Lake County, Ohio

Lake County
County
Lake County Courthouse
Flag Seal Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°49′N81°14′W / 41.82°N 81.24°W / 41.82; -81.24
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Founded	March 6, 1840 [1]
Named for	Lake Erie
Seat	Painesville
Largest city	Mentor
Area
• Total	979 sq mi (2,540 km2)
• Land	227 sq mi (590 km2)
• Water	752 sq mi (1,950 km2)  77%
Population  (2020)
• Total	232,603
• Estimate  (2021)	232,023
• Density	240/sq mi (92/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	14th
Website	www.lakecountyohio.gov

Lake County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 232,603. ^[2] Its county seat is Painesville, and its largest city is Mentor.

The county was established on March 6, 1840, from land given by Cuyahoga and Geauga counties. Its name is derived from its location on the southern shore of Lake Erie and the fact that the majority of the county’s land has always lied beneath Lake Erie. ^{[3] [4]} Lake County is part of the Cleveland, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The land that became Lake County was home to the indigenous Erie people prior to the arrival of the French in the region during the early 1600s, and considered by the French to be part of their Colony of New France. Ceded to Great Britain in 1763, the area became part of the Province of Quebec through the Quebec Act of 1774. Following the American Revolutionary War, it became part of the Connecticut Western Reserve in the Northwest Territory, then was purchased by the Connecticut Land Company in 1795. It was separated out of Geauga County in March 1840.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has an area of 979 square miles (2,540 km²), of which 227 square miles (590 km²) is land and 752 square miles (1,950 km²) (77%) is water. ^[5] It is Ohio's smallest county by land area but the third-largest by total area, with said area owing to land beneath the lake (which is owned by the county).

The county’s coast line along Lake Erie spans 31 miles. Additionally, Lake County has an international border with Ontario (across Lake Erie).

Adjacent counties

• Ashtabula County (east)
• Geauga County (south)
• Cuyahoga County (southwest)

Major highways

• I-90
• I-271
• US 6
• US 20
• SR 2
• SR 44
• SR 84
• SR 86
• SR 91
• SR 174
• SR 283
• SR 306
• SR 307
• SR 528
• SR 535
• SR 608
• SR 615
• SR 633
• SR 640

National protected area

• James A. Garfield National Historic Site

Physical geography

Ridges on the Lake Plain physiographic region, and on which some roads are laid, are beaches formed by the various glacial lakes which occurred as the glaciers receded. ^[6] Lake Maumee was the highest glacial lake at about 760 feet, and left Maumee II beach. Whittlesey beach, formed by Lake Whittlesey at 740 feet, is known as South Ridge. Arkona beach (Lake Arkona) is Middle Ridge, and occurs at about 690 feet. North Ridge is the remnant of Warren beach (Lake Warren), at an elevation of 685 feet. Elkton beach is the northernmost ridge, at 625 feet, an occurred at the time of Lake Elkton. Lake Shore Boulevard follows Elkton beach in Mentor Township.

Mentor Marsh is an Ohio State Nature Preserve. ^[7] Mentor Marsh is an abandoned channel of the Grand River.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1840	13,719		—
1850	14,654		6.8%
1860	15,576		6.3%
1870	15,935		2.3%
1880	16,326		2.5%
1890	18,235		11.7%
1900	21,680		18.9%
1910	22,927		5.8%
1920	28,667		25.0%
1930	41,674		45.4%
1940	50,020		20.0%
1950	75,979		51.9%
1960	148,700		95.7%
1970	197,200		32.6%
1980	212,801		7.9%
1990	215,499		1.3%
2000	227,511		5.6%
2010	230,041		1.1%
2020	232,603		1.1%
2021 (est.)	232,023	[8]	−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11] 1990-2000 [12] 2010-2020 [2]

In 2010, 92.4% spoke English, 2.7% Spanish, and 1.4% Croatian. ^[13]

2000 census

As of the census ^[14] of 2000, the county had 227,511 people, 89,700 households, and 62,520 families. The population density was 997 inhabitants per square mile (385/km²). There were 93,487 housing units at an average density of 410 units per square mile (160 units/km²). The county's racial makeup was 95.40% White, 1.99% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.5% were of German, 14.6% Italian, 12.7% Irish, 8.1% English, 6.2% Polish, 5.7% American and 5.4% Slovene ancestry. 93.6% spoke English, 1.9% Spanish, and 0.8% Croatian as their first language. ^[13]

There were 89,700 households, out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.03.

