureau
11. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fairfield County, Ohio". United States Census Bureau
12. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
13. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
14. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
15. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
16. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
17. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
18. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
19. ^ "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.
20. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
21. ^ "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.
22. ^ "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.
23. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
24. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Fairfield County, OH". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 23, 2022. - Text list
25. ^ "Fairfield County, Ohio (map)". Fairfield County Ohio Visitors and Convention Bureau. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2011.

External links

• Fairfield County Government's website
• Fairfield County Visitors & Convention Bureau
• Lancaster-Fairfield County Annual July 4 Celebration