Sandusky County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,896. Its county seat and largest city is Fremont. The county was formed on February 12, 1820, from portions of Huron County. The name is derived from the Wyandot word meaning "water" (Wyandot: saandustee). The Sandusky River runs diagonally northeast through the county to its mouth on Sandusky Bay, opening into Lake Erie. Sandusky County compromises the Fremont, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 418 square miles (1,080 km), of which 408 square miles (1,060 km) is land and 9.3 square miles (24 km) (2.2%) is water.

• Ottawa County (north)
• Erie County (east)
• Huron County (southeast)
• Seneca County (south)
• Wood County (west)

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	852		—
1830	2,851		234.6%
1840	10,182		257.1%
1850	14,305		40.5%
1860	21,429		49.8%
1870	25,503		19.0%
1880	32,057		25.7%
1890	30,617		−4.5%
1900	34,311		12.1%
1910	35,171		2.5%
1920	37,109		5.5%
1930	39,731		7.1%
1940	41,014		3.2%
1950	46,114		12.4%
1960	56,486		22.5%
1970	60,983		8.0%
1980	63,267		3.7%
1990	61,963		−2.1%
2000	61,792		−0.3%
2010	60,944		−1.4%
2020	58,896		−3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2020

As of the census of 2000, there were 61,792 people, 23,717 households, and 16,957 families living in the county. The population density was 151 inhabitants per square mile (58/km). There were 25,253 housing units at an average density of 62 units per square mile (24/km). The racial makeup of the county was 92.20% White, 2.67% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.10% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. 6.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 23,717 households, out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,584, and the median income for a family was $47,675. Males had a median income of $35,501 versus $23,964 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,239. About 5.70% of families and 7.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 7.00% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 60,944 people, 24,182 households, and 16,616 families living in the county. The population density was 149.2 inhabitants per square mile (57.6/km). There were 26,390 housing units at an average density of 64.6 units per square mile (24.9 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 91.2% white, 2.8% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.8% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 41.9% were German, 12.1% were Irish, 9.5% were English, and 7.1% were American.

Of the 24,182 households, 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.3% were non-families, and 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 40.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,056 and the median income for a family was $57,500. Males had a median income of $42,582 versus $31,257 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,286. About 7.2% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Like most of northwestern Ohio, Sandusky County voters have historically supported the Republican Party. It was initially settled by migrants from the Northern Tier of New England and New York, who carried their culture with them. The county has a strong history of supporting Republican presidential candidates as well as local Republican candidates.

During the 2008 U.S. presidential election, 51% of the voters from Sandusky County supported Democratic candidate Barack Obama. It was the second time since 1964 that the county had supported a Democrat for president, and the second time since 1932 that it had done so with a majority. Obama narrowly carried the county again in the 2012 U.S. presidential election with just under 50 percent of the vote. Time magazine listed Sandusky as one of five critical counties in the 2012 election. In 2016 and 2020 the county supported the Republican candidate.

