Ohio is divided into 88 counties, each serving as a primary unit of local government. Counties provide a range of administrative, judicial and public services that complement municipal and township governments. Their responsibilities commonly include maintaining local records, running elections, operating county courts, managing public infrastructure such as roads and bridges, and delivering social and public health programs.

County government and common offices

Most Ohio counties are governed by a board of three elected commissioners who set budgets, enact county policy and oversee administration. Other elected county officials typically include a sheriff (the county's chief law-enforcement officer), a prosecuting attorney (the equivalent of a district attorney in some states), a coroner, a county engineer, an auditor, a treasurer and a clerk of courts. These offices together manage law enforcement, property records, engineering and maintenance of county roads, fiscal oversight and the county court system.

History and development

The counties of Ohio evolved after the Northwest Ordinance and the settlement of the Northwest Territory. As settlement expanded through the 18th and 19th centuries, the state established new counties and adjusted boundaries to respond to population growth and administrative needs. The present count of 88 counties reflects that historical development; counties have served as the principal means of delivering state services at a local level since Ohio achieved statehood in 1803.

Functions, relationships and notable facts

Counties perform tasks that cities and townships may not handle, and they often partner with state agencies to provide courts, records management, public safety coordination and human services. A county seat—usually a city or town—houses the principal courthouse and administration buildings. Large Ohio cities such as Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo serve as the seat for their respective counties and are important economic and cultural centers within the state.

List of counties (alphabetical)

  • Adams
  • Allen
  • Ashland
  • Ashtabula
  • Athens
  • Auglaize
  • Belmont
  • Brown
  • Butler
  • Carroll
  • Champaign
  • Clark
  • Clermont
  • Clinton
  • Columbiana
  • Coshocton
  • Crawford
  • Cuyahoga
  • Darke
  • Defiance
  • Delaware
  • Erie
  • Fairfield
  • Fayette
  • Franklin
  • Fulton
  • Gallia
  • Geauga
  • Greene
  • Guernsey
  • Hamilton
  • Hancock
  • Hardin
  • Harrison
  • Henry
  • Highland
  • Hocking
  • Holmes
  • Huron
  • Jackson
  • Jefferson
  • Knox
  • Lake
  • Lawrence
  • Licking
  • Logan
  • Lorain
  • Lucas
  • Madison
  • Mahoning
  • Marion
  • Medina
  • Meigs
  • Mercer
  • Miami
  • Monroe
  • Montgomery
  • Morgan
  • Morrow
  • Muskingum
  • Noble
  • Ottawa
  • Paulding
  • Perry
  • Pickaway
  • Pike
  • Portage
  • Preble
  • Putnam
  • Richland
  • Ross
  • Sandusky
  • Scioto
  • Seneca
  • Shelby
  • Stark
  • Summit
  • Trumbull
  • Tuscarawas
  • Union
  • Van Wert
  • Vinton
  • Warren
  • Washington
  • Wayne
  • Williams
  • Wood
  • Wyandot

For additional details about individual counties—such as county seats, population, area, and local institutions—consult county government websites and state resources. Useful starting points include the state’s general county overview and official county directories:

State county overview • County government guide • County elected offices • Historical county formation • Find a county office