Geauga County was founded on March 1, 1806, as the second county in the Connecticut Western Reserve, originating from Trumbull County, Ohio. In 1808, the size of Geauga County was reduced by the creation of Ashtabula County, Cuyahoga County, and Lake County.
The present-day boundaries were established in 1840 following the creation of Lake County. A disagreement about the location of the county seat began in 1808 when commissioners from Trumbull County began the process of identifying the seat of justice.[8] Residents in the northern townships wanted the seat in Champion, renamed Painesville, Ohio in 1832.[9] Residents in southern townships desired a centrally located county seat and took advantage of a tract of land donated by Peter Chardon Brooks called Chardon, Ohio. Despite Chardon being selected in 1809, the argument was never really settled. Over the next two decades, population growth in the seven northern townships exceeded the remaining sixteen southern townships, further fueling the disagreement. On January 21, 1840, a petition to create Lake County from seven townships in northern Geauga County and Willoughby Township from Cuyahoga County were presented to the Ohio House of Representatives.[9]Seabury Ford presented petitions against its creation. Lake County was established in March 1840 by the Ohio Legislature. As the newly formed Lake County did not have sufficient territory to meet the requirements for a county, the northern border included submerged land beneath the waters of Lake Erie.
The first settlement in Geauga was at Burton, Ohio in the year 1798, when three families settled there from Connecticut.[10]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 408 square miles (1,060 km2), of which 400 square miles (1,000 km2) is land and 8.1 square miles (21 km2) (2.0%) is water.[11]
Geauga County receives the most precipitation of any county in northern Ohio, with most of the county receiving over 42 inches annually in an average year, and some parts exceeding 44 inches.[12]
U.S. Decennial Census[25] 1790-1960[26] 1900-1990[27] 1990-2000[28] 2020 [3]
2000 census
As of the census of 2010,[29] there were 93,389 people, 34,264 households, and 25,654 families residing in the county. The population density was 231.1 inhabitants per square mile (89.2/km2). There were 34,264 occupied housing units at an average density of 84.8 units per square mile (32.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.0% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.001% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. 88.1% spoke English, 4.6% German, 1.2% Spanish, and 3.3% spoke other West Germanic languages.[30]
There were 34,264 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.50% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.10% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 31.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.3 years. For every 100 females there were 96.85 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.72 males.
As of the census[31] of 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $60,200, and the median income for a family was $67,427. Males had a median income of $48,443 versus $30,567 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,944. About 2.80% of families and 4.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.10% of those under age 18 and 5.10% of those age 65 or over. The median household income and per capita income were the second highest among Ohio counties after Delaware, and 74th and 79th in the country, respectively.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 93,389 people, 34,264 households, and 25,654 families residing in the county.[32] The population density was 233.4 inhabitants per square mile (90.1/km2). There were 36,574 housing units at an average density of 91.4 units per square mile (35.3 units/km2).[33] The racial makeup of the county was 96.9% white, 1.3% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population.[32] In terms of ancestry, 27.4% were German, 17.1% were Irish, 13.8% were Italian, 13.8% were English, 8.3% were Polish, 5.5% were Hungarian, and 3.6% were American.[34]
Of the 34,264 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 25.1% were non-families, and 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.16. The median age was 43.3 years.[32]
The median income for a household in the county was $89,663 and the median income for a family was $101,780. Males had a median income of $94,863 versus $40,565 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,735. About 5.0% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.[35]
There is a large Amish community founded in 1886 in Geauga County. It is the fourth largest of all Amish settlements with 18,650 people in 132 congregations in 2017.[7] In 2017 the Amish accounted for 19.8% of Geauga, Trumbull, Ashtabula and Portage counties area population.
*"Nones" is an unclear category.[38][39] It is a heterogenous group of the not religious and intermittently religious.[40] Researchers argue that most of the "Nones" should be considered "unchurched", rather than objectively nonreligious;[39][41][42][43] especially since most "Nones" do hold some religious-spiritual beliefs and a notable amount participate in behaviors.[39][41][44][45] For example, 72% of American "Nones" believe in God or a Higher Power.[46]
Politics
Geauga County is a Republican stronghold, having voted Democratic for president only once since 1856, in Lyndon B. Johnson's 1964 landslide, but Franklin D. Roosevelt came within just 220 votes in 1936.
