ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO

'Allen County' is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States with a population of 108,473 as of the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Lima, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area.
It is named for either Ethan Allen of the Green Mountain Boys or Colonel John Allen, a figure in the War of 1812.^[2] Its county seat is Lima.⁶

Contents

History

Government

Geography

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Allen County Fair

Localities

Municipalities

Townships

Other localities

References

External link

History

Allen County was formed by an act of the Ohio General Assembly on March 1, 1820. For judicial purposes, it was attached to Mercer County, although Mercer County had only just been formed from Darke County during the same year. A subsequent act in 1829 allowed for a seat of justice to be established. This was done on March 3, 1831, and Christopher S. Wood was appointed Town Director. Wood laid out plots of land to be sold, and the plat was filed April 20, 1831.
The first meeting of the county commissioners was held on June 6, 1831. Present at this meeting was Commissioner James Daniels, Commissioner John G. Wood, and Commissioner Samuel Stewart. Also present was William G. Wood, county auditor; Adam White, county treasurer; and Henry Lippincott, sheriff.
The first court of justice was held in August 1831, and it is believed that the assembly of men, in informal session, selected the name for the seat of justice by drawing names from a hat. The meeting was held at the cabin of James Daniels, which was located on the bank of the Ottawa River near the current location of Market Street. Patrick G. Goode of Montgomery County, special prosecuting attorney at that session, is given credit for having offered up the name of "Lima" (capital of Peru and source of the quinine used to treat the malaria prevalent in the area of the Great Black Swamp).
The first township to be created in Allen County was Bath, whose first township meeting was held on March 2, 1829. The second township to be formed was Jackson on June 6, 1831. Lima was established as a village in 1841, and the town of Lima was organized March 29, 1842. Henry DeVilliers Williams was elected the first mayor and Amos Clutter was elected the first town marshall.
In 1848, the boundaries of Allen County changed with a reorganization that created Auglaize County, Ohio.

Government

Main articles: Ohio county government

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,054 km² (407 mi²). 1,047 km² (404 mi²) of it is land and 6 km² (2 mi²) of it (0.60%) is water.

Adjacent counties

★ Putnam County (north)

★ Hancock County (northeast)

★ Hardin County (east)

★ Auglaize County (south)

★ Van Wert County (west)

Demographics

'Allen County Population by year

'2000' 108,473 '1990' 109,755 '1980' 112,241 '1970' 111,144 '1960' 103,691 '1950' 88,183 '1940' 73,303 '1930' 69,419 '1920' 68,223 '1910' 56,580 '1900' 47,976 '1890' 40,644 '1880' 31,314 '1870' 23,623 '1860' 19,185 '1850' 12,109 '1840' 9,079 '1830' 578

As of the census² of 2000, there were 108,473 people, 40,646 households, and 28,208 families residing in the county. The population density was 104/km² (268/mi²). There were 44,245 housing units at an average density of 42/km² (109/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.95% White, 12.19% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. 1.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 40,646 households out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 26.30% 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 2.52 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,048, and the median income for a family was $44,723. Males had a median income of $35,546 versus $23,537 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,511. About 9.60% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Allen County Fair

One of the more notable annual events in Allen County is its County Fair. Run every August in Lima, Ohio since 1851, the Fair is amongst the foremost agricultural showcasing events in Western Ohio. In 2005, there were over 220,000 visitors and almost 3,000 exhibitors, making it the largest in the state.
The fair has also been notable for attracting many nationally known performers during the 1980s and 1990s, and combined with significant renovations to the county show grounds, these two factors have contributed to a marked increase in attendance and notoriety over the past two decades.^[3]

Localities

Municipalities

★ Beaverdam ★ Bluffton ★ Cairo ★ Delphos ★ Elida

★ Fort Shawnee ★ Harrod ★ Lafayette ★ Lima ★ Spencerville

Townships

★ Amanda ★ American ★ Auglaize ★ Bath ★ Jackson ★ Marion

★ Monroe ★ Perry ★ Richland ★ Shawnee ★ Spencer ★ Sugar Creek

Other localities

★ Gomer

References

1. Ohio County Profiles: Allen County
2. Allen County data
3. Allen County Fair

External link

★ Allen County Government's website
----