Van Wert County, Ohio
Founding: 1837 (declared in 1820) Parent county: Unorganized territory Namesake: Isaac Van Wart, New York militiaman Seats: Willshire (1835–1839); Van Wert (1839–) Land area: 409 square miles Population (2020): 28,931 Population (historic): 1,577 (1840); 10,238 (1860); 23,028 (1880); 30,394 (1900); 26,273 (1930) Periods of population growth: pre-1840–1900; 1930–1980 Subdivisions: Two cities; eight villages; 12 townships Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 4,154 (32.8%) Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 61.6% Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 6.9% Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 3.6% Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 4.5% Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,431 Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,564 Average farmhouse size (1940): 7 rooms Number of farms (1920): 2,879 Average farm size (1920): 77.9 acres Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania...