Adams County, Ohio

Adams County
County
Adams County Courthouse
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°50′N 83°29′W / 38.84°N 83.48°W / 38.84; -83.48
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Founded	July 10, 1797[1]
Named for	John Adams
Seat	West Union
Largest village	West Union
Area
• Total	586 sq mi (1,520 km2)
• Land	584 sq mi (1,510 km2)
• Water	2.4 sq mi (6 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	27,477
• Density	47/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	www.adamscountyoh.gov

Adams County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,477.^[2] Its county seat and largest village is West Union.^[3] The county is named after John Adams, the second President of the United States.^[4]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 586 square miles (1,520 km²), of which 584 square miles (1,510 km²) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) (0.4%) is water.^[5] It includes many parks and preserves, including one of Ohio's greatest archeological wonders, the Serpent Mound at the Serpent Mound State Memorial in Locust Grove. Serpent Mound lends its name to the Serpent Mound crater, the eroded remnant of a huge ancient meteorite impact crater. Other areas of note include parks and natural areas like The Edge of Appalachia Preserve, Shawnee State Park, Adams Lake State Park, and Robert H. Whipple State Nature Preserve.^[6]

• Highland County (north)
• Pike County (northeast)
• Scioto County (east)
• Lewis County, Kentucky (south)
• Mason County, Kentucky (southwest)
• Brown County (west)

• Adams Lake State Park
• Chaparral Prairie State Nature Preserve
• Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve
• Johnson Ridge State Nature Preserve
• Lynx Prairie
• Shoemaker State Nature Preserve
• Whipple State Nature Preserve

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1800	3,432		—
1810	9,434		174.9%
1820	10,406		10.3%
1830	12,281		18.0%
1840	13,183		7.3%
1850	18,883		43.2%
1860	20,309		7.6%
1870	20,750		2.2%
1880	24,005		15.7%
1890	26,093		8.7%
1900	26,328		0.9%
1910	24,755		−6.0%
1920	22,403		−9.5%
1930	20,381		−9.0%
1940	21,705		6.5%
1950	20,499		−5.6%
1960	19,982		−2.5%
1970	18,957		−5.1%
1980	24,328		28.3%
1990	25,371		4.3%
2000	27,330		7.7%
2010	28,550		4.5%
2020	27,477		−3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2020 [2]

As of the 2000 United States census,^[13] 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families resided in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile (18 people/km²). There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (7.7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.77% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. 0.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.5% were of American, 19.8% German, 11.7% Irish and 8.9% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 10,501 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,315, and the median income for a family was $34,714. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $20,433 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,515. About 12.80% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.30% of those under age 18 and 16.00% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2010 United States census, 28,550 people, 11,147 households, and 7,793 families resided in the county.^[14] The population density was 48.9 inhabitants per square mile (18.9/km²). There were 12,978 housing units at an average density of 22.2 per square mile (8.6/km²).^[15] The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.4% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population.^[14] In terms of ancestry, 17.6% were German, 16.5% were American, 15.3% were Irish, and 9.8% were English.^[16]

Of the 11,147 households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.1% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 39.6 years.^[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $32,791 and the median income for a family was $40,305. Males had a median income of $37,277 versus $25,746 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,693. About 18.8% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under age 18 and 16.8% of those age 65 or over.^[17]

As of the 2020 United States census, 27,477 people, 10,175 households, and 7,483 families resided in the county.^[18]

The economy of Adams County employs 10,100 people. Its largest industries are manufacturing (1,774 people), retail trade (1,618 people), and health care and social assistance (1,599 people), and the highest paying industries are utilities ($69,063), and finance and insurance ($56,938).^[19] A 2019 report identified Adams County as the poorest in Ohio with a 23.8% poverty rate and median household income of $36,320 ($16,000 less than the state average). The county also has the state's highest unemployment rate at 6.8%. Poor economic conditions led to a 2.1% decrease in the county's population during the previous five years.^[20]

Prior to 1936, Adams County was a swing county in presidential elections, holding bellwether status from 1896 to 1932. From 1936 on, the county has become strongly Republican and failed to back Republican candidates only in 1964 and 1976 since then, which also enabled it to regain bellwether status from 1964 to 1988.

