Butler County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 39°26′N84°35′W / 39.44°N 84.58°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Ohio |
Founded | May 1, 1803 [1] |
Named for | General Richard Butler |
Seat | Hamilton |
Largest city | Hamilton |
Area | |
• Total | 470 sq mi (1,200 km2) |
• Land | 467 sq mi (1,210 km2) |
• Water | 3.1 sq mi (8 km2) 0.7% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 390,357 |
• Estimate (2023) | 393,043 |
• Density | 830/sq mi (320/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 8th |
Website | bcohio |
Butler County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 390,357. [2] Its county seat and largest city is Hamilton. [3] It is named for General Richard Butler, who died in 1791 during St. Clair's Defeat. [4] Located along the Great Miami River, it is also home to Miami University, a public university founded in 1809. Butler County is part of the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. The majority of the county is in District 52 of the State House.
Successive cultures of ancient Indigenous peoples of the Americas occupied areas of the county. They built large earthworks, seven of which were still standing and recorded by a Smithsonian survey. [5]
Early French explorers likely passed through the area along the Miami River. [6] The gravesites of David and Margaret Gregory indicate they were some of the first white settlers in the area in Liberty Township. White settlers began moving into the area in larger numbers after the 1793 Treaty of Greenville was signed with the Native Americans of the area. [6]
Butler County was formed on March 24, 1803, from portions of Hamilton County. It is named for General Richard Butler. [7] Between 1803 and 1823, the townships of the county became officially recognized. [6] Large portions of the county were held by non-resident owners, including 640 acres owned by future President William H Harrison. [6] Some land that was originally part of Butler County was reassigned to Warren County in the north and Hamilton County to the south. Butler County's original size was 480 sq miles. [6]
In 1830, Peter Schrock emigrated from France to live in Butler County.
Around the late 1860s or early 1870s, the community of Mauds was the sight of an attempt by a local entrepreneur to construct a mill that worked via perpetual motion. A large crowd gathered to watch the mill start, and when it did not, laughter ensued. Nothing was heard from the unnamed entrepreneur again, and the mill quickly vanished. The local newspapers did not record the event, and the only record of its occurrence was transmitted by elderly residents of Mauds to one William Marion Miller of Miami University. [8]
The Great Flood of 1913 affected much of the county, particularly the communities of Middletown, Ohio where approximately 25% of the town was flooded and 6 people died and Hamilton, Ohio, where 46% of the city was flooded, over 300 buildings destroyed, and at least 98 people killed. [9]
In the 1920s, Butler, Pickaway and Washington counties were central areas of the rural membership of the Ku Klux Klan in Ohio. [10]
In 1957, the Ohio Legislature established Hueston Woods State Park, which covers 3,596 acres in Butler and neighboring Preble County. In addition to a 625-acre manmade lake, the park contains the 200-acre Hueston Woods, one of the last near-virgin growths of American beech and maple in Ohio. [11]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 470 square miles (1,200 km2), of which 467 square miles (1,210 km2) is land and 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2) (0.7%) is water. [12]
The majority of Butler County consists of the river valleys of the Great and Little Miami Rivers. The valley was originally carved by glaciation. [6]
The soil at highest uplands is frequently heavy in clay, moving downhill to a sandy loam, while in the valleys the soil is black with river deposits. [6]
Before deforestation by settlers, much of the area was forests of American beech and maple trees. [11]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1810 | 11,150 | — | |
1820 | 21,746 | 95.0% | |
1830 | 27,142 | 24.8% | |
1840 | 28,173 | 3.8% | |
1850 | 30,789 | 9.3% | |
1860 | 35,840 | 16.4% | |
1870 | 39,912 | 11.4% | |
1880 | 42,579 | 6.7% | |
1890 | 48,597 | 14.1% | |
1900 | 56,870 | 17.0% | |
1910 | 70,271 | 23.6% | |
1920 | 87,025 | 23.8% | |
1930 | 114,084 | 31.1% | |
1940 | 120,249 | 5.4% | |
1950 | 147,203 | 22.4% | |
1960 | 199,076 | 35.2% | |
1970 | 226,207 | 13.6% | |
1980 | 258,787 | 14.4% | |
1990 | 291,479 | 12.6% | |
2000 | 332,807 | 14.2% | |
2010 | 368,130 | 10.6% | |
2020 | 390,357 | 6.0% | |
2023 (est.) | 393,043 | [13] | 0.7% |
U.S. Decennial Census [14] 1790-1960 [15] 1900-1990 [16] 1990-2000 [17] 2010-2020 [2] |
As of the census [18] of 2000, there were 332,807 people, 123,082 households, and 87,880 families residing in the county. The population density was 712 inhabitants per square mile (275/km2). There were 129,793 housing units at an average density of 278 per square mile (107/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.20% White, 5.27% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.55% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 1.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.1% were of German, 16.7% American, 10.7% Irish, and 9.8% English ancestry according to Census 2000. Those citing "American" ancestry in Butler County are of overwhelmingly English extraction, most English Americans identify simply as American because their ancestors have been in North America for centuries—in some cases since the 1600s. [19] [20] [21] [22] [23]
There were 123,082 households, out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 22.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.90% under the age of 18, 11.90% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $47,885, and the median income for a family was $57,513. Males had a median income of $42,052 versus $27,602 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,076. About 5.40% of families and 8.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.
