Ohio

Ottawa

40,364
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Ottawa

Ottawa, Ohio, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 2,248. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 40,364.

Its recorded population peaked at 41,428 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 3 percent.

On the ground today, 9 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Lake Erie (Put-in-Bay, Sept 1813), Skirmish at Portage River OH, Naval Skirmish at Put-in-Bay approaches, and 32 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202040,364
201041,428
200040,985
199040,029
198040,076
197037,099
196035,323
195029,469
194024,360
193024,109
192022,193
191022,360
190022,213
189021,974
188019,762
187013,364
18607,016
18503,308
18402,248
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Ottawa

Military engagements that took place in Ottawa, Ohio.

Battle of Lake Erie (Put-in-Bay, Sept 1813)
1813
Skirmish at Portage River OH
1813
Naval Skirmish at Put-in-Bay approaches
1813
Skirmish at Camp Avery OH
1813
Battle of Lake Erie
1813
Battle of Lake Erie — Put-in-Bay (Perry vs Barclay Sep 10 1813)
1813
Johnson's Island Prison Camp
1862
Ohio — Johnson's Island Confederate Prison
1862
Johnson's Island Prison Security Alert
1864

Historic places in Ottawa

National Register of Historic Places listings in Ottawa, Ohio.

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial (Boundary Increase and Additional Documentation)
Put-in-Bay
Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial
Put-in-Bay
Marblehead Lighthouse
Marblehead
South Bass Island Light
South Bass Island
Wolcott, Benajah, House
Lakeside--Marblehead
Green Island Light
Put-in-Bay
Cooke, Jay, House
Gibraltar Island
Johnson Island Civil War Prison and Fort Site
Danbury
Old School Privy
Genoa
Andres, Charles, House
Middle Bass Island
Browse all Ohiohistoric sites ›

Other counties in Ohio

Explore census history and historic records for more Ohio counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Ottawa County, Ohio

This page charts the census history of Ottawa County, Ohio. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Ottawa

When does Ottawa first appear in the US census?
Ottawa, Ohio first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 2,248.
What is the population of Ottawa?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Ottawa had a recorded population of 40,364.
When did Ottawa's population peak?
Ottawa's recorded population peaked at 41,428 in 2010.
Were any battles fought in Ottawa?
9 documented military engagements took place in Ottawa, including Battle of Lake Erie (Put-in-Bay, Sept 1813), Skirmish at Portage River OH, Naval Skirmish at Put-in-Bay approaches.
How many historic places are in Ottawa?
32 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Ottawa, Ohio.
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