United States presidential election results for Adams County, Ohio^[21]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	10,269	82.62%	2,098	16.88%	62	0.50%
2020	9,870	81.27%	2,156	17.75%	119	0.98%
2016	8,659	75.88%	2,326	20.38%	427	3.74%
2012	6,865	61.75%	3,976	35.76%	277	2.49%
2008	6,914	60.57%	4,170	36.53%	330	2.89%
2004	7,653	63.78%	4,281	35.67%	66	0.55%
2000	6,380	62.34%	3,581	34.99%	274	2.68%
1996	4,763	45.88%	4,317	41.59%	1,301	12.53%
1992	4,722	43.89%	3,998	37.16%	2,038	18.94%
1988	5,916	60.71%	3,740	38.38%	88	0.90%
1984	6,113	62.83%	3,534	36.32%	82	0.84%
1980	5,336	53.75%	4,161	41.91%	431	4.34%
1976	4,197	47.80%	4,450	50.68%	133	1.51%
1972	4,980	63.18%	2,709	34.37%	193	2.45%
1968	3,973	51.54%	2,685	34.83%	1,050	13.62%
1964	3,702	42.52%	5,005	57.48%	0	0.00%
1960	5,996	60.59%	3,900	39.41%	0	0.00%
1956	5,637	59.14%	3,894	40.86%	0	0.00%
1952	5,648	58.93%	3,937	41.07%	0	0.00%
1948	5,103	54.24%	4,293	45.63%	12	0.13%
1944	5,590	58.30%	3,998	41.70%	0	0.00%
1940	6,180	55.24%	5,007	44.76%	0	0.00%
1936	5,910	50.21%	5,832	49.55%	28	0.24%
1932	4,857	44.43%	5,909	54.06%	165	1.51%
1928	5,665	65.23%	3,000	34.54%	20	0.23%
1924	4,315	52.46%	3,762	45.73%	149	1.81%
1920	4,974	54.07%	4,194	45.59%	31	0.34%
1916	2,819	48.21%	2,887	49.38%	141	2.41%
1912	1,863	38.03%	2,279	46.52%	757	15.45%
1908	3,432	52.11%	3,048	46.28%	106	1.61%
1904	3,252	51.98%	2,796	44.69%	208	3.32%
1900	3,535	51.81%	3,169	46.45%	119	1.74%
1896	3,338	50.13%	3,248	48.78%	73	1.10%
1892	2,903	48.44%	2,832	47.26%	258	4.31%
1888	2,870	47.71%	3,022	50.24%	123	2.04%
1884	2,833	49.05%	2,886	49.97%	57	0.99%
1880	2,563	48.39%	2,725	51.44%	9	0.17%
1876	2,141	45.47%	2,546	54.07%	22	0.47%
1872	1,877	48.63%	1,972	51.09%	11	0.28%
1868	2,044	47.63%	2,247	52.37%	0	0.00%
1864	2,094	51.99%	1,934	48.01%	0	0.00%
1860	1,667	43.33%	2,010	52.25%	170	4.42%
1856	1,407	40.49%	1,790	51.51%	278	8.00%

Adams County has a three-member Board of County Commissioners who manage the various County departments. Adams County's elected commissioners are: Ty Pell, Diane Ward, and Barbara Moore.^[22]

The Adams County Public Library serves the communities of Adams County, Ohio from its administrative location in Peebles and branches in Manchester, West Union, and Seaman.

In 2005, the library system loaned more than 264,000 items to its 14,000 cardholders. Total holdings (as of 2005^[update]) were over 101,000 volumes with over 250 periodical subscriptions.^[23]

• 
  Peebles Library
• 
  Manchester Library
• 
  West Union Library
• 
  Seaman Library

Adams County is served by the Adams County Regional Medical Center near Seaman. The hospital was previously known as Adams County Hospital, and was in West Union. It was renamed and relocated to Seaman, and is easily accessible from the Appalachian Highway.

• Bentonville
• Cherry Fork

• Great Serpent Mound
• Counterfeit House in the Manchester, OH area, the only home constructed for the purposes of counterfeiting U.S. currency^[25]
• Brushcreek Motorsports Complex^[26]

• 
  Serpent Mound
• 
  Counterfeit House
• 
  Brushcreek Motorsports Complex

• Afroman, rapper.
• Cowboy Copas, country music singer
• Joseph Darlinton, brigadier general during the War of 1812, represented Adams County in the Ohio Senate.
• John Glasgow Kerr, noted physician and medical missionary; founder of the first hospital for the insane in China
• Thomas Kirker, 2nd Governor of Ohio.
• John P. Leedom, United States congressman from Ohio and Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives
• Philip Lewis Sr., an early pioneer of Adams County and a prominent politician.
• Daniel McCann, sold the eagle Old Abe to the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
• William H. Reddick, received the Medal of Honor for service in the 33rd Ohio Infantry.
• Jack Roush, founder, CEO, and co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Adams County, Ohio
• List of counties in Ohio

• Adams County Government website
• Adams County Travel and Visitors Bureau
• Adams County Public Library Archived December 3, 2019, at the Wayback Machine

38°50′N 83°29′W / 38.84°N 83.48°W / 38.84; -83.48