The county's population was spread out, with 24.20% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The county's median household income was $48,763, and the median family income was $57,134. Males had a median income of $40,916 versus $28,434 for females. The county's per capita income was $23,160. About 3.50% of families and 5.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.50% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 230,041 people, 94,156 households, and 62,384 families residing in the county. ^[15] The population density was 1,011.2 inhabitants per square mile (390.4/km²). There were 101,202 housing units at an average density of 444.9 units per square mile (171.8 units/km²). ^[16] The racial makeup of the county was 92.5% white, 3.2% black or African American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 1.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.4% of the population. ^[15] In terms of ancestry, 26.4% were German, 18.9% were Irish, 16.4% were Italian, 11.5% were English, 7.6% were Polish, 5.4% were Hungarian, and 3.9% were American. ^[17]

Of the 94,156 households, 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.7% were non-families, and 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 42.3 years. ^[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $54,896 and the median income for a family was $67,206. Males had a median income of $49,240 versus $36,906 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,221. About 6.0% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over. ^[18]

Environment

Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light, Fairport Harbor viewed from the Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve

Scorecard’s 2002 ^[19] report ranks Lake County among the worst 10% of counties in the U.S. in terms of cancer risk, developmental and reproductive toxicants, and other categories as well. This rating is comparable with most major cities and densely populated areas. In 2004, Scorecard ^[19] ranked the county among the cleanest or best 10% of all counties in the U.S. in terms of the number of designated Superfund sites.

Lake County has a large public park system, including Lake Metroparks Farmpark. Kirtland is home to the Holden Arboretum and Gildersleeve Mountain. Headlands Beach State Park is in Mentor. The Grand River is a state wild and scenic river, and the Chagrin River is a state scenic river.

Transportation

See also: Numbered highways in Lake County, Ohio

Laketran is the transit agency servicing Lake County. Interstate 90 runs northeast–southwest through Lake County, roughly parallel to State Route 2; along with the north–south State Route 44 connecting the two together. These freeways make up the major traffic arteries in the county. Lake County does not have passenger rail service, though Amtrak's New York City-Chicago "Lake Shore Limited" service schedules an eastbound and westbound train through Lake County nightly with stops at Cleveland and Erie. CSXT (former Conrail, née-Penn Central, née-New York Central) and Norfolk Southern (née-Norfolk & Western, née-Nickel Plate Road) provide railroad main line through-freight service. The recently formed Grand River Railroad, operating on former Baltimore & Ohio track, serves the Fairport Harbor area linking the Morton Salt plant with CSXT at Painesville.

Library services

The following libraries serve Lake County:

• Fairport Harbor Public Library in Fairport Harbor
• Kirtland Public Library in Kirtland
• Madison Public Library in Madison
• Mentor Public Library in Mentor
• Morley Library in Painesville
• Perry Public Library in Perry
• Wickliffe Public Library in Wickliffe. WKPL is "A Top Ten American Library" as rated by the HAPLR Index. ^[20] In 2005, the library loaned more than 459,000 items to its 110,400 cardholders. Total holdings are over 100,000 volumes with over 519 periodical subscriptions. ^[21]
• Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, headquartered in Eastlake with branches in Eastlake, Willoughby, Willoughby Hills, and Willowick. In 2005, the library loaned more than 1.2 million items to its 37,000 cardholders. Total holding are over 216,000 volumes with over 850 periodical subscriptions. ^[21]

Additionally, as of 2019, all Lake County libraries are all CLEVNET members.

Politics

Lake County is known as a "purple" or "swing" county within the state. A 2008 analysis of Ohio presidential election results from 1960 to 2004 found no other county more closely follows the statewide Ohio voting pattern. ^[22] Lake County does not always vote with the winner, but consistently is closer to the winner's Ohio vote percentage than any other Ohio county.

