Ashtabula County is the northeasternmost county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 97,574. The county seat is Jefferson. The county was created in 1808 and later organized in 1811. The name Ashtabula derives from the Lenape language phrase ashte-pihële, which translates to 'always enough (fish) to go around, to be given away' and is a contraction of apchi ('always') + tepi ('enough') + hële (verb of motion). Ashtabula County comprises the Ashtabula, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Cleveland–Akron–Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area.
The county is best known for having nineteen covered bridges within the county limits, including both the longest and the shortest covered bridges in the United States. Grapes are a popular crop and there are several award-winning wineries in the region due to the favorable microclimate from the nearby lake. During the winter, Ashtabula County (along with neighboring Geauga and Lake Counties, as well as Crawford and Erie Counties in neighboring Pennsylvania) receives frequent lake-effect snow and is part of the Southeastern Lake Erie Snowbelt.
History
After Europeans arrived in the Americas, the land that became Ashtabula County was originally part of the French colony of Canada (New France), which was ceded in 1763 to Great Britain and renamed Province of Quebec. In the late 18th century, the land became part of the Connecticut Western Reserve in the Northwest Territory, then was purchased by the Connecticut Land Company in 1795. It was created from Geauga County and a small portion of northern Trumbull County.
Geography
thumb|right|100px|Seal of the Ashtabula County Auditor
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (49%) is water. It is the largest county in Ohio by area.
Adjacent counties
Across Lake Erie lie Elgin and Norfolk Counties, Ontario, Canada (north).
Erie County, Pennsylvania (northeast)
Crawford County, Pennsylvania (east)
Trumbull County (south)
Geauga County (southwest)
Lake County (west)
Major highways
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Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 102,728 people, 39,397 households, and 27,774 families residing in the county. The population density was 146 people per square mile (56/km2). There were 43,792 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile (24/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.07% White, 3.16% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 2.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 19.3% were of German, 11.6% Italian, 10.6% English, 10.5% Irish, and 10.3% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.2% spoke English, 2.4% Spanish, and 0.8% German as their first language.
There were 39,397 households, out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,607, and the median income for a family was $42,449. Males had a median income of $33,105 versus $22,624 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,814. About 9.20% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 101,497 people, 39,363 households, and 26,495 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 46,099 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 92.7% white, 3.5% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 24.9% were German, 15.8% were Irish, 12.6% were English, 11.1% were Italian, 10.0% were American, and 5.8% were Polish.
Of the 39,363 households, 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.7% were non-families, and 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 41.0 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,139 and the median income for a family was $50,227. Males had a median income of $40,879 versus $30,156 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,898. About 11.8% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.7% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Ashtabula County voted for the Democratic candidate for president in every election between 1988 and 2012. In 2016, Donald Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to carry the county since 1984. Trump captured the largest majority in the county since Richard Nixon in 1972. He expanded his margins to over 20 points in 2020. The county had one of the largest Obama-to-Trump swings in the nation.
Culture
Ashtabula County (along with neighboring Lake County) fostered a very large Finnish American community around the turn of the twentieth century, and as a result, the area is home to many Finnish Americans.
Ashtabula County has eighteen extant covered bridges. Of these, nine were constructed prior to 1900. See List of Ashtabula County covered bridges.
Communities
Cities
Ashtabula
Conneaut
Geneva
Villages
Andover
Geneva-on-the-Lake
Jefferson (county seat)
North Kingsville
Orwell
Roaming Shores
Rock Creek
Townships
Andover
Ashtabula
Austinburg
Cherry Valley
Colebrook
Conneaut
Denmark
Dorset
Geneva
Harpersfield
Hartsgrove
Jefferson
Kingsville
Lenox
Monroe
Morgan
New Lyme
Orwell
Pierpont
Plymouth
Richmond
Rome
Saybrook
Sheffield
Trumbull
Wayne
Williamsfield
Windsor
Census-designated places
Austinburg
Edgewood
Kingsville
Saybrook-on-the-Lake
Unincorporated communities
Dorset
Eagleville
Footville
Kelloggsville
Pierpont
Unionville
Williamsfield
Windsor
Notable people
Chester H. Aldrich (1862–1924), governor of Nebraska 1911-1913
Brian Anderson, Cleveland Indians pitcher, originally from Geneva
Charles Case (1817–1883), born in Austinburg, United States congressman from Indiana
Tammy Cochran, country music singer from Austinburg; biggest hit was "Angels in Waiting"
Edwin Cowles (1825–1890), born in Austinburg, publisher of The Cleveland Leader, vice-president of the 1884 Republican National Convention
Charles DeBarber, a cyber intelligence analyst on CBS's Hunted (2017 TV series)
Joshua Reed Giddings (1795–1864), member of the U.S. House of Representatives and prominent opponent of slavery
Rosetta Luce Gilchrist (1850-1921), physician, writer, president of the Ashtabula Equal Rights Club
Francis Joseph Hall, was an American Protestant Episcopal theologian and author.
Ken Meyer, head coach of the National Football League's San Francisco 49ers in 1977
Urban Meyer, head football coach at the University of Florida (2005-2010), head football coach at The Ohio State University (2012-2018), head coach of the National Football League's Jacksonville Jaguars (2021–present)
James Montgomery, (1814–1871), born in Ashtabula County, colonel in the American Civil War, raided several towns in Missouri and the American South
Danielle Nicolet, television, film, and voice actress born in Ashtabula
Larry Obhof, attorney and former President of the Ohio Senate
Ransom Eli Olds, pioneer of the American automobile industry, for whom both the Oldsmobile and Reo brands were named
Glenn W. Salisbury, agricultural scientist
Louis C. Shepard, American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient from Ashtabula County, buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Port Clinton, Ottawa County, Ohio
Decius Wade, attorney, judge, writer, and politician who has been called the "Father of Montana Jurisprudence" for his role in establishing the common law and statutory law of the U.S. state of Montana
Clarence Darrow, American lawyer who became famous in the early 20th century for his involvement in the Leopold and Loeb murder trial and the Scopes "Monkey" Trial.
Connie Schultz, an American writer and journalist and wife of United States Senator Sherrod Brown.
Doug Tompkins, co-founder of North Face and Esprit
