Knox County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 62,721. Its county seat is Mount Vernon. The county is named for Henry Knox, an officer in the American Revolutionary War who was later the first Secretary of War. Knox County comprises the Mount Vernon, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH Combined Statistical Area.
History
Knox County was formed from Fairfield County in 1808.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.8%) is water. Approximately 58% of the county is farmland and 28% is forested. Most of the county lies in the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau with rolling hills and valleys. Although the relief is not sharp, some elevations in the county reach over 1400 feet above sea level.
Adjacent counties
Richland County (north)
Ashland County (far northeast)
Holmes County (northeast)
Coshocton County (east)
Licking County (south)
Delaware County (southwest)
Morrow County (northwest)
Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 60,921 people, 22,607 households, and 15,693 families living in the county. There were 24,997 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 96.7% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. 1.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 22,607 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 27.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 20, 7.9% from 20 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years. For every 100 females there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $48,734, and the median income for a family was $50,034. The per capita income for the county was $22,628. About 9.4% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 60,921 people, 22,607 households, and 15,693 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 25,118 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.7% white, 0.8% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 30.5% were German, 14.4% were Irish, 13.9% were English, and 9.2% were American.
Of the 22,607 households, 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age was 38.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,655 and the median income for a family was $55,881. Males had a median income of $41,762 versus $30,836 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,204. About 9.1% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Knox County is a Republican stronghold county in presidential elections. The last time it supported Democrats was for Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
Government
County Commissioners
Theresa Bemiller, Republican * Bill Pursel, Republican [https://knox.ohioboe.com/apps/cnm.aspx
Thom Collier, Republican [https://knox.ohioboe.com/apps/cnm.aspx]
Other County Offices
Auditor, Jonette Curry, Republican * Clerk of Courts, Christy Milligan Staton, Republican [https://knox.ohioboe.com/apps/cnm.aspx
Coroner, Jennifer Ogle, Republican [http://knoxcountyrepublicans.com/
Engineer, Cameron Keaton, Republican * Prosecuting Attorney, Chip McConville, Republican [https://knox.ohioboe.com/apps/cnm.aspx
Recorder, Tanner S. Salyers, Republican * Sheriff, David Schaffer, Republican [https://knox.ohioboe.com/apps/cnm.aspx
Treasurer, Shelley Coon, Republican [https://knox.ohioboe.com/apps/cnm.aspx]
Judgeships
Court of Common Pleas, Richard Wetzel Jr., Republican [http://knoxcountyrepublicans.com/]
Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division (Probate), Jay Nixon, Republican [http://knoxcountyrepublicans.com/]
Municipal Court, [John Clyde Thatcher] Republican [http://knoxcountyrepublicans.com/]
Court of Appeals
John W. Wise, Republican, Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals * Craig Baldwin, Republican, Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals [https://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_Fifth_District_Court_of_Appeals
Earle Wise, Democrat, Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals * Patricia Delaney, Democrat Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals [https://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_Fifth_District_Court_of_Appeals
Scott Gwin, Democrat, Ohio Fifth District Court of Appeals [https://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_Fifth_District_Court_of_Appeals]
State Senate
Andrew Brenner, Republican, Ohio's 19th Senatorial District [http://knoxcountyrepublicans.com/]
State Representative
Rick Carfagna, Republican, Ohio's 68th Representative District [http://knoxcountyrepublicans.com/]
United States House of Representatives
Bob Gibbs, Republican, Ohio's 7th congressional district [http://knoxcountyrepublicans.com/]
United States Senators
Rob Portman, Republican, Ohio * Sherrod Brown, Democrat, Ohio [https://columbianaboe.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Columbiana-County-Elected-Officials-for-2019-8.1.pdf
Economy
A large portion of Knox County's economy is based on agriculture, with gross cash receipts for crops and livestock at $110 million for 2011. Corn is the primary crop, followed by soybeans and livestock. Mount Vernon, the county seat, is home to major employers in the county, Siemens Energy Inc. (formerly Rolls-Royce Energy Systems, Inc. and Cooper Industries before that) and Ariel Corporation, both of which are manufacturers of components used in the natural gas industry. Major employers in the county also include Kenyon College located in Gambier, Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Mount Vernon, and the Kokosing Construction Company near Fredericktown.
Education
Kenyon College
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Central Ohio Technical College
Communities
thumb|275px|Map of Knox County, Ohio with Municipal and Township Labels
City
Mount Vernon (county seat)
Villages
Centerburg
Danville
Fredericktown
Gambier
Gann
Martinsburg
Utica
Townships
Berlin
Brown
Butler
Clay
Clinton
College
Harrison
Hilliar
Howard
Jackson
Jefferson
Liberty
Middlebury
Milford
Miller
Monroe
Morgan
Morris
Pike
Pleasant
Union
Wayne
https://web.archive.org/web/20160715023447/http://www.ohiotownships.org/township-websites
Census-designated places
Apple Valley
Bladensburg
Howard
South Mount Vernon
Unincorporated communities
Amity
Ankenytown
Artanna
Bangs
Batemantown
Brandon
Five Corners
Green Valley
Greer
Hunt
Jelloway
Knox
Lock
Lucerne
Millwood
Monroe Mills
Morgan Center
Mt. Liberty
North Liberty
Palmyra
Pipesville
Rich Hill
Rossville
Waterford
Zuck
Notable residents
Thomas Peter Akers, United States Congressman
Dan Emmett, songwriter of "Dixie"
George Hunt, Illinois Attorney General
Paul Lynde, actor (Bewitched, Hollywood Squares)
Luke Perry, American Actor
