Huron County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,565.2020 census Its county seat is Norwalk. The county was created in 1809 and later organized in 1815. Huron County is included in the Norwalk, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area.

History Huron County was named in honor of the Huron Indians (more correctly called the Wendat, or their successor people "Wyandot"), an Iroquoian-speaking tribe who occupied large areas in the Great Lakes region. The word "Huron" may be French, although this origin is disputed.

In the late 18th century, this area was in the U.S. Northwest Territory, part of the Connecticut Western Reserve in a sub-region called the Firelands. Connecticut had originally claimed the land as part of its original colony, then afterward wanted to use it to grant land to veterans in lieu of cash payment for their service in the war. In 1795, the Connecticut Land Company purchased this land for resale and development. Later, it was solely administered by the "Fire Land Company".'Firelands Pioneer' series of publications (Firelands Historical Society) beginning in 1858- Many of the townships in Huron County are named for places in Connecticut.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.7%) is water.

Adjacent counties Erie County (north) Lorain County (east) Ashland County (southeast) Richland County (south) Crawford County (southwest) Seneca County (west) Sandusky County (northwest)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 58,565 and a median age of 41.0 years. The age distribution included 23.5% of residents under the age of 18 and 18.4% aged 65 or older, with 97.0 males per 100 females overall and 94.4 males per 100 females age 18 and over.

As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 89.5% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.5% from some other race, and 6.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.0% of the population.

As of the 2020 census, 48.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 51.4% lived in rural areas.

As of the 2020 census, there were 23,406 households in the county, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.3% were married-couple households, 17.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

As of the 2020 census, there were 25,499 housing units, of which 8.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 68.9% were owner-occupied and 31.1% were renter-occupied, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 1.3% and a rental vacancy rate of 7.2%.

Racial and ethnic composition +Huron County, Ohio – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)53,19154,39056,05754,64951,24297.41%96.71%94.23%91.65%87.50%Black or African American alone (NH)5715895575605621.05%1.05%0.94%0.94%0.96%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)4384961161390.08%0.15%0.16%0.19%0.24%Asian alone (NH)941481491702160.17%0.26%0.25%0.29%0.37%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census41012xx0.01%0.02%0.02%Other race alone (NH)282338221060.05%0.04%0.06%0.04%0.18%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census4697662,204xx0.79%1.28%3.76%Hispanic or Latino (any race)6811,0062,1173,3334,0841.25%1.79%3.56%5.59%6.97%Total54,60856,24059,48759,62658,565 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census As of the 2010 United States census, there were 59,626 people, 22,820 households, and 16,141 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 25,196 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.9% white, 1.0% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 36.4% were German, 14.5% were Irish, 10.8% were English, and 8.9% were American.

Of the 22,820 households, 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.3% were non-families, and 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 38.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,058 and the median income for a family was $53,887. Males had a median income of $41,566 versus $30,967 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,743. About 10.9% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.3% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 59,487 people, 22,307 households, and 16,217 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 23,594 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.98% White, 0.97% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.63% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 3.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,307 households, out of which 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 23.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% 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 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.30% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,558, and the median income for a family was $46,911. Males had a median income of $35,760 versus $22,785 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,133. About 6.50% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.00% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over. Politics Huron County has almost always been a Republican stronghold. However, in the election of 1996, Bill Clinton narrowly carried the county by a margin of 0.5%.

Government

Officials Commissioner - James R. Morgan Appointed in October 2025 to fulfill Bradley Mesenburg's term he resigned from on September 12, 2025

Commissioner - Harry Brady

Commissioner - Tom Dunlap

Auditor - Roland Tkach

Clerk of Courts - Gina Hartman

Coroner - Jeffery Harwood

Engineer - Lee Tansey

Prosecutor - Joel Sitterly

Recorder - Jan Tkach

Treasurer - Megan Bursley

Sheriff - Todd Corbin

Judge of Court of Common Pleas - James Conway

Court Secretary (non-elected position) - Julie Wise

Education

Transportation Airports The Norwalk-Huron County Airport is located east of Norwalk's central business district.

Major highways

US Route 20 US Route 224 US Route 250 State Route 4 State Route 13 State Route 18 State Route 60 State Route 61 State Route 99 State Route 103 State Route 113 State Route 162 State Route 269 State Route 303 State Route 547 State Route 598 State Route 601 State Route 603

Communities

Cities Bellevue Norwalk (county seat) Willard

Villages

Greenwich Milan Monroeville New London North Fairfield Plymouth Wakeman

Townships

Bronson Clarksfield Fairfield Fitchville Greenfield Greenwich Hartland Lyme New Haven New London Norwalk Norwich Peru Richmond Ridgefield Ripley Sherman Townsend Wakeman

Census-designated places Celeryville Collins Holiday Lakes New Haven

Unincorporated communities Boughtonville Centerton Clarksfield Delphi East Townsend Fitchville Havana Hunts Corners New Pittsburgh North Monroeville Olena Steuben

Notable people Phillip Johnson, American Architect Laura Owens, American Painter Ezekiel S. Sampson, two-term Republican Congressman from Iowa's 6th congressional district; born in Huron County. Paul Brown, American college and professional football coach; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Lefty Grove, American baseball player, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Huron County, Ohio

References

Further reading William W. Williams, History of the Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of the Prominent Men and Pioneers. Cleveland, OH: Press of Leader Printing Company, 1879.

External links

Huron County Commissioners Huron County Development Council Huron County Clerk