Licking County

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 687 square miles (1,780 km2), of which 683 square miles (1,770 km2) is land and 5.0 square miles (13 km2) (0.7%) is water. It is the third-largest county in Ohio by land area.

Adjacent counties

Knox County (north)

Coshocton County (northeast)

Muskingum County (east)

Perry County (southeast)

Fairfield County (southwest)

Franklin County (west)

Delaware County (northwest)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 178,519. The median age was 40.4 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 86.3% White, 4.0% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.8% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 5.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.2% of the population.

The 2020 census reported that 66.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 33.8% lived in rural areas.

There were 68,462 households in the county, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.2% were married-couple households, 16.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 72,709 housing units, of which 5.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.5% were owner-occupied and 27.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 166,492 people, 63,989 households, and 45,162 families living in the county. The population density was 243.9 inhabitants per square mile (94.2/km2). There were 69,291 housing units at an average density of 101.5 units per square mile (39.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% white, 3.4% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 29.5% were German, 16.0% were Irish, 13.0% were English, 10.8% were American, and 5.5% were Italian.

Of the 63,989 households, 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 23.8% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00. The median age was 39.1 years.

The median household income was $53,291 and the median family income was $64,386. Males had a median income of $47,391 versus $37,054 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,534. About 8.2% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 145,491 people, 55,609 households, and 40,149 families living in the county. The population density was 212 inhabitants per square mile (82/km2). There were 58,760 housing units at an average density of 86 units per square mile (33 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.64% White, 2.06% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 55,609 households 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 23.10% of households were one person and 9.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.01.

The age distribution was 26.00% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median household income was $44,124 and the median family income was $51,969. Males had a median income of $37,957 versus $26,884 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,581. About 5.50% of families and 7.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Prior to 1944, Licking County primarily supported Democratic Party candidates in presidential elections, only voting for Republican candidates five times from 1856 to 1940 in five national landslides for the party. From 1944 onward, the county has become a Republican stronghold presidentially, with the only Democratic presidential candidate to win the county since then being Lyndon B. Johnson in the midst of his 1964 national landslide.

Industry and business

Early history

Since Licking County's establishment in 1808, businesses and industries have served as a source of employment, generating income and promoting economic growth. Notable industries include manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services. Manufacturing, agriculture, and services prove to be the major sectors of Licking County's industry.

Manufacturing is one of the largest industry sectors in Licking County. Major establishments and advancements have been made by manufacturing facilities in the county by renowned companies or corporations, namely Invenergy, Armstrong World Industries, Intel, and Atkore. These investments have provided Licking County residents with a diverse range of employment opportunities and facilitated its economic growth. However, in the past many other successful manufacturing companies have come to a close, such as Longaberger, Fyrepel, Meritor plant in Heath, and E.T. Rugg. The glass-making industry, which has been established since the late 19th century from Newark with natural gas supplies, sand quarry, and cheap labor, is also a significant manufacturing sector in Licking County.

Agriculture is regarded as a traditional cornerstone of Licking County. Within Licking County, agriculture has always been a significant industry, and in the 1800s, it was a top producer of corn, wheat, and oats. The formation of the Licking County Agricultural Society in 1832, as well as the creation of the Ohio and Erie Canal, helped boost agriculture in Licking County during this time period. Farmers benefited from easy access to markets via railroads, and different companies would supply tools to local farmers. In the later end of the 1800s, Licking County was in the top ten of counties within Ohio for agricultural production. By 1870, 2,692 farms with 278,611 improved acres were owned by farmers within Licking County; all of these helped account for $3,500,000 in production. Licking County ranked very high within the state of Ohio in production of corn, wheat, and oats while also leading the state in wool production. By 1887, 150,000 acres of designated pasture land was readily available and Licking County ranked first in Ohio with over 174,000 sheep within the county.

In the 19th century, Licking County farms produced a variety of crops like corn, wheat, and oats, along with livestock such as cattle, chickens, pigs and lambs. Farms relied on labor-intensive methods of farming, using crop rotation and the spread of manure to keep the soil fertile.

