Darke County, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Darke County
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Darke County Courthouse, Sheriff's House and Jail
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Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
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 Ohio's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Ohio |
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| Founded | March 1, 1817 | |
| Named for | William Darke | |
| Seat | Greenville | |
| Largest city | Greenville | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 600 sq mi (2,000 km2) | |
| • Land | 598 sq mi (1,550 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.7 sq mi (4 km2) 0.3%% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 51,881  |
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| • Density | 86/sq mi (33/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 8th | |
Darke County is a county located in the state of Ohio in the United States. It's like a special region within the state. As of the 2020 census, about 51,881 people live there.
The main city and where the county government is located is Greenville. Darke County was officially created in 1809 and started operating in 1817. It was named after William Darke, who was an important officer in the American Revolutionary War. Darke County is also part of a larger area that includes cities like Dayton and Springfield.
Contents
Where is Darke County?
Darke County covers a total area of about 600 square miles. Most of this area, about 598 square miles, is land. A small part, around 1.7 square miles, is water.
Neighboring Counties
Darke County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Mercer County (to the north)
- Shelby County (to the northeast)
- Miami County (to the east)
- Montgomery County (to the southeast)
- Preble County (to the south)
- Wayne County, Indiana (to the southwest)
- Randolph County, Indiana (to the west)
- Jay County, Indiana (to the northwest)
People of Darke County
The population of Darke County has changed over many years. Here's how it has grown and shifted:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 3,622 | — | |
| 1830 | 6,204 | 71.3% | |
| 1840 | 13,282 | 114.1% | |
| 1850 | 20,276 | 52.7% | |
| 1860 | 26,009 | 28.3% | |
| 1870 | 32,278 | 24.1% | |
| 1880 | 40,496 | 25.5% | |
| 1890 | 42,961 | 6.1% | |
| 1900 | 42,532 | −1.0% | |
| 1910 | 42,933 | 0.9% | |
| 1920 | 42,911 | −0.1% | |
| 1930 | 38,009 | −11.4% | |
| 1940 | 38,831 | 2.2% | |
| 1950 | 41,799 | 7.6% | |
| 1960 | 45,612 | 9.1% | |
| 1970 | 49,141 | 7.7% | |
| 1980 | 55,096 | 12.1% | |
| 1990 | 53,619 | −2.7% | |
| 2000 | 53,309 | −0.6% | |
| 2010 | 52,959 | −0.7% | |
| 2020 | 51,881 | −2.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2020 |
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In 2010, there were 52,959 people living in the county. Most people in Darke County are white. Many families have German, American, Irish, or English backgrounds. The average age of people living here was about 40.8 years old.
Schools in Darke County
Darke County has several public school districts that serve its communities. Each district has its own schools, including high schools.
Public School Districts
- Ansonia Local Schools
- Ansonia High School (the Tigers)
- Arcanum-Butler Local School District
- Arcanum High School (the Trojans)
- Franklin Monroe Schools
- Franklin Monroe Middle School/High School (the Jets)
- Greenville City School District
- Greenville Senior High School (the Green Wave)
- Mississinawa Valley Local School District
- Mississinawa Valley Junior/Senior High School (the Blackhawks)
- Tri-Village Local School District
- Tri-Village High School (the Patriots)
- Versailles Exempted Village Schools
- Versailles High School (the Tigers)
Cities and Towns
Darke County has one main city and many smaller villages.
City
- Greenville (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)
Villages
- Ansonia
- Arcanum
- Bradford
- Burkettsville
- Castine
- Gettysburg
- Gordon
- Hollansburg
- Ithaca
- New Madison
- New Weston
- North Star
- Osgood
- Palestine
- Pitsburg
- Rossburg
- Union City
- Versailles
- Wayne Lakes
- Yorkshire
Cool Places to Visit
Darke County has some interesting historic spots and fun places.
Historic Places
There are 25 places in Darke County that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Two examples are the Darke County Courthouse, Sheriff's House, and Jail and the Versailles Town Hall and Wayne Township House.
Eldora Speedway
Darke County is also home to the Eldora Speedway, which is a famous dirt race track near New Weston. Many exciting racing events happen there throughout the year!
Famous People from Darke County
Several notable people have come from Darke County:
- Joseph Lowery Johnson: He was a U.S. ambassador to Liberia.
- Matt Light: A professional football player who played in the NFL.
- Lucullus Virgil McWhorter: A farmer and frontiersman.
- Annie Oakley: A very famous markswoman from the 1800s, known for her amazing shooting skills.
- Lowell Thomas: A well-known travel author and broadcaster.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Darke para niños
