Henry County is a county in Ohio, United States, on the Maumee River in the northwestern part of the state. It had a population of 27,662 at the 2020 census and covers 420 square miles (1,100 km2), centred near 41°20′N 84°04′W.
Napoleon is the county seat, and its postal code is 43545. The county has one city, eight incorporated villages, one census-designated place, and a number of unincorporated communities spread across 13 townships. It observes Eastern time and carries FIPS code 39069.
Towns & Villages in Henry County
Henry County contains 24 named places: one city (the county seat), eight incorporated villages, one census-designated place, and 14 unincorporated communities. Population figures below are 2020 census counts where the place is incorporated or a recognized CDP; unincorporated crossroads have none on record.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napoleon | City · seat | Napoleon | 8,862 | 43545 |
| Deshler | Village | Freedom | — | 43516 |
| Florida | Village | Damascus | — | 43502 |
| Hamler | Village | Damascus | — | 43524 |
| Holgate | Village | Harrison | — | 43527 |
| Liberty Center | Village | Liberty | — | 43532 |
| Malinta | Village | Richfield | — | 43535 |
| McClure | Village | Liberty | — | 43534 |
| New Bavaria | Village | Damascus | — | — |
| Ridgeville Corners | CDP | Ridgeville | — | 43555 |
| Bostelmans Corners | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Colton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Elery | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gallup | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Gerald | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Grelton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Naomi | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Okolona | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Pleasant Bend | Unincorp. | Pleasant | — | — |
| Ratsville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Shunk | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Standley | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Texas | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Westhope | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
McClure straddles the Henry–Wood county line; only the portion inside Henry County is counted here, and readers looking for its Wood County section should also see the Wood County page.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Bartlow | — | rural |
| Damascus | — | Florida, Hamler, New Bavaria |
| Flatrock | — | rural |
| Freedom | — | Deshler |
| Harrison | — | Holgate |
| Liberty | — | Liberty Center, McClure |
| Marion | — | rural |
| Monroe | — | rural |
| Napoleon | — | Napoleon |
| Pleasant | — | Pleasant Bend |
| Richfield | — | Malinta |
| Ridgeville | — | Ridgeville Corners |
| Washington | — | rural |
ZIP Codes
- 43545 — Napoleon
- 43516 — Deshler
- 43502 — Florida
- 43524 — Hamler
- 43527 — Holgate
- 43532 — Liberty Center
- 43535 — Malinta
- 43534 — McClure
- 43555 — Ridgeville Corners
New Bavaria and the county’s unincorporated crossroads use the ZIP code of their nearest post-office town rather than one of their own.
Geography
Henry County lies on the flat till plains of Ohio’s former Great Black Swamp. The Maumee River crosses the county roughly west to east through Napoleon on its way to Lake Erie, and smaller streams including Beaver Creek and the Tiffin River drain other sections. The terrain is gently rolling to flat and intensively farmed, with corn and soybeans covering most of the county.
Henry County borders Fulton County to the north, Lucas County to the northeast, Wood County to the east, Hancock County to the southeast, Putnam County to the south, Defiance County to the west, and Williams County to the northwest.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 27,662 residents in Henry County, a density of about 66 people per square mile. Napoleon, the county seat, is by far the largest community; Deshler and Holgate are the next-largest villages. Median household income in the county runs below the Ohio median of $67,769, reflecting an economy still anchored in agriculture.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors Henry County’s economy, with corn, soybeans, and livestock operations covering most of its farmland. Napoleon is home to a large Campbell Soup Company plant, one of the biggest soup-production facilities in the world and the county’s largest employer, along with Henry County Hospital. The Henry County Fair, held each August in Napoleon, is the county’s largest annual event.
History
Ohio’s legislature created Henry County in 1820 out of unorganized territory in the state’s northwest, but it was not organized as a functioning county government until 1834, once enough settlers had arrived. It is named for Patrick Henry, the Virginia statesman remembered for declaring, “Give me liberty, or give me death.” Like most of northwest Ohio, the county was covered by the Great Black Swamp and stayed largely unsettled until 19th-century drainage ditches opened its soil to farming.
Getting There
Ohio State Route 24 follows the Maumee River through Napoleon, and U.S. Route 6 and State Route 109 cross the county north to south. A CSX rail line runs through Deshler.
- Toledo — about 30 miles northeast
- Findlay — about 30 miles southeast
- Defiance — about 20 miles west
- Bowling Green — about 25 miles east
Toledo Express Airport, in neighboring Lucas County, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Henry County, Ohio?
It is in the northwestern part of Ohio, on the Maumee River, about 30 miles southwest of Toledo.
What is the population of Henry County?
27,662 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Henry County?
420 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 416 square miles are land.
Who is the Henry County seat?
Napoleon is the county seat.
How many towns and villages are in Henry County?
One city, Napoleon; eight incorporated villages; one census-designated place, Ridgeville Corners; and several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Henry County?
Napoleon uses 43545; the villages each carry their own ZIP, including 43516 (Deshler), 43527 (Holgate), and 43532 (Liberty Center).
What is Henry County known for?
Its farmland and the Campbell Soup Company plant in Napoleon, one of the largest soup-production facilities anywhere.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Ohio.