Contemporary business and industry

Licking County continues to see substantial growth in industries across multiple fields, especially traditional companies with major distribution. Manufacturing, Retail Trade, Health Care and Social Assistance are the top three industries in Licking County's employment for recent years.

From 2017 to 2022, the number of jobs increased by 22.6% in Licking County, compared to the national growth rate of 3.8%. The number of jobs is projected to grow an additional 7,455 over the next 5 years. Licking County's manufacturing economy continued to grow with a 12% increase in manufacturing jobs between 2017 and 2022.

In January 2022 Intel announced their intention to build a $20 billion semiconductor plant in Licking County that would employ up to 3,000 workers. The facility will be built on a 3,190-acre site (1,290 ha) that has been annexed from the Jersey Township to New Albany. In March 2023, Invenergy invested $600 million in Illuminate USA, with the goal of manufacturing high-quality domestic solar panels and creating 850 new, high-paying jobs.

Top 10 employers in Licking County (2018):

Amazon

Licking Memorial

Ascena Retail

Kroger

Licking County Government

Owens Corning

AEP Ohio

L Brands

Anomatic

Denison University

Places of interest

Newark Earthworks – the Great Circle and Octagon Earthworks are components of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, which were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.

Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve

Flint Ridge State Memorial

Dawes Arboretum

Ye Olde Mill in Utica, where Velvet ice cream is produced.

Heisey Glass Museum

Longaberger former basket facility (Main office building was a 7-story replica basket, the largest in the world)

National Trail Raceway – NHRA Dragstrip

Denison University

Home Building Association Bank

Historic family farms

There are 29 farms within Licking County that have been designated as historic family farms by the Ohio Historic Family Farm Program. This program helps designate farms that have been consecutively owned by the same family for one hundred years or more. There are three designations that are offered by the program: Century Farms (100–149 years), Sesquicentennial Farms (150–199 years), and Bicentennial Farms (200 and more years). To be approved into Ohio's Historic Family Farms Program, ten or more acres of land must be used for agricultural use. If the farm is under ten acres, $2,500 of income must be produced yearly. The owners also must provide an 8.5x11-inch map and a current photograph of the farm. Verifiable family records must be shown to prove that the farm has been within 100 years of consecutive ownership by the family. Once a farm has received this designation, the family must continue to farm the land to stay a historic family farm.

Licking County Historic Family Farms List

This is a list of all 29 Historic Family Farms, as of August 5, 2025. Officially recorded by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Ordered by family last name:

Challenges facing historic family farms

Despite their recognition, many families are facing pressure to sell their historic family farms, due to increased urbanization and commercial growth in areas such as New Albany. Rising land values and frequent offers from developers encourage farmers to sell their land for commercial or residential use. In New Albany, a nine-million-square-foot business park and the addition of over 100 homes every year, are two examples that may affect the historic family farms in the area. The increasing urbanization and development of residential land may damage the preservation of a family's historic farm.

Family farms have begun to face increased economic difficulties in the county and subsequently, farmers are forced to work other jobs. Additionally, the average age of a farm operator is 56.8 years old and many of these family farms cannot find family members to inherit these farms. Due to this, some historic farms are at risk of losing their Historic Family Farm status. In response to the recent economic pressures, many historic farming families have reduced active cultivation for conservation purposes. Despite these changes and different pressures, the USDA Census reported that in 2017, 99% of all Licking County farms were still registered as family-owned.

Sports

Licking County high school athletic programs include Granville High School, Heath High School, Johnstown-Monroe High School, Lakewood High School, Licking Valley High School, Licking Heights High School, Newark Catholic High School, Newark High School, Northridge High School, Utica High School, and Watkins Memorial High School. From 2002 through 2007, at least one Licking County high school won an OHSAA state baseball championship each year: Newark Catholic High School in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006; Heath High School in 2002 and 2007; and Lakewood High School in 2005. Newark Catholic High School and Heath High School have combined for nine state titles in a six-year span.

