Montgomery County

Geography

The county has a total area of 464 square miles (1,200 km2), of which 462 square miles (1,200 km2) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) (0.6%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Miami County (north)

Clark County (northeast)

Greene County (east)

Warren County (south)

Butler County (southwest)

Preble County (west)

Darke County (northwest)

National protected area

Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (part)

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 537,309. The median age was 39.6 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 67.9% White, 21.2% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.9% from some other race, and 6.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.9% of the population.

94.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 5.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 228,536 households in the county, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.6% were married-couple households, 21.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 251,523 housing units, of which 9.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 60.2% were owner-occupied and 39.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 535,153 people, 223,943 households, and 138,060 families living in the county. The population density was 1,159.5 inhabitants per square mile (447.7/km2). There were 254,775 housing units at an average density of 552.0 per square mile (213.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.9% white, 20.9% black or African American, 1.7% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.8% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 24.9% were German, 12.8% were Irish, 9.7% were American, and 8.8% were English.

Of the 223,943 households, 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, and 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33, and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 39.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,965, and the median income for a family was $56,559. Males had a median income of $45,680 versus $34,991 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,828. About 11.7% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those aged 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 559,062 people, 229,229 households, and 146,935 families living in the county. The population density was 1,211 people per square mile (468 people/km2). There were 248,443 housing units at an average density of 538 per square mile (208/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.57% White, 19.86% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. 1.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 229,229 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.30% were married couples living together, 13.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.90% were non-families. 30.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37, and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,156, and the median income for a family was $50,071. Males had a median income of $38,710 versus $27,297 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,743. About 8.30% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Montgomery County has been a slightly Democratic-leaning swing county since the Civil War. After voting consistently Democratic in presidential elections from 1992 to 2012, Republican Donald Trump narrowly defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in the county in 2016. The last Democrat to win the county by double digits was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, while the last Republican to do so was George H. W. Bush in 1988.

Government

Education

Post-secondary institutions

Air Force Institute of Technology (actually located in Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio).

Sinclair Community College

Wright State University (actually located in neighboring Greene County, Ohio, but uses a Dayton address).

University of Dayton

Kettering College of Medical Arts

The Miami Valley School

Public schools

The following public school districts are located partially or entirely in Montgomery County:

Local School Districts

Brookville Local School District

Brookville High School, Brookville (the Blue Devils)

Carlisle Local School District

Carlisle High School, Carlisle (the Indians)

Jefferson Township Local School District

Jefferson Township High School, Dayton (the Broncos)

Mad River Local School District

Stebbins High School

New Lebanon Local School District

Dixie High School, Dixie (the Greyhounds)

Northridge Local School District

Northridge High School (the Polar Bears)

Preble Shawnee Local School District

Tri-County North Local School District

Valley View Local School District

Valley View High School, Germantown (the Spartans)

City School Districts

Beavercreek City School District

Private schools

The following private high schools are located in Montgomery County:

Archbishop Alter High School, Kettering (the Knights) (Roman Catholic)

Carroll High School, Dayton (the Patriots) (Roman Catholic)

Chaminade Julienne High School, Dayton (Eagles) (Roman Catholic/Marianist)

Dayton Christian High School, Dayton (the Warriors) (nondenominational Christian)

Dominion Academy, Dayton (the Sabers) (Christ the King Anglican Church)

The Miami Valley School, Dayton (the Rams) (nonsectarian)

Salem Christian Academy, Clayton

Spring Valley Academy, Centerville (Seventh-day Adventist)

Communities

Villages

Farmersville

New Lebanon

Phillipsburg

Verona (mostly in Preble County)

Defunct townships

Dayton

Mad River (remnant merged with the Village of Riverside in 1994)

Madison (remnant merged with the Village of Trotwood in 1996)

Randolph (remnant merged with the Village of Clayton in 1998)

Van Buren (partitioned between the municipalities of Kettering and Moraine in 1952–1953)

Wayne (incorporated as Huber Heights in 1981)

Census-designated place

Drexel

Fort McKinley

Shiloh