Hancock County is a county in Ohio, United States, about 40 miles south of Toledo. It had a population of 74,920 at the 2020 census, an estimated 75,034 by 2025, and covers 531 square miles (1,375 km2) of land centred near 41°00′N 83°40′W.
Findlay is the county seat and largest city; its postal code is 45840. The county holds 2 cities, 11 villages and 10 unincorporated communities across 17 townships, and it runs on Eastern Time. Its FIPS code is 39063.
Towns & Villages in Hancock County
Hancock County has 23 named places on record: 2 cities and 11 villages with their own local government, plus 10 unincorporated communities with none. Unincorp. covers crossroads and rural hamlets with no formal boundary.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Findlay | City · seat | — | 40,313 | 45840 |
| Fostoria | City | Washington | 13,046 | 44830 |
| Arlington | Town | Madison | 1,492 | 45814 |
| McComb | Town | Pleasant | 1,558 | 45858 |
| Bluffton | Town | Orange | 3,967 | 45817 |
| Arcadia | Town | Washington | 564 | 44804 |
| Rawson | Town | Union | 567 | 45881 |
| Mount Blanchard | Town | Delaware | 471 | 45867 |
| Van Buren | Town | Allen | 396 | 45889 |
| Vanlue | Town | Amanda | 341 | 45890 |
| Benton Ridge | Town | Blanchard | 272 | 45816 |
| Mount Cory | Town | Union | 225 | 45868 |
| Jenera | Town | Van Buren | 257 | 45841 |
| Mortimer | Unincorp. | Allen | — | — |
| New Stark | Unincorp. | Van Buren | — | — |
| Portage Center | Unincorp. | Portage | — | — |
| Williamstown | Unincorp. | Madison | — | — |
| Houcktown | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Cannonsburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Cordelia | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Deweyville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Shawtown | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| West Independence | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Two places on this list straddle county lines. Fostoria’s population figure above is
citywide — most of the city sits in Seneca and Wood counties, with only its
northeastern edge reaching into Washington Township here. Bluffton runs the same way: its
Hancock County piece is the smaller share, in northwestern Orange Township, while most of the
village and its population sit in Allen County to the south.
Townships
Hancock County has 17 civil townships. Two, Findlay and Fostoria, hold no unincorporated
seat of their own on this list because a city or village anchors most of their population.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 7,044 | Findlay Airport; borders the city of Findlay on the east |
| Washington | 4,353 | Fostoria (part), Arcadia |
| Marion | 3,097 | Findlay (part) |
| Allen | 2,754 | Findlay (part), Van Buren, Mortimer |
| Pleasant | 2,377 | McComb |
| Union | 1,881 | Mount Cory, Rawson |
| Biglick | 1,184 | No incorporated place |
| Delaware | 1,208 | Mount Blanchard |
| Orange | 1,301 | Bluffton (part) |
| Eagle | 1,084 | No incorporated place |
| Amanda | 1,036 | Vanlue |
| Jackson | 1,031 | No incorporated place |
| Van Buren | 1,024 | Jenera, New Stark |
| Cass | 1,008 | No incorporated place |
| Madison | 869 | Arlington, Williamstown |
| Portage | 734 | Portage Center |
| Blanchard | 1,130 | Benton Ridge |
ZIP Codes
- 45840 — Findlay (the county’s largest and most populous ZIP)
- 44830 — Fostoria (shared with Seneca and Wood counties)
- 45814 — Arlington
- 45858 — McComb
- 45817 — Bluffton (shared with Allen County)
- 44804 — Arcadia
- 45881 — Rawson
- 45867 — Mount Blanchard
- 45889 — Van Buren
- 45890 — Vanlue
- 45816 — Benton Ridge
- 45868 — Mount Cory
- 45841 — Jenera
Mortimer, New Stark, Portage Center, Williamstown, Houcktown, Cannonsburg, Cordelia,
Deweyville, Shawtown and West Independence have no ZIP code of their own; mail to those
hamlets is delivered under the nearest incorporated town’s code.
