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Ohio has 88 counties, and each county serves as a local government area within the state. If you are looking for a complete list of Ohio counties, their county seats, population details, or a quick Ohio county map guide, I have put everything together here.
I find an alphabetical list is the easiest way to locate a specific county. I have also included the county seat for each one, along with population information and a few useful facts about the largest and smallest counties.
Quick Answer: How Many Counties Are in Ohio?
Ohio has 88 counties.
The counties range from large urban areas such as Franklin County, which includes Columbus, to smaller rural counties such as Vinton County.
A county seat is the city or town where the county government is based. Every Ohio county has a county seat.
Ohio’s 88 counties are:
- Adams County
- Allen County
- Ashland County
- Ashtabula County
- Athens County
- Auglaize County
- Belmont County
- Brown County
- Butler County
- Carroll County
- Champaign County
- Clark County
- Clermont County
- Clinton County
- Columbiana County
- Coshocton County
- Crawford County
- Cuyahoga County
- Darke County
- Defiance County
- Delaware County
- Erie County
- Fairfield County
- Fayette County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Gallia County
- Geauga County
- Greene County
- Guernsey County
- Hamilton County
- Hancock County
- Hardin County
- Harrison County
- Henry County
- Highland County
- Hocking County
- Holmes County
- Huron County
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Knox County
- Lake County
- Lawrence County
- Licking County
- Logan County
- Lorain County
- Lucas County
- Madison County
- Mahoning County
- Marion County
- Medina County
- Meigs County
- Mercer County
- Miami County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Morgan County
- Morrow County
- Muskingum County
- Noble County
- Ottawa County
- Paulding County
- Perry County
- Pickaway County
- Pike County
- Portage County
- Preble County
- Putnam County
- Richland County
- Ross County
- Sandusky County
- Scioto County
- Seneca County
- Shelby County
- Stark County
- Summit County
- Trumbull County
- Tuscarawas County
- Union County
- Van Wert County
- Vinton County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- Williams County
- Wood County
- Wyandot County
The official state county roster also lists all 88 counties and provides county seats and population information.
Complete List of Ohio Counties and County Seats
Here is the full list of counties in Ohio with their county seats.
| Ohio County | County Seat |
| Adams County | West Union |
| Allen County | Lima |
| Ashland County | Ashland |
| Ashtabula County | Jefferson |
| Athens County | Athens |
| Auglaize County | Wapakoneta |
| Belmont County | St. Clairsville |
| Brown County | Georgetown |
| Butler County | Hamilton |
| Carroll County | Carrollton |
| Champaign County | Urbana |
| Clark County | Springfield |
| Clermont County | Batavia |
| Clinton County | Wilmington |
| Columbiana County | Lisbon |
| Coshocton County | Coshocton |
| Crawford County | Bucyrus |
| Cuyahoga County | Cleveland |
| Darke County | Greenville |
| Defiance County | Defiance |
| Delaware County | Delaware |
| Erie County | Sandusky |
| Fairfield County | Lancaster |
| Fayette County | Washington Court House |
| Franklin County | Columbus |
| Fulton County | Wauseon |
| Gallia County | Gallipolis |
| Geauga County | Chardon |
| Greene County | Xenia |
| Guernsey County | Cambridge |
| Hamilton County | Cincinnati |
| Hancock County | Findlay |
| Hardin County | Kenton |
| Harrison County | Cadiz |
| Henry County | Napoleon |
| Highland County | Hillsboro |
| Hocking County | Logan |
| Holmes County | Millersburg |
| Huron County | Norwalk |
| Jackson County | Jackson |
| Jefferson County | Steubenville |
| Knox County | Mount Vernon |
| Lake County | Painesville |
| Lawrence County | Ironton |
| Licking County | Newark |
| Logan County | Bellefontaine |
| Lorain County | Elyria |
| Lucas County | Toledo |
| Madison County | London |
| Mahoning County | Youngstown |
| Marion County | Marion |
| Medina County | Medina |
| Meigs County | Pomeroy |
| Mercer County | Celina |
| Miami County | Troy |
| Monroe County | Woodsfield |
