Highland County, Ohio

Adjacent counties

• Fayette County (north)
• Ross County (northeast)
• Pike County (east)
• Adams County (southeast)
• Brown County (southwest)
• Clinton County (northwest)

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 43,317. The median age was 41.3 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.9 males age 18 and over.^[12][13]

The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other race, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.0% of the population.^[13]

26.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 73.7% lived in rural areas.^[14]

There were 16,876 households in the county, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.8% were married-couple households, 18.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[12]

There were 18,981 housing units, of which 11.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.5% were owner-occupied and 28.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%.^[12]

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 43,589 people, 16,693 households, and 11,819 families residing in the county.^[24] The population density was 78.8 inhabitants per square mile (30.4/km²). There were 19,380 housing units at an average density of 35.0 per square mile (13.5/km²).^[25] The racial makeup of the county was 96.5% white, 1.4% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.^[24] In terms of ancestry, 23.8% were German, 14.9% were Irish, 14.3% were American, and 10.7% were English.^[26]

Of the 16,693 households, 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.2% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age was 39.2 years.^[24]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,844 and the median income for a family was $48,604. Males had a median income of $38,892 versus $29,167 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,966. About 12.4% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.^[27]

2000 census

As of the census^[28] of 2010, there were 43,589 people living in Highland County. The population density is 78.8 people per square mile. The county is made up of 96.4% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.5% from two or more races, and 0.8% Hispanic or Latino.

This county is also made up of 6.2% of people under the age of 5, 24.7% of people under the age of 18, and 16.5% of people over the age of 65. The median age is 39.2. The county is also 51% female.

There are 16,963 households in Highland County as of the 2010 census. The average household size is 2.58 persons, while the average family size is 3.04 persons. According to the 2010 census, 41.9% of the houses in Highland County had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.07% of the houses were married couples living together, 11.09% of the houses had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.91% of the houses were non-families. Individuals made up 24.33% of all households, and 11.02% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

According to the census, 81.5% of people over the age of 25 is at least a high school graduate and 11.1% of people over the age of 25 have earned at least a bachelor's degree. The median household income is $39,641 and 17.6% of people live below the poverty line. The per capita income of Highland County is $19,557.

School districts

Highland County is home to five school districts: Greenfield Exempted Village Schools in Greenfield,^[31] Hillsboro City Schools in Hillsboro,^[32] Fairfield Local School District in Leesburg,^[33] Bright Local School District in Mowrystown,^[34] and Lynchburg-Clay Local School District in Lynchburg.^[35]

Additionally, these districts have territory in the county: Eastern Local School District, East Clinton Local School District, and Adams County/Ohio Valley Local School District.^[36]

Airports

The Highland County Airport is located three nautical miles (3.5 mi; 5.6 km) southeast of Hillsboro's central business district.^[37]

Major highways

City

• Hillsboro (county seat)

Villages

• Greenfield
• Highland
• Leesburg
• Lynchburg
• Mowrystown
• Sardinia
• Sinking Spring

Townships

Census-designated places

• Buford
• Highland Holiday
• Rocky Fork Point

Unincorporated communities

East Monroe