County population in 2012: 41,886 (31% urban, 69% rural); it was 42,337 in 2000 County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 8,637 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 3,924 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 12,631 Renter-occupied apartments: 3,780 (it was 3,370 in 2000)
% of renters here:
21%
State:
32%
Land area: 425 sq. mi. Water area: 1.5 sq. mi.
Population density: 99 people per square mile
(average).
Mar. 2012 cost of living index in Preble County: 85.3 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
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Industries providing employment: Manufacturing (22.9%), Educational,health and social services (22.4%), Retail trade (11.0%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $1,307 (1.1%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $1,273 (1.1%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 8.5%
(8.0% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 55.9% for Black residents, 40.2% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 11.7% for American Indian residents, 0.0% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 0.0% for other race residents, 30.9% for two or more races residents) Median age of residents in 2010: 40 years old
(Males: 39 years old, Females: 42 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 41 years old, Black residents: 34 years old, American Indian residents: 41 years old, Asian residents: 35 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 19 years old, Other race residents: 17 years old)
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
6.1%
Whole state:
10.6%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
2.5%
Whole state:
4.8%
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Preble County is $468 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $568 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $736 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Preble County: Woodland Trails (A), Deer Pen Picnic Area (B), Hedgerow Picnic Area (C), Maple Grove Picnic Area (D), Pine Grove Picnic Area (E), Quarry Picnic Area (F), Sycamore Grove Picnic Area (G), Wesler Orchards (H), Conarroe Corners (I), New Hope Station (J), Camp Cartwright (K), Camp Myron Kahn (L), Preble County Sanitary Landfill (M), Barnes Farm (N), Halderman Farms (O), Vanzant Farms (P), M and M Farms (Q), Darble Farm (R), Lee Farms (S), Growing Acres Farm (T). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Preble County include: Ebenezer Church (A), Fourmile Church (B), Greenbush Church (C), Hopewell Church (D), Maple Grove Church (E), New Westville Friends Church (F), Campbellstown United Church of Christ (G), New Hope United Methodist Church (H), Sugar Valley United Methodist Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Antioch Cemetery (1), Beechwood Cemetery (2), Spring Lawn Cemetery (3), Stump Cemetery (4), Sugar Grove Cemetery (5), Sugar Valley Cemetery (6), Dixon Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes and reservoirs: Marva Lakes (A), Acton Lake (B), Paradise Lakes-North Lake (C), Paradise Lakes-South Lake (D), Mystic Lake (E), Cross Pond (F), Halls Lake (G), Rush Run Lake (H). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Lowry Run (A), Little Creek (B), Price Creek (C), Lesley Run (D), Jocqueway Creek (E), Jims Run (F), Goose Creek (G), Dry Run (H), Dry Fork (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Parks in Preble County include: Rush Run Wildlife Area (1), Hueston Woods State Park (2), Fort Saint Clair State Park (3), Hueston Woods State Nature Preserve (4). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 1,356 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 81.7% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 10.1%
Number of foreign born residents: 265 (49% naturalized citizens)
Preble County:
0.6%
Whole state:
3.0%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 84
1990 to 1994: 32
1985 to 1989: 30
1980 to 1984: 23
1975 to 1979: 12
1970 to 1974: 32
1970 to 1974: 8
1965 to 1969: 44
Mean travel time to work (commute): 26.7 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 45.9%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 14,323
One, attached: 231
Two: 596
3 or 4: 426
5 to 9: 332
10 to 19: 164
20 or more: 74
Mobile homes: 807
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 233
Housing units in Preble County with a mortgage: 6,944 (854 second mortgage, 1,019 home equity loan, 49 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 2,998
Here:
69.8% with mortgage
State:
69.3% with mortgage
Religion statistics:
Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 35.33%
Here
35.3%
USA
50.2%
Total adherents: 14,959 Total congregations: 63
Adherents
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Name
Southern Baptist Convention
Catholic Church
United Methodist Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Church of the Brethren
Adherents
2,996 (20.0%)
2,360 (15.8%)
2,183 (14.6%)
2,054 (13.7%)
1,655 (11.1%)
Congregations
8 (12.7%)
3 (4.8%)
14 (22.2%)
6 (9.5%)
6 (9.5%)
Name
United Church of Christ
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Other
Adherents
1,161 (7.8%)
612 (4.1%)
456 (3.0%)
415 (2.8%)
1,067 (7.1%)
Congregations
6 (9.5%)
4 (6.3%)
3 (4.8%)
3 (4.8%)
10 (15.9%)
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Average size of farms: 186 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $54,611 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $198.84 The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 44.26% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $58,937 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 82.32% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $70,035 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 92.21% Average age of principal farm operators: 54 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 8.42 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 9.93% Corn for grain: 60306 harvested acres All wheat for grain: 6784 harvested acres Soybeans for beans: 85633 harvested acres Vegetables: 72 harvested acres Land in orchards: 74 acres
Tornado activity:
Preble County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is near Ohio state average. It is 1.5 times above overall U.S. average. Tornadoes in this county have caused 21 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004. On 11/22/1992, a category 3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado injured 21 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.