As of the census of 2010, there were 368,130 people, 135,960 households, and 95,404 families residing in the county. [24] The population density was 788.2 inhabitants per square mile (304.3/km2). There were 148,273 housing units at an average density of 317.5 per square mile (122.6/km2). [25] The racial makeup of the county was 86.0% white, 7.3% black or African American, 2.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.8% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.0% of the population. [24] In terms of ancestry, 27.0% were German, 14.8% were American, 13.6% were Irish, and 9.7% were English. [26]
Of the 135,960 households, 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.8% were non-families, and 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.10. The median age was 36.0 years. [24]
The median income for a household in the county was $54,788 and the median income for a family was $68,539. Males had a median income of $50,499 versus $37,094 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,892. About 8.3% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over. [27]
Prior to 1952, Butler County was strongly Democratic in presidential elections, only backing two Republican candidates for president from 1856 to 1948. Starting with the 1952 election, it has become a Republican Party stronghold, with the sole Democrat to win the county in a presidential election since then being Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 in the midst of his statewide and national landslide victory.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 114,831 | 62.66% | 66,713 | 36.41% | 1,708 | 0.93% |
2020 | 114,392 | 61.26% | 69,613 | 37.28% | 2,732 | 1.46% |
2016 | 106,976 | 61.13% | 58,642 | 33.51% | 9,376 | 5.36% |
2012 | 105,176 | 61.68% | 62,388 | 36.58% | 2,966 | 1.74% |
2008 | 105,341 | 60.52% | 66,030 | 37.94% | 2,688 | 1.54% |
2004 | 109,872 | 65.86% | 56,243 | 33.71% | 704 | 0.42% |
2000 | 86,587 | 63.32% | 46,390 | 33.93% | 3,760 | 2.75% |
1996 | 67,023 | 54.76% | 43,690 | 35.70% | 11,685 | 9.55% |
1992 | 63,375 | 48.34% | 39,682 | 30.27% | 28,055 | 21.40% |
1988 | 75,725 | 68.71% | 33,770 | 30.64% | 713 | 0.65% |
1984 | 76,216 | 72.92% | 27,700 | 26.50% | 598 | 0.57% |
1980 | 61,231 | 61.91% | 31,796 | 32.15% | 5,874 | 5.94% |
1976 | 49,625 | 57.56% | 35,123 | 40.74% | 1,469 | 1.70% |
1972 | 50,380 | 68.42% | 21,194 | 28.78% | 2,061 | 2.80% |
1968 | 35,962 | 48.73% | 23,649 | 32.04% | 14,191 | 19.23% |
1964 | 31,413 | 42.63% | 42,278 | 57.37% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 46,518 | 58.66% | 32,778 | 41.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 41,785 | 63.20% | 24,331 | 36.80% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 35,769 | 53.77% | 30,751 | 46.23% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 21,393 | 46.52% | 24,276 | 52.78% | 322 | 0.70% |
1944 | 22,702 | 45.96% | 26,698 | 54.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 23,380 | 43.14% | 30,821 | 56.86% | 0 | 0.00% |
1936 | 17,842 | 35.80% | 29,892 | 59.99% | 2,098 | 4.21% |
1932 | 19,673 | 44.70% | 22,516 | 51.16% | 1,819 | 4.13% |
1928 | 29,124 | 64.66% | 15,663 | 34.77% | 255 | 0.57% |
1924 | 19,349 | 56.25% | 11,612 | 33.76% | 3,437 | 9.99% |
1920 | 14,998 | 44.91% | 16,437 | 49.22% | 1,961 | 5.87% |
1916 | 5,850 | 31.81% | 10,806 | 58.75% | 1,736 | 9.44% |
1912 | 3,431 | 20.59% | 7,763 | 46.59% | 5,469 | 32.82% |
1908 | 7,320 | 40.61% | 9,678 | 53.70% | 1,026 | 5.69% |
1904 | 7,048 | 45.44% | 7,397 | 47.69% | 1,066 | 6.87% |
1900 | 6,025 | 39.52% | 8,880 | 58.25% | 339 | 2.22% |
1896 | 5,936 | 40.21% | 8,724 | 59.09% | 103 | 0.70% |
1892 | 4,636 | 36.16% | 7,834 | 61.10% | 352 | 2.75% |
1888 | 4,143 | 34.77% | 7,454 | 62.55% | 319 | 2.68% |
1884 | 3,976 | 36.72% | 6,751 | 62.34% | 102 | 0.94% |
1880 | 3,831 | 37.90% | 6,266 | 62.00% | 10 | 0.10% |
1876 | 3,351 | 35.68% | 6,029 | 64.20% | 11 | 0.12% |
1872 | 2,993 | 37.55% | 4,926 | 61.80% | 52 | 0.65% |
1868 | 3,298 | 40.01% | 4,945 | 59.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
1864 | 3,250 | 42.96% | 4,316 | 57.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
1860 | 2,867 | 39.19% | 4,109 | 56.16% | 340 | 4.65% |
1856 | 2,301 | 37.68% | 3,509 | 57.47% | 296 | 4.85% |
There are sixteen school districts having territory in Butler County. [29]
Butler County is home to top ranked and 10th oldest public university, Miami University.
