Wood County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 132,248. Its county seat is Bowling Green. The county was named for Captain Eleazer D. Wood, the engineer for General William Henry Harrison's army, who built Fort Meigs during the War of 1812. Wood County is part of the Toledo, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its diagonal northwest border is formed by the Maumee River, which has its mouth at Maumee Bay on Lake Erie.

History Wood County was established on February 12, 1820, following a treaty and land purchase from local Indian tribes. Perrysburg was the first county seat, and remained the county seat until 1870, when it was moved to Bowling Green.

Wood County established its first health department in 1920.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.5%) is water.

Adjacent counties Lucas County (north) Ottawa County (northeast) Sandusky County (east) Seneca County (southeast) Hancock County (south) Putnam County (southwest) Henry County (west)

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 132,248. The median age was 36.8 years. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.7 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 87.2% White, 2.4% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 6.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.3% of the population.

69.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 30.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 53,202 households in the county, of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.3% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 56,863 housing units, of which 6.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 65.9% were owner-occupied and 34.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.3%.

Racial and ethnic composition

+Wood County, Ohio – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)102,886107,989112,913113,021112,49395.82%95.34%93.27%90.07%85.06%Black or African American alone (NH)1,2951,1491,4922,9063,0891.21%1.01%1.23%2.32%2.34%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1111742332321640.10%0.15%0.19%0.18%0.12%Asian alone (NH)5371,0141,2411,9242,7500.50%0.90%1.03%1.53%2.08%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census18309xx0.01%0.02%0.01%Other race alone (NH)21461931043300.20%0.05%0.08%0.08%0.25%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census1,0421,6085,133xx0.86%1.28%3.88%Hispanic or Latino (any race)2,3292,8824,0335,6638,2802.17%2.54%3.33%4.51%6.26%Total107,372113,269121,065125,488132,248 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census As of the 2010 United States census, there were 125,488 people, 49,043 households, and 30,923 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 53,376 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% white, 2.4% black or African American, 1.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 40.8% were German, 14.4% were Irish, 10.4% were English, 6.7% were Polish, and 5.2% were American.

Of the 49,043 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.9% were non-families, and 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 35.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,298 and the median income for a family was $69,768. Males had a median income of $51,038 versus $35,472 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,671. About 6.4% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 121,065 people, 45,172 households, and 29,678 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 47,468 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 94.83% White, 1.27% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.45% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 3.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 36.3% were of German, 9.9% American, 8.2% English, 8.0% Irish and 5.8% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 45,172 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.30% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 17.20% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,442, and the median income for a family was $56,468. Males had a median income of $40,419 versus $26,640 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,284. About 4.70% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.40% of those under age 18 and 5.80% of those age 65 or over.

Economy According to the 2019 Wood County Comprehensive annual report, the largest employers in the county were: # Employer # of employees 1 Bowling Green State University 3,300 2 Magna 2,200 3 First Solar, Inc 1,200 4 Owens Community College 1,000 5 Waltrust/Walgreen Company 1,000 6 Wood County Hospital 875 7 Wood County 842 8 FedEx Ground 800 9 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles 800 10 Home Depot 750

Politics Wood County formerly was a Republican stronghold county, but since 1964 the county has become a bellwether county. Wood County voted for Bill Clinton twice, George W. Bush twice, and then Obama twice. In 2016, President Trump won the county decisively, and expanded his vote total in 2020 and 2024. In fact, President Trump's win in 2024 was the largest for any presidential candidate of either party since 1988, and the most votes ever received by any candidate in Wood County.

Government

County officials Office Name Party Commissioner Doris Herringshaw Republican Commissioner Craig LaHote Republican Commissioner Dr. Theodore Bowlus Republican Auditor Matthew Oestreich Republican Clerk of Court of Common Pleas Douglas F. Cubberley Republican Coroner Douglas W. Hess Republican Engineer John Musteric Republican Prosecuting Attorney Paul A. Dobson Republican Recorder Connor Rose Republican Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn Republican Treasurer Jane Spoerl Republican Judge of the Common Pleas Court Mary L. Mack Republican Judge of the Common Pleas Court Joel M. Kuhlman Democrat Judge of the Common Pleas Court Matthew Reger Republican Judge of the Common Pleas Court (Probate) David W. Woessner Republican

Source:

Education School districts include: - Text list

Anthony Wayne Local School District Bowling Green City School District Eastwood Local School District Elmwood Local School District Fostoria City School District Gibsonburg Exempted Village School District Lakota Local School District Lake Local School District McComb Local School District North Baltimore Local School District Northwood Local School District Otsego Local School District Patrick Henry Local School District Perrysburg Exempted Village School District Rossford Exempted Village School District

Libraries

While there is no countywide library entity, the Wood County District Public Library serves Bowling Green and other portions of the county, not otherwise served by another library entity, from its main location in Bowling Green and a branch in Walbridge. In 2019, the library had a total circulation of 783,166 items and provided 1,473 programs to its patrons. Total holdings in 2019 were 158,861 print materials, 21,469 video recordings, 12,967 audio recordings, and 171 periodical subscriptions.

Additional libraries include: North Baltimore Public Library Pemberville Public Library, and branches in Luckey and Stony Ridge Rossford Public Library Way Public Library in Perrysburg Wayne Public Library Weston Public Library, and Grand Rapids branch

A small portion of the county located in the Fostoria city limits is served by the Kaubisch Memorial Public Library, located in the Seneca County portion of the city.

All Wood County and Fostoria library locations participate in Woodlink, a joint catalog system.

Transportation The Wood County Airport is located northeast of Bowling Green's central business district.

Communities

Cities Bowling Green (county seat) Fostoria (a small portion) Northwood Perrysburg Rossford

Villages

Bairdstown Bloomdale Bradner Custar Cygnet Grand Rapids Haskins Hoytville Jerry City Luckey Millbury Milton Center North Baltimore Pemberville Portage Risingsun Tontogany Walbridge Wayne West Millgrove Weston

Townships

Bloom Center Freedom Grand Rapids Henry Jackson Lake Liberty Middleton Milton Montgomery Perry Perrysburg Plain Portage Troy Washington Webster Weston

Census-designated places Rudolph Stony Ridge

Unincorporated communities

Bays Bloom Center Cloverdale Denver Digby Dowling Ducat Dunbridge Eagleville Galatea Hammansburg Hatton Hull Prairie Lemoyne Lime City Mermill Moline Mungen New Rochester Otsego Scotch Ridge Six Points Sugar Ridge Trombley Wingston Woodside

Community Resources

The Cocoon The Cocoon is a protective shelter for sexual and domestic violence victims in Wood County, Ohio. Beyond providing housing for survivors and their families, The Cocoon provides medical counsel, legal counsel, and support in finding permanent employment and residence. Organizing for the shelter began in 2000 with Bowling Green State University's Women's Center and Transformation Project in response to a rise in domestic violence homicides in Wood County. The Cocoon began operation in June 2005, and by 2012 all of its services were being conducted from its undisclosed location. By October 2015, The Cocoon had integrated sexual violence recovery and support as part of its programs.