Geography
Hancock County sits in northwestern Ohio on the Blanchard River, part of the flat glaciated
plain that covers most of the region. Of its total area, 531 square miles are land and 2.3
square miles (6.0 km2), about 0.4 percent, are water — the Blanchard River, which runs
through Findlay, is the only significant watercourse. The county has no natural lake of any
size.
Wood County lies to the north, Seneca County to the northeast, Wyandot County to the
southeast, Hardin County to the south, Allen County to the southwest, Putnam County to the
west, and Henry County to the northwest. Wood County,
Seneca County,
Wyandot County,
Hardin County,
Allen County,
Putnam County and
Henry County all border Hancock
directly.
Demographics
Hancock County had a population of 74,920 at the 2020 census, and the latest estimate puts
the county near 75,034 residents as of 2024. Findlay and Fostoria are by far the two largest
communities, together holding well over half the county’s population. Median household
income runs $73,141, above Ohio’s statewide figure of $67,769. Population density works
out to roughly 141 people per square mile of land, concentrated heavily around Findlay in the
county’s centre.
Economy & Local Life
Manufacturing employs the most workers in the county, about 8,699 people, followed by health
care and social assistance at 4,474 and retail trade at 4,195. Findlay’s biggest single
employer is Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center, with about 3,165 workers, followed by
Marathon Petroleum Corporation, headquartered in Findlay, at roughly 2,159. Whirlpool
Corporation and Goodyear both run manufacturing plants in the city, and Findlay City Schools is
a major public-sector employer. The University of Findlay, a private liberal arts college with
more than 4,100 students, anchors the city’s east side and is known for its equestrian
studies program. The county’s biggest annual event is the Flag City BalloonFest each
August, a hot-air balloon festival that draws visitors from across the region.
History
The Ohio General Assembly established Hancock County on 21 January 1828, carving it from the
southern portion of Wood County. It was named for John Hancock, the first signer of the
Declaration of Independence. Findlay was platted as the county seat and grew through the
1880s natural gas boom that also fed Fostoria’s glassmaking industry.
Fostoria’s downtown “Iron Triangle,” where two CSX main lines and a Norfolk
Southern main line cross, still carries more than 100 trains a day and remains a working
reminder of the railroads that built the city. Charles Foster, son of the city’s
namesake, went on to serve as Ohio’s 35th governor and as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
under President Benjamin Harrison.
Getting There
Interstate 75 crosses the county north to south through Findlay. US 68 and US 224 also pass
through Findlay, along with several state routes connecting the villages.
- Toledo — about 40 miles north
- Lima — about 30 miles southwest
- Bowling Green — about 20 miles north
- Bucyrus — about 30 miles southeast
Findlay Airport, just south of downtown, handles general aviation and charter traffic.
Toledo Express Airport, about 40 miles north, is the nearest commercial airport, with Allegiant
Air service to several Florida destinations. Amtrak’s nearest station is in downtown
Toledo, served by the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hancock County located?
It sits in northwestern Ohio on the Blanchard River, about 40 miles south of Toledo, bordered
by Wood, Seneca, Wyandot, Hardin, Allen, Putnam and Henry counties.
What is the population of Hancock County?
74,920 at the 2020 census, with a 2024 estimate near 75,034.
How big is Hancock County?
531 square miles (1,375 km2) of land, plus 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2) of water.
What is the county seat of Hancock County?
Findlay is the county seat and largest city, home to the University of Findlay.
How many towns and villages are in Hancock County?
Two cities, Findlay and Fostoria, plus 11 villages: Arcadia, Arlington, Benton Ridge, Bluffton,
Jenera, McComb, Mount Blanchard, Mount Cory, Rawson, Van Buren and Vanlue.
What ZIP codes does Hancock County use?
45840 for Findlay, 44830 for Fostoria, and separate codes for each village, including 45817 for
Bluffton and 45814 for Arlington.
What is Hancock County known for?
The Flag City BalloonFest each August, Marathon Petroleum’s headquarters in Findlay, and
Fostoria’s railroad “Iron Triangle,” where more than 100 trains cross daily.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Ohio.