| Montgomery County | Dayton |
| Morgan County | McConnelsville |
| Morrow County | Mount Gilead |
| Muskingum County | Zanesville |
| Noble County | Caldwell |
| Ottawa County | Port Clinton |
| Paulding County | Paulding |
| Perry County | New Lexington |
| Pickaway County | Circleville |
| Pike County | Waverly |
| Portage County | Ravenna |
| Preble County | Eaton |
| Putnam County | Ottawa |
| Richland County | Mansfield |
| Ross County | Chillicothe |
| Sandusky County | Fremont |
| Scioto County | Portsmouth |
| Seneca County | Tiffin |
| Shelby County | Sidney |
| Stark County | Canton |
| Summit County | Akron |
| Trumbull County | Warren |
| Tuscarawas County | New Philadelphia |
| Union County | Marysville |
| Van Wert County | Van Wert |
| Vinton County | McArthur |
| Warren County | Lebanon |
| Washington County | Marietta |
| Wayne County | Wooster |
| Williams County | Bryan |
| Wood County | Bowling Green |
| Wyandot County | Upper Sandusky |
County names and county seats are consistent with the Ohio county roster and current county boundary data.
Ohio Counties by Letter
If you only need to find a county quickly, this alphabetical breakdown can help.
Counties Beginning With A
Ohio has six counties beginning with A:
- Adams County
- Allen County
- Ashland County
- Ashtabula County
- Athens County
- Auglaize County
Counties Beginning With B
There are three counties beginning with B:
- Belmont County
- Brown County
- Butler County
Counties Beginning With C
Ohio has eight counties beginning with C:
- Carroll County
- Champaign County
- Clark County
- Clermont County
- Clinton County
- Columbiana County
- Coshocton County
- Crawford County
- Cuyahoga County
That is actually nine, making C the letter with the largest group of Ohio county names.
Counties Beginning With D
- Darke County
- Defiance County
- Delaware County
Counties Beginning With E
- Erie County
Counties Beginning With F
- Fairfield County
- Fayette County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
Counties Beginning With G
- Gallia County
- Geauga County
- Greene County
- Guernsey County
Counties Beginning With H
- Hamilton County
- Hancock County
- Hardin County
- Harrison County
- Henry County
- Highland County
- Hocking County
- Holmes County
- Huron County
Counties Beginning With J
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
Counties Beginning With K
- Knox County
Counties Beginning With L
- Lake County
- Lawrence County
- Licking County
- Logan County
- Lorain County
- Lucas County
Counties Beginning With M
- Madison County
- Mahoning County
- Marion County
- Medina County
- Meigs County
- Mercer County
- Miami County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Morgan County
- Morrow County
- Muskingum County
Counties Beginning With N
There are no Ohio counties beginning with N.
Counties Beginning With O
There are no Ohio counties beginning with O.
Counties Beginning With P
- Paulding County
- Perry County
- Pickaway County
- Pike County
- Portage County
- Preble County
- Putnam County
Counties Beginning With R
- Richland County
- Ross County
Counties Beginning With S
- Sandusky County
- Scioto County
- Seneca County
- Shelby County
- Stark County
- Summit County
Counties Beginning With T
- Trumbull County
- Tuscarawas County
Counties Beginning With U
- Union County
Counties Beginning With V
- Van Wert County
- Vinton County
Counties Beginning With W
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- Williams County
- Wood County
- Wyandot County
Largest Counties in Ohio by Population
Population varies greatly among Ohio counties.
The 2025 population estimates show Franklin County as the most populous county in Ohio, followed by Cuyahoga County and Hamilton County.
Here are some of the largest Ohio counties by population:
| County | 2025 Population Estimate |
| Franklin County | 1,361,536 |
| Cuyahoga County | 1,232,925 |
| Hamilton County | 838,418 |
| Montgomery County | 539,598 |
| Summit County | 538,376 |
| Lucas County | 423,347 |
| Butler County | 400,128 |
| Stark County | 373,771 |
| Lorain County | 323,219 |
| Warren County | 257,181 |
These figures are based on 2025 population estimates. Population numbers can change each year, so I would use the latest estimate rather than an older census figure when comparing Ohio counties.