United States presidential election results for Geauga County, Ohio[47]
The mostly rural nature of Geauga County limits the feasibility of a fixed-route transit system. Instead, Geauga County Transit offers a demand-responsive door-to-door transit system within the county with some out-of-county service. As of 2015[update], one-way fares for door-to-door service were $6.00, with 50% discounts for the elderly, disabled, or children 6 years to 17 years old. Children 5-years and younger are free. Out-of-county fares are two times the posted in-county fares. Service is provided 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday. Reservations are suggested with at least three days notice, but can be made up to one week in advance.[49]
Geauga County is home to one public airport in Middlefield, Ohio.[50] The Geauga County Airport call sign is 7G8. It is home to Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 5.[51]
The Geauga County Airport sits on 41 acres purchased by the Middlefield Chamber of Commerce and donated to Geauga County. Ground was broken August 31, 1967, and it was officially opened September 29, 1968. The airport has one 3500' long by 65' wide runway. Runway numbers are 11 on the west end and 29 on the east end. There are two T-hangars, one private hangar, two community hangars, a pilot lounge and restroom facility.[50][52]
The Geauga County Educational Service Center provides collaborative programs and services for the seven local school districts in Geauga County, leveraging resources to reduce overall costs to each district. The ESC has formed a P-16 bridge initiative whose mission is to create workforce readiness in our youth and adults through substantive partnerships between educators, businesses, community organizations, parents focusing on important transitions experienced at each level. Geauga County P-16 will develop a sustainable process and program to insure its continued success.[53]
Chardon City, Chardon Township, part of Claridon Township, Hambden Township, most of Munson Township, very small part of Concord Township (Lake County)
Chester Township, Chesterland, Newbury Township, a small part of Hunting Valley, a part of Munson Township, and an unincorporated part of Russell Township
Map of public school districts in Geauga County with township boundaries superimposed. Newbury Local School District has since been merged into West Geauga Schools.
In addition, there are five neighboring public school districts that serve portions of Geauga County residents.
Taxpayers in six of the seven school districts in Geauga County support a Joint Vocational School District (JVSD) at the Auburn Career Center in Concord Township, Ohio. The career center offers a variety of programs in health, education, and hands-on technology.
Private and parochial schools
Geauga County is home to eight private, parochial, and/or specialized schools.
Co-ed school and boarding community serving students in 7th-12th grade. Chartered by Ohio Department of Education. New applications accepted year round.
^Stith, B.A. (1989). Lake County, Ohio: 150 Years of Tradition. Northridge, CA: Windsor Publications.
^ abStith, B.A. "A Vision Divided"(PDF). Case Western Reserve University. Archived from the original(PDF) on October 6, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
^Howe, Henry (1852). Historical Collections of Ohio. Cincinnati, Ohio: Bradley & Anthony. pp. 187–190.
^"Scenic Rivers". Ohio Scenic Rivers Program. Ohio Dept of Natural Resources (ODNR). Archived from the original on August 27, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
^"Cuyahoga River". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
^Wuthnow, Robert (2015). Inventing American Religion : Polls, Surveys, and the Tenuous Quest for a Nation's Faith. Oxford University Press. pp. 151–155. ISBN9780190258900.
^ abcJohnson, Byron; Stark, Rodney; Bradshaw, Matt; Levin, Jeff (2022). "Are Religious "Nones" Really Not Religious?: Revisiting Glenn, Three Decades Later". Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion. 18 (7).
^Blankholm, Joseph (2022). The Secular Paradox : On the Religiosity of the Not Religious. New York: New York University Press. p. 7. ISBN9781479809509.
^ abJohnson, Todd; Zurlo, Gina (2016). "Unaffiliated, Yet Religious: A Methodological and Demographic Analysis". In Cipriani, Roberto; Garelli, Franco (eds.). Annual Review of the Sociology of Religion: Volume 7: Sociology of Atheism. Leiden: Brill. pp. 58–60. ISBN9789004317536.
