# Hardin County, Ohio

Hardin County is a county located in the west central portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,696. Its county seat and largest city is Kenton. The county was created in 1820 and later organized in 1833. It is named for John Hardin, an officer in the American Revolution.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 471 square miles (1,220 km$^2$), of which 470 square miles (1,200 km$^2$) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km$^2$) (0.1%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Hancock County (north)
* Wyandot County (northeast)
* Marion County (east)
* Union County (southeast)
* Logan County (south)
* Auglaize County (southwest)
* Allen County (northwest)

## Demographics
### 2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 31,945 people, 11,963 households and 8,134 families living in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile (26 people/km$^2$). There were 12,907 housing units at an average density of 27 units per square mile (10/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 97.54% White, 0.70% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 96.9% spoke English and 1.4% German as their first language.
There were 11,963 households, of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.00% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.
24.30% of the population were under the age of 18, 15.40% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.70 males.
The median household income was $34,440 and the median family income was $42,395. Males had a median income of $33,393 compared with $21,695 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,200. About 8.90% of families and 13.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 32,058 people, 11,762 households, and 7,950 families living in the county. The population density was 68.1 inhabitants per square mile (26.3/km$^2$). There were 13,100 housing units at an average density of 27.8 per square mile (10.7/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 96.7% white, 0.8% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 33.0% were German, 15.1% were Irish, 13.2% were American, and 9.6% were English.
Of the 11,762 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.4% were non-families, and 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.05. The median age was 34.7 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,343 and the median income for a family was $55,274. Males had a median income of $41,191 versus $32,313 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,100. About 9.6% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

Hardin County is a Republican Party stronghold. The last Democrat to win the county was Lyndon B. Johnson in his 1964 landslide. The county is currently represented by Robert McColley in the Ohio Senate, and Jon Cross in the Ohio House of Representatives. Federally, the county is represented by Jim Jordan.
United States presidential election results for Hardin County, Ohio :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 9,911 | 76.78% | 2,863 | 22.18% | 134 | 1.04% |
| 2020 | 9,949 | 75.10% | 3,062 | 23.11% | 236 | 1.78% |
| 2016 | 8,717 | 70.56% | 2,920 | 23.64% | 717 | 5.80% |
| 2012 | 7,489 | 60.06% | 4,619 | 37.04% | 362 | 2.90% |
| 2008 | 7,749 | 58.93% | 5,013 | 38.12% | 387 | 2.94% |
| 2004 | 8,441 | 63.03% | 4,891 | 36.52% | 60 | 0.45% |
| 2000 | 7,124 | 59.03% | 4,557 | 37.76% | 387 | 3.21% |
| 1996 | 5,506 | 46.36% | 4,930 | 41.51% | 1,440 | 12.13% |
| 1992 | 5,851 | 44.28% | 4,364 | 33.02% | 3,000 | 22.70% |
| 1988 | 7,291 | 62.82% | 4,145 | 35.71% | 170 | 1.46% |
| 1984 | 8,722 | 69.11% | 3,813 | 30.21% | 85 | 0.67% |
| 1980 | 7,457 | 61.51% | 3,863 | 31.87% | 803 | 6.62% |
| 1976 | 6,076 | 54.86% | 4,650 | 41.99% | 349 | 3.15% |
| 1972 | 8,713 | 69.14% | 3,535 | 28.05% | 354 | 2.81% |
| 1968 | 6,963 | 53.82% | 4,180 | 32.31% | 1,794 | 13.87% |
| 1964 | 5,679 | 43.67% | 7,324 | 56.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 9,042 | 64.41% | 4,996 | 35.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 9,049 | 66.51% | 4,556 | 33.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 9,235 | 64.58% | 5,064 | 35.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 7,441 | 57.38% | 5,474 | 42.21% | 52 | 0.40% |
| 1944 | 8,566 | 62.55% | 5,128 | 37.45% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 9,192 | 58.40% | 6,547 | 41.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 7,631 | 46.86% | 8,441 | 51.84% | 211 | 1.30% |
| 1932 | 7,215 | 44.86% | 8,717 | 54.20% | 152 | 0.95% |
| 1928 | 8,137 | 60.20% | 5,306 | 39.25% | 74 | 0.55% |
| 1924 | 7,112 | 53.66% | 5,523 | 41.67% | 619 | 4.67% |
| 1920 | 8,071 | 57.64% | 5,817 | 41.54% | 115 | 0.82% |
| 1916 | 4,119 | 48.08% | 4,304 | 50.24% | 144 | 1.68% |
| 1912 | 2,775 | 33.22% | 3,912 | 46.83% | 1,667 | 19.95% |
| 1908 | 4,444 | 50.35% | 4,164 | 47.17% | 219 | 2.48% |
| 1904 | 4,736 | 57.36% | 3,096 | 37.50% | 424 | 5.14% |
| 1900 | 4,389 | 50.07% | 4,190 | 47.80% | 187 | 2.13% |
| 1896 | 4,276 | 49.50% | 4,247 | 49.16% | 116 | 1.34% |
| 1892 | 3,515 | 47.71% | 3,483 | 47.28% | 369 | 5.01% |
| 1888 | 3,611 | 49.54% | 3,339 | 45.81% | 339 | 4.65% |
| 1884 | 3,647 | 51.09% | 3,373 | 47.25% | 119 | 1.67% |
| 1880 | 3,472 | 53.11% | 3,032 | 46.38% | 33 | 0.50% |
| 1876 | 2,830 | 50.98% | 2,702 | 48.68% | 19 | 0.34% |
| 1872 | 2,238 | 53.08% | 1,970 | 46.73% | 8 | 0.19% |
| 1868 | 1,884 | 51.62% | 1,766 | 48.38% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1864 | 1,640 | 52.92% | 1,459 | 47.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 1,432 | 52.72% | 1,198 | 44.11% | 86 | 3.17% |
| 1856 | 1,091 | 53.09% | 882 | 42.92% | 82 | 3.99% |

