Highland County is a county in Ohio, United States, in the south-central part of the state between Cincinnati and Chillicothe. It had a population of 43,317 at the 2020 census and covers 553 square miles (1,430 km2) of land plus 4.7 square miles (12 km2) of water, centred near 39°11′N 83°36′W.
Hillsboro is the county seat, and its postal code is 45133. The county has 7 incorporated villages, 3 census-designated places, more than 20 named unincorporated communities, and 17 civil townships. Highland County sits in the Eastern time zone; its FIPS code is 39071.
Towns & Villages in Highland County
Highland County has no incorporated cities — Hillsboro, the largest place and county seat, is legally a village-turned-city under Ohio law but is commonly listed among the county’s larger communities. Below is every named place carried over from county records, split between the 7 incorporated villages, 3 census-designated places (CDPs, unincorporated but tracked separately by the Census Bureau), and the remaining unincorporated communities and rural place names.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro | Village · seat | Union / Liberty | — | 45133 |
| Greenfield | Village | Madison | — | 45123 |
| Leesburg | Village | Fairfield | — | 45135 |
| Lynchburg | Village | Penn | — | 45142 |
| Mowrystown | Village | Whiteoak | — | 45155 |
| Sardinia | Village | — | — | — |
| Sinking Spring | Village | Brushcreek | — | 45172 |
| Highland | Village | Marshall | — | 45132 |
| Buford | CDP | — | — | — |
| Highland Holiday | CDP | — | — | — |
| Rocky Fork Point | CDP | — | — | — |
| Allensburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Belfast | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Berrysville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Boston | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Bridges | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Carmel | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Dodsonville | Unincorp. | Dodson | — | — |
| East Danville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Elmville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Fairfax | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Folsom | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hoagland | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hollowtown | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Marshall | Unincorp. | Marshall | — | — |
| New Market | Unincorp. | New Market | — | — |
| New Petersburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Pricetown | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Rainsboro | Unincorp. | Paint | — | — |
| Samantha | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Sugar Tree Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Taylorsville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Sardinia straddles the Highland–Brown county line; its post office and the bulk of the village lie in Brown County, so it is listed here as a named place within Highland County’s borders without a Highland-side ZIP assignment.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Brushcreek | — | Sinking Spring |
| Clay | — | — |
| Concord | — | — |
| Dodson | — | Dodsonville |
| Fairfield | — | Leesburg |
| Hamer | — | — |
| Jackson | — | — |
| Liberty | — | Hillsboro (part) |
| Madison | — | Greenfield |
| Marshall | — | Marshall, Highland |
| New Market | — | New Market |
| Paint | — | Rainsboro |
| Penn | — | Lynchburg |
| Salem | — | — |
| Union | — | Hillsboro (part) |
| Washington | — | — |
| Whiteoak | — | Mowrystown |
ZIP Codes
- 45133 — Hillsboro
- 45123 — Greenfield
- 45135 — Leesburg
- 45142 — Lynchburg
- 45155 — Mowrystown
- 45172 — Sinking Spring
- 45132 — Highland
Smaller unincorporated communities such as Allensburg, Berrysville, and Rainsboro share a ZIP code with the nearest post-office town rather than having their own.
Geography
Highland County lies on the divide between the Little Miami and Scioto river watersheds, giving the county its name — rolling, hilly terrain in the east grading into flatter farmland toward the west. Rocky Fork Creek and Rocky Fork Lake are the county’s principal water features, with Paint Creek draining the county’s north. The county borders Fayette County to the north, Ross County to the northeast, Pike County to the east, Adams County to the southeast, Brown County to the southwest, and Clinton County to the northwest.
Demographics
Highland County’s population was 43,317 at the 2020 census. Hillsboro and Greenfield are its two largest communities. The county’s median household income runs below the Ohio median of $67,769, consistent with its largely rural, agricultural economy. Population density is roughly 78 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — row crops, livestock, and dairy — anchors much of Highland County’s economy, alongside manufacturing and healthcare employers based in and around Hillsboro, the county seat and largest commercial center. The Highland County Fair, held each summer in Hillsboro, is one of the county’s largest annual gatherings.
History
Highland County was organized on May 1, 1805, from parts of Ross and Adams counties, and was named for the hilly topography separating the Little Miami and Scioto watersheds. Hillsboro was laid out as the county seat the same year. The county’s early economy centered on grain milling and livestock droving along the routes that became today’s US 50 and US 62.
Getting There
US Route 50 and US Route 62 are the county’s main highways, along with Ohio State Routes 28, 32, 41, 72, 73, and 124 connecting Hillsboro to surrounding towns.
- Chillicothe — 30 miles east
- Wilmington — 25 miles northwest
- Cincinnati — 60 miles southwest
- Chillicothe (Ross County) — nearest larger city to the northeast
The nearest commercial airport is John Glenn Columbus International Airport, roughly 70 miles northeast of Hillsboro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Highland County located?
It is in south-central Ohio, between Cincinnati and Chillicothe.
What is the population of Highland County?
43,317 at the 2020 census.
How big is Highland County?
553 square miles (1,430 km2) of land, plus 4.7 square miles (12 km2) of water.
What is the county seat of Highland County?
Hillsboro is the county seat.
How many towns are in Highland County?
Seven incorporated villages, three census-designated places, and more than twenty unincorporated communities across 17 townships.
What ZIP codes are in Highland County?
Seven ZIP codes serve the county, including 45133 (Hillsboro), 45123 (Greenfield), and 45142 (Lynchburg).
Why is it called Highland County?
For the hilly terrain that separates the Little Miami and Scioto river watersheds.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Ohio.