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Ohio is a big place, and life can be quite different in the state’s 88 counties.

That's why we're launching a new series on Spectrum News 1 called "The 88." We want to share what it's like to be an Ohioan, county by county, story by story. 

The 88

MEDINA COUNTY:

Medina County is in north central Ohio conveniently located between the larger metropolitan areas of Cleveland and Akron providing residents a vast array of recreational, cultural and entertainment activities. The county contains approximately 425 square miles with a current estimated population of 178,371.

Medina County was formed in 1812 from a portion of Portage County but did not officially organize until 1818. Medina County celebrated its bicentennial year in 2018 commemorating its industrial and agricultural roots. The largest city in the County, in terms of population, is Brunswick with an estimated 2017 population of 34,867. The City of Medina (County Seat) had an estimated population of 26,190 and the City of Wadsworth had approximately 23,476. In addition to these three cities, Medina County is made up of six villages and seventeen townships.

Auglaize County

AUGLAIZE COUNTY

Auglaize County was formed on February 14, 1848 from portions of Allen and Mercer Counties, and named from a French word meaning "clay-filled water."

Auglaize County is located in the western part of the Buckeye State and is the 51st largest county in Ohio.

According to the 2019 Census, its estimated population is 45,791.

Wapakoneta, its county seat, is the largest city in the county, followed by St. Marys.

Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon, was born in Auglaize County and called Wapakoneta his hometown.  Wapakoneta houses the Armstrong Air & Space Museum, which chronicles Ohio’s contributions to space flight.

Grand Lake St. Marys is Ohio’s largest inland lake and has remained a popular destination for boating, swimming, fishing and picnicking for generations. Grand Lake St. Marys also boasts three stunning lighthouses.

Auglaize County's 402 square miles are mostly rural, with approximately 116 people living in each square mile.

Around 30 percent of Auglaize County's residents are employed in manufacturing positions, with an additional 20 percent of the county’s workforce affiliated with state or local government or service industries.