Explore Ohio county boundaries, county seats and 2020 Census population counts, with a labeled map and a full alphabetical county list.
Ohio has 88 counties. The county map links the Lake Erie region, central Ohio, western communities and the Ohio River border. Use the labeled boundaries to find the counties associated with Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Akron and Dayton. The tables below give county seats and population figures from the 2020 Census.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| State Name | Ohio |
| State Abbreviation | OH |
| Capital City | Columbus |
| County-level Areas | 88 counties |
| Population (2020 Census) | 11,799,448 |
| Land Area (2020 Census) | 40,859.09 square miles |
Ohio city names and county names do not always match. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County, while the city of Hamilton is the county seat of Butler County. The map identifies county boundaries rather than city limits, making it useful for locating a county before looking up local data.
Population comparisons below use the April 1, 2020 Census. They are census counts, not current estimates. Using the same year makes the county comparisons consistent.
| County / Equivalent | County Seat / Government Center | Population — 2020 Census |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | Columbus | 1,323,807 |
| Cuyahoga County | Cleveland | 1,264,817 |
| Hamilton County | Cincinnati | 830,639 |
| Summit County | Akron | 540,428 |
| Montgomery County | Dayton | 537,309 |
| Lucas County | Toledo | 431,279 |
| Butler County | Hamilton | 390,357 |
The complete alphabetical list below includes all 88 county-level areas, including the 81 not shown in this population table.
| Format | Download |
|---|---|
| PNG Map | Download Now |
| PDF Printable | Download Now |
| SVG Editable | Download Now |
| GIS Shapefile (ZIP) | Download Now |
❓ How many counties are in Ohio?
Ohio has 88 counties. All county-level areas are identified on this map.
❓ What is the capital of Ohio?
Columbus is the state capital.
❓ Which county had the largest population in the 2020 Census?
Franklin County had 1,323,807 residents in the 2020 Census. Its county seat or government center is Columbus.
❓ What is the largest county in Ohio by land area?
Ashtabula County has the greatest land area in the Census boundary dataset. Land area and population rankings measure different things.
❓ What county is Columbus associated with?
Columbus is Ohio’s capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The city also extends into Delaware and Fairfield counties.
❓ What county is Cleveland in?
Cleveland is the county seat of Cuyahoga County.
❓ What county is Cincinnati in?
Cincinnati is in Hamilton County and serves as its county seat.
❓ Are Hamilton County and the city of Hamilton the same place?
No. Hamilton County’s county seat is Cincinnati. The city of Hamilton is in Butler County and is Butler County’s county seat.
❓ How should I use this county map?
Use a county name or a known county seat to identify the area, then follow its boundary to neighboring counties. City limits and county boundaries are different. This reference map does not show property lines or road navigation.
Boundaries and county names are from U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb, January 1, 2026 vintage. Population and state land-area figures use 2020 Census geography and counts. County seats and state geography were checked against Ohio History Connection county profiles. The 2020 population figures are not presented as current estimates.
