Mercer County (Ohio)

Mercer County is a county located in the state of Ohio of the United States. In the 2000 census, the county had 40 924 inhabitants and a population density of 34 inhabitants per square kilometer. The administrative headquarters ( County Seat) is Celina.

Geography

The County is located in the extreme west of Ohio, bordering Indiana and has an area of ​​1226 square kilometers, of which 26 square kilometers are water surface. It is bordered clockwise to the following counties: Van Wert County, Auglaize County, Shelby County, Darke County, Jay County ( Indiana) and Adama County ( Indiana).

History

Mercer County was formed on February 12, 1820 from parts of Darke County. It was named for Hugh Mercer, a brigadier general of the Continental Army in the American War of Independence, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Princeton.

Demographic data

1900-1990 2000

According to the census of 2000, there were 40 924 people in Mercer County. Of these, 519 people were living in collective centers, the other inhabitants lived in 14,756 households and 11,022 families. The population density was 34 people per square kilometer. The racial the population was made ​​up of 98.44 percent White, 0.10 percent African American, 0.26 percent Native American, 0.29 percent Asian, 0.02 percent of residents from the Pacific Islander, and 0.34 percent from other races groups; 0.56 percent were descended from two or more races. 1.15 percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 14,756 households out of which 37.1 percent have children under the age of 18 living with them. 64.1 percent were married couples living together, 7.4 percent were single mothers, 25.3 percent were non-families, 22.7 percent of all households and 10.8 percent lived in people aged 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.24 persons.

Based on the county the population was spread from 29.6 percent population under 18 years, 7.9 percent between 18 and 24 years, 26.7 percent between 25 and 44 years, 21.2 percent between 45 and 64 years and 14.5 percent were 65 years old or older. The average age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 men statistically.

The median income for a household was $ 42,742, and the median income for a family was $ 50,157. Males have a median income of $ 35,508, women $ 22,857. The per capita income was $ 18,531. 4.6 percent of families and 6.4 percent of the population lived below the poverty line. Of these, 6.9 percent were children or adolescents under age 18 and 7.8 percent of those 65 years.