Demographics
Historical population| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|
| 1820 | 11,933 | | — |
|---|
| 1830 | 23,333 | | 95.5% |
|---|
| 1840 | 35,808 | | 53.5% |
|---|
| 1850 | 32,981 | | −7.9% |
|---|
| 1860 | 32,483 | | −1.5% |
|---|
| 1870 | 35,116 | | 8.1% |
|---|
| 1880 | 40,076 | | 14.1% |
|---|
| 1890 | 39,005 | | −2.7% |
|---|
| 1900 | 37,870 | | −2.9% |
|---|
| 1910 | 38,058 | | 0.5% |
|---|
| 1920 | 41,346 | | 8.6% |
|---|
| 1930 | 47,024 | | 13.7% |
|---|
| 1940 | 50,520 | | 7.4% |
|---|
| 1950 | 58,716 | | 16.2% |
|---|
| 1960 | 75,497 | | 28.6% |
|---|
| 1970 | 87,123 | | 15.4% |
|---|
| 1980 | 97,408 | | 11.8% |
|---|
| 1990 | 101,461 | | 4.2% |
|---|
| 2000 | 111,564 | | 10.0% |
|---|
| 2010 | 114,520 | | 2.6% |
|---|
| 2020 | 116,894 | | 2.1% |
|---|
| 2022 (est.) | 116,559 | | −0.3% |
|---|
|
2000 census
As of the census [13] of 2000, there were 111,564 people, 40,445 households, and 29,484 families living in the county. The population density was 201 inhabitants per square mile (78 inhabitants/km2). There were 42,324 housing units at an average density of 76 units per square mile (29/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.52% White, 1.57% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 31.7% were of German, 13.9% American, 9.6% Irish, 9.0% English and 5.5% Swiss ancestry according to Census 2000. 91.5% spoke English, 3.2% German, 1.6% Dutch, 1.5% Pennsylvania Dutch and 1.2% Spanish as their first language.
There were 40,445 households, out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 22.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.40% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,538, and the median income for a family was $48,294. Males had a median income of $33,976 versus $23,203 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,330. About 5.40% of families and 8.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.60% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 114,520 people, 42,638 households, and 30,070 families living in the county. [14] The population density was 206.4 inhabitants per square mile (79.7 inhabitants/km2). There were 45,847 housing units at an average density of 82.6 units per square mile (31.9 units/km2). [15] The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% white, 1.5% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.6% of the population. [14] In terms of ancestry, 34.1% were German, 13.3% were American, 12.9% were Irish, and 9.0% were English. [16]
Of the 42,638 households, 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.5% were non-families, and 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.13. The median age was 38.3 years. [14]
The median income for a household in the county was $48,375 and the median income for a family was $59,692. Males had a median income of $42,082 versus $29,623 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,645. About 7.8% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over. [17]
Ancestry
There were several large waves of migration into what it is today Wayne County, Ohio. The first wave was groups of families from New England, migrating westward into what was then the Northwest Territory and then early statehood era Ohio between the 1790s and the 1820s. Most of the settlers who arrived in what would become Wayne County at that time were from New England. They were overwhelmingly Congregationalists, however, in the 1810s several arrived who had become Methodists, Baptists and Presbyterians during the Second Great Awakening. These groups were of English ancestry, being descended from the English Puritans who arrived in colonial New England during the 1620s and 1630s. The English-descended "Yankee" New Englanders established the county in 1812. The second large migration was German immigrants, the Germans settled in Wayne County in large numbers between the 1820s and the 1880s, forming a steady stream of migration into the county during that time. These immigrants were almost exclusively Lutheran. Lastly in the early 1850s a large group of Irish immigrants arrived in the county as part of a large wave of migration entering the United States at that time. This group was overwhelmingly Catholic. Many families currently in Wayne County go back to the early 19th century settlement of the county by New Englanders. [18] Today, many of these same people who cite that they are of "American" ancestry are actually of English descent, however, they have families that have been in the state so long, in many cases since the colonial period, that they choose to identify simply as having "American" ancestry or do not, in fact, know their own ancestry. Their ancestry primarily goes back to the original Thirteen Colonies and for this reason many of them today simply claim "American" ancestry, though they are of predominantly English ancestry. [19] [20] [21] [22] There are also many Irish-Americans in the county. German-Americans have formed the largest single group in Wayne County since the late 1800s.
Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,018. Its county seat and largest city is Wilmington. The county is named for former U.S. Vice President George Clinton. Clinton County comprises the Wilmington, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN Combined 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.
Perry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,408. Its county seat is New Lexington. It was established on March 1, 1818, from parts of Fairfield, Washington and Muskingum counties. The county is named for Oliver Hazard Perry, a hero of the War of 1812. Perry County is included in the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. One of the poorest counties in the state, this is where the lawsuit challenging Ohio's school funding system, DeRolph v. State, began.
Paulding County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was about 18,806. Its county seat is Paulding. The county was created in 1820 and later organized in 1839. It is named for John Paulding, one of the captors of Major John André in the American Revolutionary War.
Noble County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,115, making it the fourth-least populous county in Ohio. Its county seat is Caldwell. The county is named for Rep. Warren P. Noble of the Ohio House of Representatives, who was an early settler there.
Muskingum County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 86,410. Its county seat is Zanesville. Nearly bisected by the Muskingum River, the county name is based on a Delaware American Indian word translated as "town by the river" or "elk's eye". Muskingum County comprises the Zanesville, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH Combined Statistical Area. The Zanesville Micropolitan Statistical Area is the second-largest statistical area within the Combined Statistical Area, after the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Monroe County is a county located on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Ohio, across the Ohio River from West Virginia. As of 2023, the population was 13,153, making it the second-least populous county in Ohio. Its county seat is Woodsfield. The county was created in 1813 and later organized in 1815.
Medina County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 182,470. Its county seat is Medina, and its largest city is Brunswick.
Defiance County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,286. Its county seat and largest city is Defiance. The county was named after an early Army fortification, Fort Defiance, which was so named by Mad Anthony Wayne to signify the settlers' "defiance" of the Indians. The Defiance, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Defiance County.
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.
Carroll County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,721. Its county seat is Carrollton, while its largest village is Minerva. It is named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence. Carroll County is part of the Canton-Massillon, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area. It is in the Appalachian Ohio region.
Dalton is a village in Wayne County, Ohio, United States. The 2020 census indicated a population of 1,927.
Fredericksburg is a village in Salt Creek Township, Wayne County, Ohio, United States. The population was 409 at the 2020 census.
Marshallville is a village in Wayne County, Ohio. The population was 789 at the time of the 2020 census. Marshallville was originally called Bristol, and under the latter name was laid out in 1817.
Orrville is a city in Wayne County, Ohio, United States. It is about 9 miles east of Wooster and 20 miles southwest of Akron. The population was 8,452 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Wooster micropolitan area, and the city is best known as the headquarters of The J.M. Smucker Company, an American food and beverage company mostly known for its production of namesake jellies.
Shreve is a village in Clinton Township, Wayne County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,497 at the 2020 census. Shreve is served by a branch of the Wayne County Public Library.
Wooster is the county seat of Wayne County, Ohio, United States. Located in northeastern Ohio, the city lies approximately 50 mi (80 km) south-southwest of Cleveland, 35 mi (56 km) southwest of Akron and 30 mi (48 km) west of Canton. The population was 27,232 at the 2020 census. It is the largest in Wayne County, and the center of the Wooster micropolitan area. Wooster has the main branch and administrative offices of the Wayne County Public Library, and is home to the private College of Wooster. fDi magazine ranked Wooster among North America's top 10 micro cities for business friendliness and strategy in 2013.
Creston is a village in Medina and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 2,139 at the 2020 census.
Rittman is a city in Medina and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. All but a small portion of the city is in Wayne County, within commuting distance of Akron, Canton and Cleveland. The population was 6,131 at the 2020 census.
Norton is a city in southwestern Summit County, Ohio, United States, with a 4.4-acre (1.8 ha) district extending into Wayne County. The population was 11,673 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Akron metropolitan area.
United States
Ohio 