Franklin County
Franklin County is the most populous county in Ohio based on the 2025 estimate.
Its county seat is Columbus, which is also the capital of Ohio. The county is part of central Ohio and includes a large share of the Columbus metropolitan area.
The 2025 estimate places Franklin County’s population at about 1.36 million.
Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County is the second-most populous county in Ohio.
Its county seat is Cleveland, a major city on the southern shore of Lake Erie.
The county had an estimated population of about 1.23 million in 2025.
Hamilton County
Hamilton County is home to Cincinnati in southwestern Ohio.
Cincinnati serves as the county seat. Hamilton County had an estimated population of about 838,000 in 2025.
Smallest Ohio Counties by Population
Population is much lower in several rural counties.
Based on recent estimates, some of the smallest Ohio counties by population include:
| County | Approximate 2025 Population |
| Noble County | 14,000 |
| Monroe County | 13,000 |
| Vinton County | 13,000 |
| Morgan County | 14,000 |
| Harrison County | 14,000 |
| Paulding County | 19,000 |
| Meigs County | 22,000 |
| Wyandot County | 22,000 |
The exact position can change as annual population estimates are updated.
Ohio Counties by Region
Ohio counties are often grouped by broad geographic areas. These groupings can make it easier to see how the state’s counties relate to major cities, lakes, rivers, and other parts of the state.
Northeast Ohio Counties
Northeast Ohio includes counties around Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, and Lake Erie.
Examples include:
- Cuyahoga County
- Lake County
- Geauga County
- Summit County
- Portage County
- Stark County
- Mahoning County
- Trumbull County
- Lorain County
- Ashtabula County
Northwest Ohio Counties
Northwest Ohio includes counties around Toledo and the western Lake Erie area.
Examples include:
- Lucas County
- Wood County
- Ottawa County
- Sandusky County
- Erie County
- Hancock County
- Henry County
- Defiance County
- Williams County
- Fulton County
- Putnam County
- Paulding County
- Van Wert County
- Allen County
- Mercer County
Central Ohio Counties
Central Ohio includes the Columbus area and surrounding counties.
Some examples are:
- Franklin County
- Delaware County
- Licking County
- Fairfield County
- Pickaway County
- Madison County
- Union County
- Morrow County
- Marion County
- Knox County
Southwest Ohio Counties
Southwest Ohio includes the Cincinnati and Dayton areas.
Examples include:
- Hamilton County
- Butler County
- Clermont County
- Warren County
- Montgomery County
- Greene County
- Miami County
- Clark County
- Preble County
- Clinton County
- Fayette County
Southeast Ohio Counties
Southeast Ohio includes much of the Appalachian part of the state.
Examples include:
- Athens County
- Hocking County
- Vinton County
- Meigs County
- Gallia County
- Jackson County
- Lawrence County
- Washington County
- Morgan County
- Noble County
- Monroe County
- Perry County
These regional groupings are useful for general reference, but they are not the same thing as Ohio’s official county boundaries or legal county classifications.
Ohio Counties Near Lake Erie
Several Ohio counties border or sit close to Lake Erie.
Some of the best-known include:
- Erie County
- Ottawa County
- Lucas County
- Cuyahoga County
- Lake County
- Ashtabula County
- Lorain County
- Sandusky County
Lake Erie has a major role in northern Ohio’s geography, transportation, recreation, and communities.
What Is a County Seat in Ohio?
A county seat is the city or town where a county’s government offices are located.
For example:
- Franklin County → Columbus
- Cuyahoga County → Cleveland
- Hamilton County → Cincinnati
- Montgomery County → Dayton
- Summit County → Akron
- Lucas County → Toledo
A county seat does not always have to be the largest city in the county.
