Preble County is a county in Ohio, United States, on the Indiana state line in the county’s western part. It had a population of 40,999 at the 2020 census and covers 424 square miles (1,100 km2) of land centred near 39°44′N 84°39′W.
Eaton is the county seat, and its postal code is 45320. The county has one city, ten villages, and dozens of unincorporated communities; there is no verified township-level breakdown for this page. Preble County sits in the Eastern time zone, and its FIPS code is 39135.
Towns & Villages in Preble County
Preble County has one city, ten incorporated villages, and a long list of unincorporated crossroads and rural communities. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eaton | City · seat | 8,375 | 45320 |
| Camden | Village | — | 45311 |
| Eldorado | Village | — | 45321 |
| Gratis | Village | — | 45330 |
| Lewisburg | Village | — | 45338 |
| New Paris | Village | — | 45347 |
| Verona | Village | — | 45378 |
| West Alexandria | Village | — | 45381 |
| West Elkton | Village | — | 45070 |
| West Manchester | Village | — | 45382 |
| College Corner | Unincorp. | — | 45011 |
| Beechwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brennersville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brinley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Browns | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Campbellstown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| County Line | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dadsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ebenezer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Enterprise | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Euphemia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairhaven | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fosterville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Georgetown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gettysburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Greenbush | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hamburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ingomar | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lake Lakengren | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Morning Sun | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Muttonville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Hope | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Lexington | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Westville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Quail Trail | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ransom | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sampleville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sugar Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Talawanda Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| West Florence | Unincorp. | — | — |
| West Sonora | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wheatville | Unincorp. | — | — |
Two mobile-home communities on the old list, Bowling Trailer Park and P and R MH Park, are private residential parks rather than named places with their own postal or township identity, so they are omitted here for lack of any independent record.
ZIP Codes
- 45320 — Eaton (also serves the surrounding townships)
- 45311 — Camden
- 45321 — Eldorado
- 45330 — Gratis
- 45338 — Lewisburg
- 45347 — New Paris
- 45378 — Verona
- 45381 — West Alexandria
- 45070 — West Elkton
- 45382 — West Manchester
College Corner shares the 45011 ZIP with the neighboring Ohio-Indiana crossroads of the same name; most of the smaller unincorporated communities have no ZIP code of their own and use the nearest village’s or Eaton’s mail service.
Geography
Preble County lies on the rolling till plains of southwestern Ohio, drained by Four Mile Creek, Twin Creek, and Banta Fork. Of its 426 square miles, 424 square miles are land and 2.3 square miles are water. The county borders Darke County to the north, Montgomery County to the east, Butler County to the south, Union County, Indiana to the southwest, and Wayne County, Indiana to the northwest.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 40,999 residents, a 3.0% decline from 42,270 in 2010, giving a population density of roughly 97 people per square mile. Eaton, the county seat, is by far the largest community at 8,375 people; Lewisburg and West Alexandria follow as the largest villages. Current county-level median household income figures are not published in a verifiable source at the time of writing; the county’s income has historically run below the Ohio median of $67,769.
Economy & Local Life
Preble County’s economy is a mix of row-crop and livestock agriculture, light manufacturing, and commuting to jobs in nearby Dayton and Richmond, Indiana. Eaton hosts the county’s government offices and its courthouse anchors the town square; the annual Preble County Fair is the area’s biggest yearly draw.
History
Preble County was organized on February 15, 1808, from portions of Butler and Montgomery Counties. It is named for Edward Preble, a U.S. Navy officer who fought the Barbary pirates and later commanded ships in the Mediterranean. Eaton was laid out as the county seat the same year and takes its name from General William Eaton, another figure from the Barbary Wars era.
Getting There
Interstate 70 crosses the county’s south end, and U.S. Routes 35, 40, and 127 run through Eaton, along with State Routes 121, 122, 177, 320, 503, 725, 726, 732, and 744.
- Dayton, Ohio — 25 miles east
- Richmond, Indiana — 20 miles west
- Cincinnati, Ohio — 45 miles south
- Hamilton, Ohio — 35 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Dayton International Airport, about 30 miles east of Eaton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Preble County, Ohio?
It is in western Ohio on the Indiana state line, between Dayton and Richmond, Indiana.
What is the population of Preble County?
40,999 at the 2020 census.
How big is Preble County?
426 square miles (1,100 km2) total, of which 424 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Preble County?
Eaton is the county seat.
How many towns and villages are in Preble County?
One city (Eaton) and ten villages, plus dozens of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Preble County?
Ten, led by 45320 for Eaton, plus 45311, 45321, 45330, 45338, 45347, 45378, 45381, 45070, and 45382 for the county’s villages.
Who is Preble County named after?
Edward Preble, a U.S. Navy officer who fought against the Barbary pirates.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Ohio.