United States presidential election results for Lake County, Ohio ^[23]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	73,278	56.03%	55,514	42.45%	1,990	1.52%
2016	64,255	54.83%	46,397	39.59%	6,538	5.58%
2012	58,744	49.50%	57,680	48.61%	2,241	1.89%
2008	59,142	48.62%	60,155	49.45%	2,345	1.93%
2004	62,193	51.05%	59,049	48.47%	581	0.48%
2000	51,747	50.45%	46,497	45.33%	4,320	4.21%
1996	40,974	41.92%	43,186	44.19%	13,576	13.89%
1992	40,766	38.46%	37,682	35.55%	27,542	25.99%
1988	52,963	56.63%	39,667	42.41%	894	0.96%
1984	54,587	59.12%	36,711	39.76%	1,027	1.11%
1980	43,485	50.31%	35,246	40.78%	7,697	8.91%
1976	36,390	45.83%	40,734	51.30%	2,284	2.88%
1972	42,488	58.90%	27,523	38.15%	2,130	2.95%
1968	28,450	43.40%	27,932	42.61%	9,177	14.00%
1964	23,282	37.65%	38,552	62.35%	0	0.00%
1960	32,038	48.94%	33,425	51.06%	0	0.00%
1956	31,017	61.14%	19,718	38.86%	0	0.00%
1952	23,483	60.48%	15,346	39.52%	0	0.00%
1948	12,973	53.81%	10,844	44.98%	291	1.21%
1944	13,697	51.86%	12,713	48.14%	0	0.00%
1940	13,464	52.04%	12,408	47.96%	0	0.00%
1936	9,386	43.24%	11,213	51.66%	1,108	5.10%
1932	11,792	61.43%	6,801	35.43%	603	3.14%
1928	11,823	74.24%	4,024	25.27%	79	0.50%
1924	7,727	70.71%	974	8.91%	2,226	20.37%
1920	7,465	72.31%	2,711	26.26%	147	1.42%
1916	2,887	51.39%	2,596	46.21%	135	2.40%
1912	1,155	22.91%	1,429	28.34%	2,458	48.75%
1908	3,635	66.97%	1,605	29.57%	188	3.46%
1904	3,824	76.42%	871	17.41%	309	6.18%
1900	3,929	68.41%	1,733	30.18%	81	1.41%
1896	3,745	68.40%	1,682	30.72%	48	0.88%
1892	2,846	67.46%	1,158	27.45%	215	5.10%
1888	2,987	68.37%	1,157	26.48%	225	5.15%
1884	2,925	69.64%	1,120	26.67%	155	3.69%
1880	2,978	71.06%	1,104	26.34%	109	2.60%
1876	2,941	71.28%	1,141	27.65%	44	1.07%
1872	2,751	73.56%	979	26.18%	10	0.27%
1868	2,909	76.59%	889	23.41%	0	0.00%
1864	2,787	82.63%	586	17.37%	0	0.00%
1860	2,521	77.74%	622	19.18%	100	3.08%
1856	2,371	78.04%	628	20.67%	39	1.28%

Communities

Map of Lake County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels

Cities

• Eastlake
• Kirtland
• Mentor
• Mentor-on-the-Lake
• Painesville (county seat)
• Wickliffe
• Willoughby
• Willoughby Hills
• Willowick

Villages

• Fairport Harbor
• Grand River
• Kirtland Hills
• Lakeline
• Madison
• North Perry
• Perry
• Timberlake
• Waite Hill

Townships

• Concord
• Leroy
• Madison
• Painesville
• Perry

Census-designated place

• North Madison

Unincorporated communities

• Painesville-on-the-Lake
• Unionville

See also

• Burning River Buckets, 2023 ABA Champions
• Melon heads, a local urban legend
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake County, Ohio
• Historic Country Estates in Lake County, Ohio

References

1. "Ohio County Profiles: Lake County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 18, 2004. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
3. "Lake County data". Ohio State University Extension Data Center. Retrieved April 28, 2007.^{[ dead link ]}
4. summertorok (March 9, 2023). "Lake County Commissioners Celebrate Lake County's 183rd Birthday". Commissioners' Office. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 4, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
6. White, George W. (1980). Glacial Geology of Lake County, Ohio (PDF). Columbus, Ohio: State of Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey. p. 8.
7. "Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve". State of Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021" . Retrieved July 14, 2022.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
11. Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
13. "Data Center Results". Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
15. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
16. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
17. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
18. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
19. "scorecard.org". Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
20. "HAPLR Top Ten by Population". HAPLR Index. Archived from the original on March 23, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
21. "2005 Ohio Public Library Statistics:Statistics by County and Town". State Library of Ohio. Archived from the original on September 24, 2006. Retrieved October 28, 2006.
22. Exner, Rich (August 19, 2008). "Ohio's presidential election bellwether: Lake County". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 2, 2018.

External links

• Official website
• Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library website

41°49′N81°14′W / 41.82°N 81.24°W / 41.82; -81.24