United States presidential election results for Sandusky County, Ohio

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	18,896	62.72%	10,596	35.17%	636	2.11%
2016	16,316	57.68%	9,929	35.10%	2,040	7.21%
2012	13,755	47.28%	14,541	49.98%	799	2.75%
2008	14,192	46.72%	15,602	51.36%	583	1.92%
2004	16,224	55.92%	12,686	43.72%	104	0.36%
2000	13,699	53.21%	11,146	43.30%	899	3.49%
1996	10,033	39.48%	11,547	45.44%	3,833	15.08%
1992	10,772	39.21%	9,878	35.96%	6,822	24.83%
1988	14,203	58.61%	9,709	40.07%	320	1.32%
1984	17,214	66.16%	8,564	32.91%	242	0.93%
1980	13,420	55.53%	8,482	35.10%	2,264	9.37%
1976	13,074	52.58%	11,202	45.05%	591	2.38%
1972	15,489	63.63%	8,308	34.13%	546	2.24%
1968	11,696	53.10%	8,581	38.96%	1,748	7.94%
1964	8,254	37.98%	13,481	62.02%	0	0.00%
1960	14,566	64.06%	8,171	35.94%	0	0.00%
1956	15,009	72.52%	5,687	27.48%	0	0.00%
1952	14,939	71.18%	6,048	28.82%	0	0.00%
1948	10,847	59.93%	7,216	39.87%	36	0.20%
1944	13,763	69.19%	6,129	30.81%	0	0.00%
1940	14,054	66.39%	7,116	33.61%	0	0.00%
1936	8,692	42.89%	9,171	45.26%	2,402	11.85%
1932	8,915	45.74%	10,299	52.84%	276	1.42%
1928	12,200	67.33%	5,834	32.20%	85	0.47%
1924	9,381	60.88%	4,388	28.48%	1,639	10.64%
1920	8,933	61.77%	5,295	36.62%	233	1.61%
1916	3,557	39.36%	5,264	58.25%	216	2.39%
1912	1,576	18.43%	4,333	50.66%	2,644	30.91%
1908	4,079	42.74%	5,242	54.93%	222	2.33%
1904	4,208	50.38%	3,787	45.34%	358	4.29%
1900	4,003	44.26%	4,915	54.35%	126	1.39%
1896	3,970	43.28%	5,105	55.66%	97	1.06%
1892	2,960	41.25%	3,774	52.60%	441	6.15%
1888	3,218	44.10%	3,917	53.68%	162	2.22%
1884	3,130	45.10%	3,684	53.08%	126	1.82%
1880	3,059	44.49%	3,640	52.94%	177	2.57%
1876	3,032	47.31%	3,330	51.96%	47	0.73%
1872	2,380	46.26%	2,729	53.04%	36	0.70%
1868	2,443	46.19%	2,846	53.81%	0	0.00%
1864	2,294	49.09%	2,379	50.91%	0	0.00%
1860	1,938	45.28%	2,319	54.18%	23	0.54%
1856	1,548	48.50%	1,599	50.09%	45	1.41%

Office	Name	Party
Commissioner	Scott Miller	Republican
Commissioner	Charles Schwochow	Republican
Commissioner	Russ Zimmerman	Republican
Prosecutor	Beth A. Tischler	Republican
Sheriff	Christopher J. Hilton	Republican
Clerk of Courts	Chris Schneider	Republican
Recorder	Colleen Carmack	Republican
Treasurer	Kimberley Foreman	Republican
Engineer	Carlos Baez	Republican
Coroner	James Williams	Democrat
Auditor	Jerri A. Miller	Republican
Common Pleas Court Judge	Jon Ickes	Republican
Common Pleas Court Judge	Jeremiah Ray	Democrat
County Courts Judge	John P. Kolesar	Democrat
County Courts Judge	Mary Elizabeth Fiser	Republican
Juvenile Court Judge	Brad Smith	Republican

• Interstate 80 (Ohio Turnpike)
• Interstate 90 (Ohio Turnpike)
• U.S. Route 6
• U.S. Route 20
• U.S. Route 23

• Fremont Airport
• Sandusky County Regional Airport

• Bellevue
• Clyde
• Fremont (county seat)

• Colby
• Erlin
• Galetown
• Green Creek
• Havens
• Hessville
• Kingsway
• Millersville
• Rollersville
• Tinney
• Whitmore
• Winters Station
• York

• H. J. Heinz Company ketchup factory (the world's largest)
• Mineral Springs at Green Springs, Ohio
• Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
• Spiegel Grove
• Fremont Speedway

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Sandusky County, Ohio

• Sandusky County Convention & Visitors Bureau website
• Sandusky County Government's website
• Sandusky County Economic Development Corporation

41°22′N 83°09′W / 41.36°N 83.15°W / 41.36; -83.15