Licking County, Ohio

Licking County
Licking County Courthouse
Flag of Licking County
Official seal of Licking County
Map of Ohio highlighting Licking County
Location within the U.S. state of Ohio
Map of the United States highlighting Ohio
Ohio's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°05′N 82°29′W / 40.09°N 82.48°W / 40.09; -82.48
Country United States
State Ohio
FoundedMarch 1, 1808[1]
SeatNewark
Largest cityNewark
Area
 • Total687 sq mi (1,780 km2)
 • Land683 sq mi (1,770 km2)
 • Water5.0 sq mi (13 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total178,519
 • Estimate 
(2021)
180,401 Increase
 • Density260/sq mi (100/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitewww.lcounty.com

Licking County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. At the 2020 census, the population was 178,519.[2] Its county seat is Newark.[3] The county was formed on January 30, 1808, from portions of Fairfield County.

It is named after the Licking River, which is thought to be named for the salt licks that were in the area.[4] However, one account explains it as an English pronunciation of the river's indigenous Delaware name W'li/'ik'/nk, which means "where the flood waters recede".[5]

Licking County is part of the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area.

  1. ^ "Ohio County Profiles: Licking County" (PDF). Ohio Department of Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  2. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 186.
  5. ^ Mahr, August C. (April 1957). "Indian River and Place Names in Ohio". Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly. 66 (2): 146–148.