This is an easy detail to miss when looking at an Ohio county map. Some counties have large cities that are different from the county seat.
Ohio County FIPS Codes
Each Ohio county also has a FIPS code, which is a numeric identification code used for government data and geographic records.
Ohio’s state FIPS code is 39. Each county then has its own three-digit county code.
For example:
| County | FIPS County Code |
| Adams County | 001 |
| Allen County | 003 |
| Ashland County | 005 |
| Ashtabula County | 007 |
| Athens County | 009 |
| Auglaize County | 011 |
| Belmont County | 013 |
| Brown County | 015 |
| Butler County | 017 |
The codes increase through the full set of Ohio counties. They are useful when working with census data, maps, government datasets, and geographic information systems.
Ohio County Map
An Ohio county map shows the boundaries of all 88 counties.
A map can be especially helpful if you are trying to see how counties connect to major cities, neighboring states, Lake Erie, or major highways.
The official county boundary data for Ohio contains boundaries for all 88 counties and is updated annually.
For a simple reference, the state can be thought of in several broad parts:
- Northern Ohio along Lake Erie
- Northwest Ohio around Toledo
- Central Ohio around Columbus
- Northeast Ohio around Cleveland and Akron
- Southwest Ohio around Cincinnati and Dayton
- Southeast Ohio in the Appalachian region
Ohio Counties and Major Cities
Many of Ohio’s largest cities also serve as county seats.
Here are several well-known examples:
| City | County |
| Columbus | Franklin County |
| Cleveland | Cuyahoga County |
| Cincinnati | Hamilton County |
| Toledo | Lucas County |
| Akron | Summit County |
| Dayton | Montgomery County |
| Parma | Cuyahoga County |
| Canton | Stark County |
| Youngstown | Mahoning County |
| Lorain | Lorain County |
| Hamilton | Butler County |
| Springfield | Clark County |
| Kettering | Montgomery County |
| Elyria | Lorain County |
| Lakewood | Cuyahoga County |
This is useful because a city and county can have different names. For example, Columbus is in Franklin County, while Youngstown is in Mahoning County.
How Many Counties Are in Ohio Compared With Other States?
Ohio has 88 counties.
The number of counties varies widely from state to state. County names also differ by state, with some states using terms such as parishes or boroughs for similar local government areas.
For Ohio, the number is straightforward: 88 counties.
Final Take of Ohio Counties
Ohio has 88 counties, and each has its own county seat and local government structure.
For quick reference, the counties are:
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, and Wyandot.
If I need to find a specific Ohio county, I would start with the alphabetical list above and then check its county seat, population, location, and nearby cities. Population figures should always be checked against the latest available estimate because they change over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio Counties
How many counties does Ohio have?
Ohio has 88 counties.
What is the largest county in Ohio by population?
Franklin County is the most populous Ohio county. Its 2025 population estimate was about 1.36 million.
What is the smallest county in Ohio?
Vinton County is among the smallest Ohio counties by population, with a 2025 estimate of about 13,000 residents. Other counties, including Monroe and Noble, are also in a similar population range.
What is the largest city in Ohio?
Columbus is Ohio’s largest city and the county seat of Franklin County.
What is the county seat of Franklin County?
The county seat of Franklin County is Columbus.
What is the county seat of Cuyahoga County?
The county seat of Cuyahoga County is Cleveland.
What is the county seat of Hamilton County?
The county seat of Hamilton County is Cincinnati.
Which Ohio county has the highest population?
Franklin County has the highest population among Ohio’s 88 counties based on recent population estimates.
Are there 88 counties in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio has 88 counties, and the state continues to use that county structure today.
What is the biggest county in Ohio by area?
Ashtabula County is the largest Ohio county by land area, covering roughly 702 square miles.
What county is Columbus in?
Columbus is primarily located in Franklin County.
What county is Cleveland in?
Cleveland is in Cuyahoga County.
What county is Cincinnati in?
Cincinnati is in Hamilton County.
What county is Toledo in?
Toledo is in Lucas County.