Holmes County, Ohio

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Holmes County, Ohio
Holmes County Courthouse, Millersburg.jpg
Seal of Holmes County, Ohio
Seal
Map of Ohio highlighting Holmes County
Location in the U.S. state of Ohio
Map of the United States highlighting Ohio
Ohio's location in the U.S.
Founded January 4, 1825
Named for Andrew Holmes
Seat Millersburg
Largest village Millersburg
Area
 • Total 424 sq mi (1,098 km2)
 • Land 423 sq mi (1,096 km2)
 • Water 1.4 sq mi (4 km2), 0.3%
Population
 • (2010) 42,366
 • Density 100/sq mi (39/km²)
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.holmescounty.com

Holmes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 42,366.[1] Its county seat is Millersburg.[2] The county was formed in 1824 from portions of Coshocton, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties and organized the following year.[3] It was named after Andrew Holmes, an officer killed in the War of 1812.[4] Holmes County is home to an Amish community, the largest in the world, that draws many visitors to the county.

History

Holmes County was formed on January 20, 1824 from portions of Coshocton, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties. It was named after Andrew Holmes, an officer in the War of 1812. During the Civil War, small-scale riots broke out in ethnic German areas. Holmes County was an isolated localistic area dominated by Pennsylvania Dutch and some recent German immigrants. It was a Democratic stronghold and few men dared speak out in favor of conscription. Local politicians denounced Lincoln and Congress as despotic, seeing the draft law as a violation of their local autonomy. In June 1863, small scale disturbances broke out; they ended when the Army sent in armed units.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 424 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 423 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2) (0.3%) is water.[6]

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1830 9,135
1840 18,088 98.0%
1850 20,452 13.1%
1860 20,589 0.7%
1870 18,177 −11.7%
1880 20,776 14.3%
1890 21,139 1.7%
1900 19,511 −7.7%
1910 17,909 −8.2%
1920 16,965 −5.3%
1930 16,726 −1.4%
1940 17,876 6.9%
1950 18,760 4.9%
1960 21,591 15.1%
1970 23,024 6.6%
1980 29,416 27.8%
1990 32,849 11.7%
2000 38,943 18.6%
2010 42,366 8.8%
Est. 2014 43,898 [7] 3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2014[1]
Amish farmer plowing fields with mules

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 38,943 people, 11,337 households, and 9,194 families residing in the county. The population density was 92 people per square mile (36/km²). There were 12,280 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 99.03% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population. 56.1% spoke English, 20.1% Pennsylvania German, 15.8% German and 7.1% "Dutch"[13] as their first language.

There were 11,337 households out of which 44.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.50% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.90% were non-families. 16.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.35 and the average family size was 3.82. Religious breakdown for those who gave a religion (68.33 of the total population) was 89.79% Evangelical Protestant, 8.04% Mainline Protestant and 2.16% Catholic. There were 140 Amish congregations with 17,654 adherents. There were several other unrelated Amish congregations and Mennonite congregations. There was one Catholic congregation.[14]

In the county, the population was spread out with 35.60% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 17.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,944, and the median income for a family was $40,230. Males had a median income of $28,490 versus $20,602 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,197. About 10.50% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.40% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

Holmes County has a relatively high number of residents who do not speak English at home. According to the 2000 census, almost 36% of the population speak either Pennsylvania Dutch or German at home, and a further 7% speak "Dutch", i.e. Pennsylvania Dutch.[13] 42.92% of the total population and 50.28% of the children in 5-17 age range uses German/Pennsylvania German or "Dutch"[13] at home.[15]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 42,366 people, 12,554 households, and 10,035 families residing in the county.[16] The population density was 100.3 inhabitants per square mile (38.7/km2). There were 13,666 housing units at an average density of 32.3 per square mile (12.5/km2).[17] The racial makeup of the county was 98.7% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population.[16] In terms of ancestry, 37.8% were German, 10.8% were American, 6.6% were Irish, and 6.3% were English.[18]

Of the 12,554 households, 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.7% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 20.1% were non-families, and 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.31 and the average family size was 3.80. The median age was 29.7 years.[16]

The median income for a household in the county was $43,533 and the median income for a family was $49,133. Males had a median income of $36,644 versus $24,317 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,009. About 10.5% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.[19]

Communities

Map of Holmes County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels
Amish couple in a horse-drawn buggy in rural Holmes County

Villages

Townships

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Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Amish Community

A large Amish community of about 36,000 exists in Northeast-Central Ohio, centered on Holmes County and extending into surrounding counties.[20] The Holmes Old Order Amish affiliation with 140 church districts out of 221 in the Holmes County Amish settlement in 2009 is the main and dominant Amish affiliation.[21] Holmes County houses the highest percentage of Amish of any U.S. county, currently 42 percent of the population, and experts speculate that within 15 years Holmes County may be the first majority Amish county.[22]

The overall Amish population of the area, centered on Holmes County, is the largest Amish community in the world.[20] Called locally "Amish Country", it draws many visitors to the county, thus making tourism an important sector of the local economy.

The Holmes County Amish Settlements have the most divers Old Order Amish affiliations. The Holmes Old Order Amish affiliation is the main and original affiliation, the Swartzentruber Amish, that also originated in 1917 in Holmes County, has three sub affiliations there. There are also Andy Weaver Amish (formed 1952) and New Order Amish (formed in the early 1960s) there.[23]

See also

References

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External links

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  5. Kenneth H. Wheeler, "Local autonomy and civil war draft resistance: Holmes County, Ohio," Civil War History, June 1999, Vol. 45 Issue 2, pp 147-58
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  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 It is likely that those reporting such confused Dutch with German
  14. http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/c/39/rcms2010_39075_county_name_2010.asp
  15. http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=39&county_id=75&mode=geographic&zip=&place_id=&cty_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r
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  20. 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.. Quote: "Approximately 36,000 Amish residents make the region the largest Amish community in the world. Centered in Holmes County, Amish Country extends into each of the surrounding five counties. The Amish community has existed in this region of Ohio since 1809."
  21. Charles E. Hurst, David L. McConnell: An Amish Paradox: Diversity and Change in the World's Largest Amish Community, Baltimore 2010, pages 35-36
  22. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.. Quote: "“My guess is that in 15 years, we’ll witness a county whose population is majority Amish, and Holmes County is likely to gain that distinction first. Perhaps LaGrange County in Indiana will not be far behind,” Donnermeyer said."
  23. Ohio Amish: The Holmes County Amish settlement at http://amishamerica.com