According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 640 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 632 square miles (1,640 km2) is land and 8.0 square miles (21 km2) (1.3%) is water.[5] It is the fifth-largest county in Ohio by land area.
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2020 [2]
2000 census
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 63,251 people, 25,137 households, and 17,671 families living in the county. The population density was 100 inhabitants per square mile (39 inhabitants/km2). There were 27,760 housing units at an average density of 44 units per square mile (17/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.33% White, 0.92% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 0.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.5% were of German, 23.4% American, 12.3% English and 11.0% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 25,137 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.90% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 25.40% 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 2.45 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.50% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,275, and the median income for a family was $41,605. Males had a median income of $32,034 versus $21,346 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,082. About 8.60% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 61,778 people, 25,587 households, and 17,092 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 97.8 inhabitants per square mile (37.8 inhabitants/km2). There were 28,367 housing units at an average density of 44.9 units per square mile (17.3 units/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 96.5% white, 1.1% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 29.3% were German, 16.7% were Irish, 11.8% were English, and 10.7% were American.[14]
Of the 25,587 households, 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.2% were non-families, and 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 43.0 years.[12]
The median income for a household in the county was $41,654 and the median income for a family was $53,131. Males had a median income of $42,460 versus $28,828 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,786. About 10.8% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.[15]
Government
Washington County has a 3-member Board of County Commissioners that oversee the various County departments, similar to all but 2 of the 88 Ohio counties. Washington County's elected commissioners are: Kevin Ritter (R), James Booth (R), and Charlie Schilling (R).[16]
Politics
Results from the 2020 Presidential Election in Marietta, the county's largest city.
Washington County typically votes Republican. In 1976, it was one of only two counties on the eastern Ohio border to vote for President Gerald Ford, and in 1996, it was the only county on the eastern border to vote for Bob Dole. Only five Democratic Party presidential candidates have won the county from 1856 to the present day, the most recent being Lyndon B. Johnson in his statewide & national landslide of 1964.
United States presidential election results for Washington County, Ohio[17]
^"Townships". Ohio Township Association. Archived from the original on July 15, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
Further reading
Israel Ward Andrews, Washington County, and the Early Settlement of Ohio: Being the Centennial Historical Address, before the Citizens of Washington County. Cincinnati, OH: P.G. Thomson, 1877.
Martin Register Andrews and Seymour J. Hathaway, History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens. Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co., 1902.
William Dana Emerson, et al., Washington County, Ohio. Marietta, OH: Washington County Historical Society, 1976.
Henry Howe, History of Washington County, Ohio, 1788-1889. Knightstown, IN: Bookmark, 1977.
Thomas William Lewis, History of Southeastern Ohio and the Muskingum Valley, 1788-1928. In Three Volumes. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.
Washington County Historical Society, Washington County, Ohio, to 1980: A Collection of Topical and Family Sketches. Marietta, OH: Washington County Historical Society, 1980.
H.Z. Williams & Bro., History of Washington County, Ohio: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches. Cleveland, OH: H.Z. Williams, 1881.