### Airports

Ada Airport (FAA LID: 0D7) is a privately owned, public-use airport located one nautical mile (1.85 km) northwest of the central business district of Ada, a village in Hardin County.
Hardin County Airport (FAA LID: I95) is the largest paved facility and is located 3 miles south of Kenton, Ohio on CR 135. The runway is 4,803 feet long at an elevation of 1,030 feet. Maintenance, fuel and storage are available.

### Major highways

* US 68
* SR 31
* SR 37
* SR 53
* SR 67
* SR 117
* SR 195
* SR 235
* SR 273
* SR 292
* SR 309
* SR 385

## Science

Currently, there is a working Artesian aquifer operating in the county.

## Media

Two newspapers, the daily The Kenton Times of Kenton and the weekly The Ada Herald of Ada, operate in Hardin County.
Radio stations include WKTN of Kenton and WOHA of Ada, a radio station owned by Holy Family Communications.
WOCB-LP TV48 is a local Christian television station in downtown Kenton covering channels 39.1-39.4.

## Communities
### City

* Kenton (county seat)

### Villages

* Ada
* Alger
* Dunkirk
* Forest
* McGuffey
* Mount Victory
* Patterson
* Ridgeway

### Townships

* Blanchard
* Buck
* Cessna
* Dudley
* Goshen
* Hale
* Jackson
* Liberty
* Lynn
* Marion
* McDonald
* Pleasant
* Roundhead
* Taylor Creek
* Washington

### Census-designated place

* Dola

### Unincorporated communities

* Blanchard
* Foraker
* Grant
* Grassy Point
* Hepburn
* Holden
* Huntersville
* Jumbo
* Jump
* Maysville
* Mentzer
* Pfeiffer
* Roundhead
* Silver Creek
* Yelverton

## Notable people

* Nehemiah Green, fourth Governor of Kansas
From Kenton
* James S. Robinson, Civil War General and Secretary of State for Ohio
* John R. Goodin, Democratic congressman from Kansas
* William Lawrence, Republican congressman involved with the attempt to impeach Andrew Johnson
* Jacob Parrott, first recipient of the Medal of Honor
* Paul Robinson, creator of the long-running Etta Kett comic strip for King Features Syndicate
From Ada
* Rollo May, an American existential psychologist
* Lee Tressel, football coach, father of former Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel
* John Berton, award-winning computer graphics animator and visual effects supervisor.
* Carey Orr, cartoonist.
From Alger
* Ray Brown — Homestead Grays pitcher
From Dunkirk
* Willard Rhodes, ethnomusicologist (1901–1992)
* Dean Pees, NFL coach