Delaware County, Ohio

History

In 2008, Forbes magazine ranks Delaware County as the fifth best place in the United States to raise a family and the second best in Ohio, behind Geauga County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 457 square miles (1,180 km²), of which 443 square miles (1,150 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (3.1%) is water. The county has an even terrain and a fertile soil.

Adjacent counties

Morrow County (north)

Knox County (northeast)

Licking County (east)

Franklin County (south)

Union County (west)

Marion County (northwest)

Lakes and rivers

The major rivers of the county are the Scioto River, Olentangy River, Alum Creek, and the Big Walnut Creek. These waterways run from north to south across the county. The Alum Creek Lake and the Delaware Lake are reservoirs created on Alum Creek and the Olentangy River, respectively.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 109,989 people, 39,674 households, and 30,668 families residing in the county. The population density is 249 people per square mile (96/km²). There were 42,374 housing units at an average density of 96 per square mile (37/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.25% White, 2.52% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.54% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population. 26.8% were of German, 11.7% Irish, 11.3% English, 10.7% American and 6.9% Italian ancestry according to 2000 census.

There were 39,674 households out of which 40.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.70% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.70% were non-families. 18.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the population was spread out with 28.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $67,258, and the median income for a family was $76,453. Males had a median income of $51,428 versus $33,041 for females. The per capita income for the county was $31,600. About 2.90% of families and 3.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.40% of those under the age of 18 and 4.80% of those 65 and older.

By 2007, the median income for a household and for a family had risen to $80,526 and $94,099 respectively.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Delaware County is the 21st fastest growing county in the United States.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 174,214 people, 62,760 households, and 47,977 families residing in the county. The population density was 393.2 inhabitants per square mile (151.8/km²). There were 66,378 housing units at an average density of 149.8 per square mile (57.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.7% white, 4.3% Asian, 3.4% black or African American, 0.1% American Indian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 34.2% were German, 16.3% were Irish, 14.0% were English, 8.1% were Italian, and 5.7% were American.

Of the 62,760 households, 41.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 23.6% were non-families, and 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.16. The median age was 37.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $87,908 and the median income for a family was $101,698. Males had a median income of $70,949 versus $48,913 for females. The per capita income for the county was $40,682. About 3.4% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Delaware County is one of the Republican party's major strongholds in Ohio. It last voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in 1916.

Education

The following school districts are located in Delaware County.

¹ Mainly in Knox County, with portions in Delaware County ² Mainly in Franklin County, with portions in Delaware County and Union County ³ Mainly in Marion County, with portions in Delaware County ⁴ Mainly in Morrow County, with portions in Delaware County ⁵ Mainly in Licking County, with portions in Delaware County ⁶ Mainly in Union County, with portions in Delaware County ⁷ Mainly in Franklin County, with portions in Delaware County

The Ohio Wesleyan University, located in Delaware, Ohio, is one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States and one of the Five Colleges of Ohio.

Highways

Interstate 71 and U.S. Highway 23 pass through the county. Interstate 71 crosses over Alum Creek immediately south of the Alum Creek Lake recreation area.

Airports

The area is served by the Delaware Municipal Airport, which is strategically located to serve the rapidly developing southern Delaware County area and the north portion of the Franklin County and Columbus, Ohio, areas. The airport contains a 5,000 foot runway, flight terminal, lounges, and weather briefing areas. It is home to approximately 80 aircraft and an estimated 40,000 operations take place per year. Several smaller airports are located in the county.

Media

The Delaware Gazette, a morning daily founded in 1885, is the dominant local newspaper in Delaware County, while the Sunbury News, a weekly community newspaper, serves eastern Delaware County and residents of the Big Walnut Local School District. Both publications are owned by Brown Publishing Company.

Additional local print publications include the Delaware News, which is owned by Columbus-based Suburban News Publications, ThisWeek in Delaware, which is owned by the Columbus Dispatch, and the Transcript, the student paper at Ohio Wesleyan University. Local residents often subscribe to out-of-town papers as well; the Columbus Dispatch is popular among many.

Points of interest

Delaware, Ohio is famous for The Little Brown Jug, an internationally famous harness race which is part of the Triple Crown of harness racing.

The Methodist Theological School in Ohio is the Methodist graduate school seminary located between Delaware and Columbus, Ohio. It is often referred to as METHESCO.

Additional notable places include:

Delaware Municipal Airport Annual Air Fair

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Zoombezi Bay waterpark

Safari Golf club

The Germain Amphitheater, formerly the Polaris Amphitheater, closed at the end of 2007

Alum Creek State Park and the Delaware State Park bring millions of local, national, and international visitors to the area each year.

The site of the first Ohio State University football game

The Hamburger Inn at 16 N. Sandusky

Historical Marker of Rutherford B. Hayes' home on E. William St.

The Strand Theater.

Polaris centers of commerce (Big commercial business area including Americas 2nd largest low rise office building - the chase McCoy center - and the high end Polaris fashion place mall)

Cities

Columbus (partly in Franklin County and Fairfield County)

Delaware (county seat)

Dublin (partly in Franklin County and Union County)

Powell

Westerville (partly in Franklin County)

Villages

Ashley

Galena

Ostrander

Shawnee Hills

Sunbury

Census-designated places

Kilbourne

Radnor

Unincorporated communities

Africa

Alum Creek

Bellepoint

Berkshire

Center Village

Cheshire

Condit

East Liberty

Harlem

Hyatts

Kingston Center

Leonardsburg

Lewis Center

Norton

Olive Green

Orange

Rome

Stratford

Vans Valley

White Sulphur

Notable residents

Notable natives include Rutherford B. Hayes, who was the 19th President of the United States (1877–1881). His wife, Lucy Webb Hayes, was one of the most popular of first ladies. She strongly supported the Temperance movement, and no alcohol was served in the White House during the Hayes administration. This prompted the press to call her "Lemonade Lucy." She also brought the annual Easter egg roll to the White House lawn.

Among the famous who have inhabited or been associated with the county are:

Horace Newton Allen, diplomat

Ben Curtis, professional golfer

Amos Dolbear, physicist and inventor

Charles W. Fairbanks, the 26th Vice President of the United States

Arthur Sherwood Flemming, statesman

Reuben James, U. S. Naval hero

Clare Kramer, actress

Norman Vincent Peale, author

John Purdue founding benefactor of Purdue University

Branch Rickey, Major League Baseball executive

Buck Rodgers, professional baseball player

William Rosecrans, U. S. Army Major General

Frank Sherwood Rowland, Nobel laureate

Ezra Vogel, professor emeritus, Harvard University

Jack Hanna, zookeeper, media personality, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium