Allen County, Ohio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Allen County
U.S. county
Allen County Courthouse in Lima
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Founded	March 1, 1831
Named for	John Allen
Seat	Lima
Largest city	Lima
Area
• Total	407 sq mi (1,050 km2)
• Land	402 sq mi (1,040 km2)
• Water	4.4 sq mi (11 km2)  1.1%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	102,206
• Density	250/sq mi (100/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	4th

Allen County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. Its main city and county seat is Lima. The county was created in 1820 and officially started operating in 1831. It is named after Colonel John Allen, a soldier who bravely fought in the War of 1812.

Allen County is part of the Lima metropolitan area. In 2020, about 102,206 people lived here. Allen County also makes up the entire Lima, Ohio, media market, which means it has its own local TV and radio stations.

History of Allen County

How Allen County's borders changed in 1848.

For many years, the land that is now Allen County was reserved for Native American tribes. This was part of the Treaty of Greenville signed in 1795. European settlers were not allowed to live here until a new agreement, the Treaty of Maumee Rapids, was signed in 1817.

This new treaty allowed the Shawnee tribe to have special lands called reservations. One was near Wapakonetta, and another was along the Ottawa River. This second reservation included most of what is now Shawnee Township.

After the treaty, the Ohio Legislature created fourteen new counties on March 1, 1820. Allen County was one of them. Its borders were set up using a grid system of ranges and towns.

First Settlements and Lima's Start

The first permanent settlers in Allen County arrived in 1824. Christopher S. Wood and his family settled in Bath Township. Bath Township was actually organized before Allen County itself, with its first meeting in 1829.

In 1829, the state government set aside land for a "county town." Christopher S. Wood was chosen to find the best spot for this new town, which would be the county's main city. On March 3, 1831, he picked a spot in Bath Township. He then created a map of land plots to be sold. This map was officially filed on April 20, 1831, marking the beginning of the city of Lima.

Organizing the County Government

Allen County's government officially began on June 6, 1831. The first county commissioners, James Daniels, John G. Wood, and Samuel Stewart, met that day. Other important officials present were William G. Wood (county auditor), Adam White (county treasurer), and Henry Lippincott (sheriff).

The first court meeting happened in August 1831. It's believed that the men at this meeting chose the name "Lima" for the county seat. They supposedly picked it by drawing names from a hat. The meeting took place at James Daniels' cabin, which was by the Ottawa River. The name "Lima" was suggested by Patrick G. Goode. It comes from Lima, the capital of Peru, where a medicine called quinine was found. Quinine was used to treat malaria, a common illness in the area at that time.

Shawnee Tribe Moves West

In 1832, the Shawnee people, including those from the Hog Creek reservation in what is now Shawnee Township, moved to eastern Kansas. They received money for their lands, but it was much less than the land was worth. They faced many challenges in their new home, including a serious illness.

Lima officially became a village in 1841. The town government was set up on March 29, 1842. Henry DeVilliers Williams was elected as the first mayor, and Amos Clutter became the first town marshal.

Changes to County Borders

In 1848, Allen County's borders changed. A new county, Auglaize County, Ohio, was created from the southern part of the original Allen County. Some parts of Putnam, Van Wert, and Mercer Counties were added to Allen County.

These changes made Lima closer to the center of Allen County. The western part of the county also gained a significant section of the Miami and Erie Canal, which was finished in 1845. This canal was important for transportation and trade. The border changes also brought the towns of Spencerville and Bluffton into Allen County.

In 1885, oil was discovered in Lima. This led to a big economic boom in Allen County that lasted until after 1910.

Allen County Fair

One of the most popular yearly events in Allen County is its County Fair. It has been held every August in Lima since 1851. The Fair is a major event in Western Ohio, showcasing agriculture and local achievements. In 2005, over 220,000 people visited the fair, and almost 3,000 people showed their exhibits. This made it the largest fair in the state at the time.

During the 1980s and 1990s, many famous performers came to the fair. Along with improvements to the fairgrounds, this helped the fair become much more popular and well-known.

Geography

Allen County townships.

The U.S. Census Bureau states that Allen County covers a total area of 407 square miles. About 402 square miles of this is land, and 4.4 square miles (or 1.1%) is water.

Neighboring Counties

• Putnam County (north)
• Hancock County (northeast)
• Hardin County (east)
• Auglaize County (south)
• Van Wert County (west)

Population Information

In 2010, about 106,331 people lived in Allen County. There were about 40,619 households. The average number of people in each household was 2.47. The average age of people in the county was 38.3 years old.

Communities in Allen County

Map showing cities, villages, and townships in Allen County.

Allen County has several cities, villages, and townships.

Cities

• Delphos (part of this city is in Allen County)
• Lima (the county seat)

Villages

Townships

Census-designated places

• Fort Shawnee

Other Unincorporated Communities

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Allen (Ohio) para niños