Auglaize County, Ohio

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Auglaize County (Template:IPAc-en)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is a county in Northwestern Ohio, United States of America . As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,442.<ref name="2020 census">2020 census</ref> Its county seat and largest city is Wapakoneta.<ref name="GR6">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Auglaize County comprises the Wapakoneta Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Lima-Van Wert-Celina Combined Statistical Area.

EtymologyEdit

The county is named for the Auglaize River. Some sources say it is a corruption of the French description of the clay (glaise) water (eau);<ref>Auglaize County, Ohio 2006 Highway Map Template:Webarchive Auglaize County Engineer's Office, 2006. Accessed July 15, 2007.</ref> others say it comes from a Native American word for fallen timbers.<ref name="odod">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="osuedc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link Template:Cbignore</ref> Another remote possibility is that it derives from the French glace [*aux glaces?], meaning "mirror" or "ice" ['at the ices'?].<ref>The Trouble with French</ref>

GeographyEdit

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (0.1%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is Ohio's second-smallest county by area.

The county is crossed by the Auglaize River and the Miami and Erie Canal. The headwaters of the Saint Marys River, the Great Miami River and the Scioto River as well as parts of Grand Lake St. Marys and Lake Loramie are in the county.<ref>DeLorme. Ohio Atlas & Gazetteer. 7th ed. Yarmouth: DeLorme, 2004, p. 45. Template:ISBN.</ref>

Adjacent countiesEdit

Allen County - north
Darke County - southwest
Hardin County - east
Logan County - southeast
Shelby County - south
Mercer County - west
Van Wert County - northwest

DemographicsEdit

Template:US Census population

2000 censusEdit

As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> of 2000, there were 46,611 people, 17,376 households, and 12,771 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 18,470 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 98.12% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.67% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 59.5% were of German, 10.9% American, 6.9% Irish and 6.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.9% spoke English and 1.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 17,376 households, out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.10% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.60% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,367, and the median income for a family was $50,024. Males had a median income of $37,024 versus $23,809 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,593. About 4.90% of families and 6.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.20% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 censusEdit

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 45,949 people, 17,972 households, and 12,749 families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 19,585 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 53.0% were German, 12.6% were Irish, 8.9% were American, and 8.0% were English.<ref name="census-dp2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Of the 17,972 households, 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.1% were non-families, and 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 40.0 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $52,018 and the median income for a family was $60,318. Males had a median income of $44,267 versus $30,591 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,290. About 5.8% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

PoliticsEdit

GovernmentEdit

File:Geyer School of Ohio in 1915.jpg

A 1915 class at Geyer School

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Auglaize County is governed by an elected Board of Commissioners.

CourthouseEdit

The county's first courthouse, built in 1851 for $11,499, was in use until 1894, when the current courthouse opened. Occupying an entire city block, the courthouse and its adjacent powerhouse cost $259,481. Some 85 men took 18 months to construct it, starting on July 2, 1893. Built of Berea sandstone with tile floors, the courthouse was highly fire-resistant. The boilers for heating and power generation, a significant cause of fire at the time, were in a separate powerhouse. Steam-driven dynamos produced the electricity that, along with steam for heating and hot water, was fed to the building via an underground conduit. The courthouse marked its centennial in 1994, and remains the seat of the county's courts,<ref>"History of the Auglaize County Courthouse" Template:Webarchive, Auglaize County official site.</ref> along with the much newer West Municipal Court in St. Marys.<ref name=CountyWeb>Auglaize County Template:Webarchive official site.</ref>

EconomyEdit

Auglaize County's economy is based on manufacturing.<ref>WhyWapakoneta.com</ref> Employers with more than 400 employees are Crown Equipment Corporation, Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, the Minster Machine Company, Setex, Inc, AAP-St. Mary's Corporation (a division of Hitachi Metals), Veyance Technologies, Inc (Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company), and the Dannon Company.<ref>Ohio County Profiles Template:Webarchive</ref>