Licking County schools won at least one state title in four straight sport seasons: Heath in both baseball and boys track and field (2007), Newark Catholic in football (2007), Newark in boys basketball (2008) and Lakewood in softball (2008).

In 2025, Licking Valley High School won the OHSAA Division III baseball state championship, defeating University School 1–0 in the title game. It was the program's first state baseball championship.

Opioid and overdose crisis

In line with national and regional trends, opioid misuse led to increased rates of overdose and fatalities in Licking County over the last two decades. Opioids, which encompass a variety of drugs, are often used for pain relief. However, when opioids are taken in large doses, they can be fatal. Synthetic varieties of opioids, such as fentanyl, have been listed as one of the main contributors to the ongoing crisis. Evidence indicates that the opioid and overdose crises in Licking County have been affected by unemployment in the region, economic inequalities, and local, state, and federal responses to the crises. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, one director of a residential treatment center attributed isolation to the rise in overdose deaths across Licking County. Others have attributed the rise in overdose deaths to a rise in fentanyl and its analogues in the drug supply.

Statistics

Since 2001, unintentional drug overdose deaths in Licking County have increased. Between 2001 and 2010, the number of unintentional overdose fatalities per year ranged from four to 24. From 2011 to 2020, annual overdose deaths ranged from 13 to 47 per year. In 2022, 58 people died in Licking County due to unintentional drug overdoses. Licking County Memorial Health Systems found out that when focusing on fentanyl related deaths, the number increased by over 1000% between 2014 and 2018, from 2 to 21 deaths. The Licking County Health Department reported that fentanyl played a role in nearly three quarters of overdose deaths in 2020 and 2021.

Overdose mapping

In 2020, the Licking County Health Department introduced a new overdose mapping system that began tracking fatal and nonfatal overdose cases in the region. The system was designed, in part, to identify surges in overdoses that could then allow for more efficient and effective distribution of naloxone, a drug that reverses opioid overdose. It is possible that the recent increases in overdoses throughout Licking County may be the result of more overdoses being reported across the county as a result of overdose mapping.

Demographics

In 2021, of the 47 opioid related death, the primary group affected was white males between the ages 25-44. Annual data from the Licking County overdose fatality review illustrates 72% of overdoses in 2021 were male, while the remaining 28% were female. The most affected age range was 35-44 years old, with 15 deaths, followed closely by those aged 25-34, with 14 deaths. Additionally, 94% of deaths in 2021 were White/Caucasian and 6% were Black/African American. Regarding the level of education of those affected, 59.6% were high school graduates or had a GED, while 17% did not graduate high school. Additionally, 12.8% had a college education without a degree, and 8.5% held a college undergraduate degree.

Refusal of Syringe Services Program

Syringe services programs (SSPs) offer drug users clean injection equipment and often other services, like referrals to treatment facilities, access to naloxone, and screenings for disease. Evidence indicates that SSPs help prevent the spread of disease, increase the likelihood that drug users will enter treatment, and decrease overdose deaths. Unsanitary syringe use has been a cause for the Hepatitis-C cases in the County. Despite these facts, in 2019, the Licking County Health Department unanimously voted against implementing a syringe exchange program in the county, and in 2024 it indicated that it was not willing to revisit its decision. Various organizations have taken issue with the Health Department's, decision, such as Licking County's branch of OhioCAN.

Resources available

Programs have emerged in Licking County to address the opioid and overdose crises.The Licking County Linkages Program helps individuals recovering from substance addiction by providing health care. In addition, their goals also revolve around reducing stigmas surrounding substance abuse as well as informing the general public of the dangers of drug consumption. Other services throughout Licking County include disposal of unwanted pills which can be done at several police stations within the county.

Communities

Cities

Heath

Johnstown

New Albany

Newark (county seat)

Pataskala

Reynoldsburg

Census-designated places

Beechwood Trails

Brownsville

Etna

Granville South

Harbor Hills

Jacksontown

Jersey

Marne