Butler County is also home to Butler Tech, a Career Technical Education institution for High School students and Adults. Butler Tech has campuses in West Chester and Fairfield Township.
There are thirteen civil townships in Butler County and three paper townships:
The Butler County Regional Transit Authority provides bus service throughout the county primarily serving Hamilton, Oxford, and Middletown. The service connects to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority in Springdale.
Montgomery County is in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. At the 2020 census, the population was 537,309, making it the fifth-most populous county in Ohio. The county seat is Dayton. The county was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general, who was killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada. Montgomery County is part of the Dayton, Ohio, Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Fairfield is a city in southern Butler County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb located about 25 miles (40 km) north of Cincinnati and is situated on the east bank of the Great Miami River. The population was 44,907 as of the 2020 census. Incorporated in 1955 from portions of Fairfield Township, it includes the former hamlets of Symmes Corner, Fair Play, Furmandale, and Stockton. The Fairfield City School District is one of the largest in Ohio and serves both the City of Fairfield and Fairfield Township.
Warren County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 242,337. Its county seat is Lebanon and largest city is Mason. The county is one of Ohio's most affluent, with the highest median income of the state's 88 counties. The county was established on May 1, 1803, from Hamilton County; it is named for Dr. Joseph Warren, a hero of the Revolution who sent Paul Revere and the overlooked William Dawes on their famous rides and who died at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Warren County is part of the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Preble County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,999, down 3.0% from the 2010 census population of 42,270. Its county seat is Eaton. The county was formed on February 15, 1808, from portions of Butler and Montgomery Counties. It is named for Edward Preble, a naval officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War and against the Barbary Pirates.
Hamilton County is located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 830,639, making it the third-most populous county in Ohio. The county seat and most populous city is Cincinnati. The county is named for the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton County is part of the Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Fairfield County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 158,921. Its county seat and largest city is Lancaster. Its name is a reference to the Fairfield area of the original Lancaster. Fairfield County is part of the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Darke County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 51,881. Its county seat and largest city is Greenville. The county was created in 1809 and later organized in 1817. It is named for William Darke, an officer in the American Revolutionary War. Darke County comprises the Greenville, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Dayton-Springfield-Sidney, OH Combined Statistical Area.
Beckett Ridge is a census-designated place (CDP) in West Chester Township, Butler County, Ohio, United States. The population was 9,192 at the 2020 census.
Hamilton is a city in and the county seat of Butler County, Ohio, United States. Located 20 miles (32 km) north of Cincinnati along the Great Miami River, Hamilton is the second-largest city in the Greater Cincinnati area and the tenth-largest city in Ohio. The population was 63,399 at the 2020 census. Most of the city is served by the Hamilton City School District.
New Miami is a village in St. Clair Township, located in central Butler County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 2,217 at the 2020 census.
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States. The population was 23,035 at the 2020 census. A college town, Oxford was founded as a home for Miami University and lies in the southwestern portion of the state approximately 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Cincinnati and 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Dayton. It is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area.
Ross is a census-designated place (CDP) in Ross Township, Butler County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,478 at the 2020 census. Ross sits along U.S. Route 27 between Cincinnati, Ohio and Oxford, Ohio. Ross is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area.
Trenton is a city in northeastern Butler County, Ohio, United States, west of Middletown. The population was 13,021 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area.
Grandview is a census-designated place (CDP) in Miami Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,312 at the 2020 census.
College Corner is a village in Butler and Preble counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio, 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Oxford. The population was 387 at the 2020 census. The village lies on the state line with Indiana, where it borders the town of West College Corner. The public school, part of the Union County–College Corner Joint School District, is bisected by the state line and is operated jointly with Indiana authorities.
Middletown is a city in Butler and Warren counties in the southwest of the U.S. state of Ohio. The population at the 2020 census was 50,987. It is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area, 29 miles (47 km) northeast of Cincinnati and 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Dayton.
Monroe is a city in east central Butler and west central Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 15,412 at the 2020 census. Monroe is a part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area.
Colerain Township is one of the twelve townships of Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population of the township was 59,037 at the 2020 census. It is the second-largest township in Ohio by area, surpassed by Madison Township, Lake County, Ohio.
Miami Township is one of the twelve townships of Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 15,969 as of the 2020 census.
Madison Township is one of thirteen townships in Butler County, Ohio, United States. Located in northeastern Butler County, just west of Middletown, it had a population of 8,556 people as of the 2020 census. While it surrounds the city of Trenton, the city is no longer part of the township. It is named for James Madison, president of the United States at the time of its creation in 1810, and is one of twenty Madison Townships statewide.
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