Earthquake activity:
Preble County-area historical earthquake activity is below Ohio state average. It is 93% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 7/12/1986 at 08:19:37, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 MB, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 56.6 miles away from the county center On 9/12/2004 at 13:05:19, a magnitude 3.8 (3.5 MB, 3.8 MW, 3.6 LG, Depth: 3.8 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 62.6 miles away from the county center On 2/19/1995 at 12:57:06, a magnitude 3.6 (3.6 LG, 3.6 MD, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 75.8 miles away from the county center On 4/17/1990 at 10:27:34, a magnitude 3.0 (3.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 50.8 miles away from Preble County center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), duration magnitude (MD), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Ohio Severe Wind Storm associated with Tropical Depression Ike, Incident Period: September 14, 2008, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1805): October 24, 2008, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1805, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tropical Depression, Wind
Ohio Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3250): September 13, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3250, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Ohio Snow, Incident Period: December 22, 2004 to December 24, 2004, Emergency Declared (EM-3198): January 11, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3198, Natural disaster type: Snow
Ohio SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, Incident Period: May 23, 1989 to June 26, 1989, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-831): June 10, 1989, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-831, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Ohio Blizzards and Snowstorms, Incident Period: January 26, 1978, Emergency Declared (EM-3055): January 26, 1978, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3055, Natural disaster type: Snowstorm, Blizzard
Ohio Snowstorms, Incident Period: February 2, 1977, Emergency Declared (EM-3029): February 2, 1977, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3029, Natural disaster type: Snowstorm
The number of natural disasters in Preble County (6) is smaller than the US average (12). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 2 Emergencies Declared: 4
Other production occupations including supervisors (8%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (7%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (6%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4%)
Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (4%)
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (3%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (6%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (6%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (5%)
Assemblers and fabricators (4%)
Information and record clerks except customer service representatives (4%)
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks (4%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (4%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Japan (30%)
Germany (13%)
Korea (12%)
Canada (8%)
India (7%)
Thailand (6%)
Poland (5%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Preble County (%):
German (33%)
United States or American (26%)
English (10%)
Irish (9%)
Italian (2%)
Dutch (2%)
Scotch-Irish (2%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 16,883 (83%)
Carpooled: 2,165 (11%)
Bus or trolley bus: 37 (0%)
Ferryboat: 19 (0%)
Taxi: 3 (0%)
Motorcycle: 13 (0%)
Bicycle: 7 (0%)
Walked: 354 (2%)
Other means: 92 (0%)
Worked at home: 653 (3%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders
People in group quarters in Preble County, Ohio in 2000:
315 people in nursing homes
59 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
55 people in homes for the mentally retarded
49 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
10 people in homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children
People in group quarters in Preble County, Ohio in 2010:
219 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
67 people in state prisons
56 people in group homes intended for adults
31 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
13 people in emergency and transitional shelters (with sleeping facilities) for people experiencing homelessness
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $43,560.
5.79% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($32,157 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
5.79%
Ohio average:
5.31%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
4.07% relocated from other counties in Ohio ($23,611 average AGI)
1.73% relocated from other states ($8,546 average AGI)
Preble County:
1.73%
Ohio average:
1.67%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
6.16% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($32,120 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.16%
Ohio average:
5.79%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
3.95% relocated to other counties in Ohio ($20,778 average AGI)
2.21% relocated to other states ($11,341 average AGI)
Preble County:
2.21%
Ohio average:
2.24%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 12.4 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.9
Births per 1000 population in Preble County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 8.3 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 9.4
Deaths per 1000 population in Preble County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 7.6 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 4.2
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Preble County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 6,466 (5,527 aged, 939 disabled) Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8%
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1298 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 917.060 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 7.05
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 11.57 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 58.79
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 2.35
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 94.9. This is less than state average.
Household type by relationship:
Households: 41,884
In family households: 36,509 (9,113 male householders, 2,754 female householders)
9,398 spouses, 12,169 children (10,937 natural, 294 adopted, 938 stepchildren), 1,070 grandchildren, 200 brothers or sisters, 266 parents, 295 other relatives, 993 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 5,375 (2,134 male householders (1,687 living alone)), 2,340 female householders (2,097 living alone)), 901 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 386 (317 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 5,498 2-persons, 2,556 3-persons, 2,194 4-persons, 999 5-persons, 414 6-persons, 206 7-or-more-persons.
98.0% of residents of Preble County speak English at home.
0.8% of residents speak Spanish at home (62% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 23% speak English not well).
0.9% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (67% speak English very well, 20% speak English well, 14% speak English not well).
0.2% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (23% speak English very well, 23% speak English well, 55% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $180,512,000 ($4242 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $9,223,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $95,123,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $40,136,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $5,943,000 Federal grants: $25,826,000 Federal procurement contracts: $2,319,000 ($276,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $11,165,000 ($5,897,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $1,006,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $21,318,000 Federal Government insurance: $40,511,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 2,662
Here:
63 per 1000 residents
State:
69 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 2,034
Here:
48 per 1000 residents
State:
50 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +61
Here:
+1 per 1000 residents
State:
+7 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: -426
Here:
-10 per 1000 residents
State:
-15 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Preble County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 3.09 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)
61% of Preble County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 59% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 72% lived in Ohio.
Preble County:
61.1%
State average:
58.2%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 29938
Northeast: 582
Midwest: 6198
South: 4714
West: 516
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $87,900
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 2%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 2%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit:
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Preble County
40.0 years
38.0 years
(49.9%)
(50.1%)
, Darke County 
, Montgomery County 
, Union County, Indiana 
, Wayne County, Indiana 
.
