The county of Summit is situated in the state of Ohio in the United States. At the time of the 2020 census, the county’s population was 540,428, making it the fourth most populous county in Ohio. In addition to Akron, it has several other cities. Parts of Medina, Portage, and Stark counties were combined to form the county on March 3, 1840. Summit County was named so because the highest point of the Ohio and Erie canals is in the county.
Summit County, a treasure trove of natural beauty, spans 419.38 square miles (1,086 km2) of land, of which 412.08 square miles (1,067 km2) are land and 7.3 square miles (19 km2) are water (1.7%). The northern part of the county is graced by the majestic Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a haven for nature enthusiasts. The southern boundary of the former Western Connecticut Reservation runs through the southern part of the county, leading to scenic jogs on the eastern and western boundaries of the county, a sight to behold.
Along with Cuyahoga County, Summit County is one of only two of Ohio’s 88 counties to be self-governing under Article X of the Ohio Constitution. Under its charter, Summit County has an elected county executive and an eleven-member county council instead of three elected commissioners. Eight council members are elected from individual districts; the other three are generally chosen. Summit County also has an appointed coroner instead of an elected coroner and an elected treasurer who exercises the powers and duties of district auditor, treasurer, and secretary.
The county’s median household income was $47,926, and the median was $62,271. Men had an average income of $47,892 compared to $35,140 for women. There were 26,676 per capita incomes in the county. It is estimated that 10.0% of families and 13.8% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 19.8% of children under 18 and 8.0% of those over 65.
Summit County, a stronghold of democratic values, is a testament to our commitment to a fair and just society. Like much of northeastern Ohio, Summit is strongly Democratic. It has seen Republican victories only three times since 1932, all in Republican landslide victories: the victory of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 and the victories of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan in 49 states in 1972 and 1984, respectively. This political landscape reflects our collective voice and the power of our democratic system.