Holmes County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 44,223. Its county seat is Millersburg. The county was formed in 1824 from portions of Coshocton, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties and organized the following year. It was named after Andrew Holmes, an officer killed in the War of 1812.

Holmes County, which was about 42% Amish in 2010,Amish Groups, undifferentiated Counties (2010) at The Association of Religion Data Archives. and 48% in 2020, has the highest concentration of Amish in the world,Twelve Largest Settlements at Amish Studies which draws many visitors to the county. The Holmes Amish settlement, which also includes Amish from neighboring counties, is the second-largest in the world after Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and numbered 37,770 people in 2021.

History

Holmes County was formed on January 20, 1824, from portions of Coshocton, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties. It was named after Major Andrew Holmes, who was killed in action at the Battle of Mackinac Island.

In 1863, during the Civil War, numerous small anti-draft riots took place, mainly in the German-speaking areas. Holmes County at the time was a Democratic stronghold, dominated by its Pennsylvania Dutch settlers, along with many recent German immigrants. With the passage of the Conscription Act in March 1863, Holmes County politicians denounced both Congress and President Lincoln as despotic, saying that forced military service was little different from slavery. Conscription had been common in their former German homelands, and it was one of the reasons they had moved to America. Violent protests broke out in June, and they continued until the Union Army marched into the county and declared martial law.Kenneth H. Wheeler, "Local autonomy and civil war draft resistance: Holmes County, Ohio," Civil War History, June 1999, Vol. 45 Issue 2, pp 147-58 Stephen E. Towne in 2019, using archival records, argues that many of the resisters belonged to secret organizations that opposed Union tactics to defeat the Confederacy.Stephen E. Towne, "A Lesson for All Rebels at Home: The Holmes County, Ohio, Rebellion of 1863 Revisited" Ohio History (Fall 2019) 126#2 pp 5-37.

In the spring of 1892, a Black man from Mt. Vernon or Wooster, Ohio, whose name remains unknown, was walking through the county. After he had been in town for a few days, a group of white people decided to lynch him because he “lingered about people’s doorsteps and angered them in various ways.” On April 1, 1892, a mob gathered after nightfall, abducted the man, and hanged him from a tree in the public square in front of the county courthouse.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water.

Adjacent counties Wayne County (north) Stark County (northeast) Tuscarawas County (southeast) Coshocton County (south) Knox County (southwest) Ashland County (northwest)

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 44,223. The median age was 31.1 years. 31.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.8 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 97.4% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.1% of the population.

The most commonly reported ancestries were German (23.8%), English (23.2%), Pennsylvania German (4.8%), Swiss (3.9%), and Irish (3.8%).

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 13,490 households in the county, of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 67.3% were married-couple households, 12.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 16.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 14,588 housing units, of which 7.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.0% were owner-occupied and 25.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.

Racial and ethnic composition +Holmes County, Ohio – racial and ethnic compositionRace / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)29,20132,60738,33041,60742,87599.27%99.26%98.43%98.21%96.95%Black or African American alone (NH)10521221231190.03%0.16%0.31%0.29%0.27%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)34212022330.12%0.06%0.05%0.05%0.07%Asian alone (NH)21432049640.07%0.13%0.05%0.12%0.14%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 Census3195xx0.01%0.04%0.01%Other race alone (NH)93916410.03%0.01%0.02%0.04%0.09%Mixed-race or multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census147201612xx0.38%0.47%1.38%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1411232923294740.48%0.37%0.75%0.78%1.07%Total29,41632,84938,94342,36644,223 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 42,366 people, 12,554 households, and 10,035 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 13,666 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.7% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 37.8% were German, 10.8% were American, 6.6% were Irish, and 6.3% were English.

Of the 12,554 households, 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.7% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 20.1% were non-families, and 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.31 and the average family size was 3.80. The median age was 29.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,533 and the median income for a family was $49,133. Males had a median income of $36,644 versus $24,317 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,009. About 10.5% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 38,943 people, 11,337 households, and 9,194 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 12,280 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 99.03% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.75% of the population. 56.1% spoke English, 20.1% Pennsylvania German, 15.8% German and 7.1% "Dutch, i.e. Pennsylvania Dutch."It is likely that those reporting such confused Pennsylvania Dutch, a German dialect, with Dutch. as their first language.

There were 11,337 households, out of which 44.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.50% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.90% were non-families. 16.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.35 and the average family size was 3.82. Religious breakdown for those who gave a religion (68.33 of the total population) was 89.79% Evangelical Protestant, 8.04% Mainline Protestant and 2.16% Catholic. There were 140 Amish congregations with 17,654 adherents. There were several other unrelated Amish congregations and Mennonite congregations. There was one Catholic congregation.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 35.60% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 17.80% from 45 to 64, and 10.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,944, and the median income for a family was $40,230. Males had a median income of $28,490 versus $20,602 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,197. About 10.50% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.40% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

Holmes County has a relatively high number of residents who do not speak English at home. According to the 2000 census, almost 36% of the population speak either Pennsylvania German or German at home, and a further 7% speak "Dutch", i.e. Pennsylvania Dutch. 42.92% of the total population and 50.28% of the children in 5-17 age range uses German/Pennsylvania German or "Dutch" at home.

Amish community The Amish community in Holmes County established in 1808, had 17,654 adherents in 2010,The 12 Largest Amish Communities (2017). at Amish America or 41.7% of the county's population.

Religion

+Religion in Holmes County, according to ARDA (2020)Religion200020102020Number% Number % Number % Christianity 17,94646.1 28,945 68.4 33,78076.6 — Anabaptist Churches 11,198 (7,420 Amish)28.7 21,766 (17,654 Amish) 51.4 24,094 (19,793 Amish)54.7 — Other Evangelical Churches 3,6839.5 4,228 10.0 7,69217.4 — Catholic Church 5241.4 625 1.5 3030.7 — Mainline Protestant Churches 2,5416.5 2,327 5.5 1,6913.8 Other religions00.0 3 0.0 00.0 None* 21,04953.9 14,866 31.6 10,44323.4 Total population 38,943 42,36644,223* "None" is an unclear category. It is a heterogenous group of the not religious and intermittently religious. Researchers argue that most of the "Nones" should be considered "unchurched", rather than objectively nonreligious; especially since most "Nones" do hold some religious-spiritual beliefs and a notable amount participate in religious behaviors. For example, 72% of American "Nones" believe in God or a higher power.

Economy

Tourism is an important part of the economy. In 2017, Holmes County was the second most popular tourist destination in Ohio. Tourism is centered on the Amish community, which makes up almost half the county's population, the highest density in the world.

Politics Prior to 1944, Holmes County was a stronghold of the Democratic Party in presidential elections, with every Democratic presidential candidate from 1856 to 1940, except for Al Smith, carrying the county. The county has since become a Republican stronghold, with Lyndon B. Johnson being the only Democrat since 1940 to carry it, in his 1964 landslide, although Harry S. Truman came within just 16 votes of winning it in 1948.

The high Amish population means that a large proportion of residents in Holmes County do not vote, even compared to turnout standards in much of the United States. These low figures are likely due to the Amish's tendency to abstain from politics.

Transportation The Holmes County Airport is located west-southwest of Millersburg's central business district.

Communities