Preble County Facts

Preble County, Ohio is in the southwestern quadrant of the state along the Indiana border and is conveniently positioned on the east to west backbone of our nation--Interstate 70. This strategic location affords us easy access to Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati, Ohio; to Indianapolis and Richmond, Indiana; and to all points beyond.

This growing community offers acres of wide open, flat terrain with access to major roadways, rail lines, and airports at accommodating prices to developers. Preble County offers access to state and federal grants and other programs to build up infrastructure that suits the needs of industrial, retail, and housing development.

Preble County is also a great place to live with a wide range of amenities, such as Hueston Woods State Park, many historical sites, and its charming vintage towns and villages. Folks here enjoy an uncluttered lifestyle of good friends, family, and neighbors, while the excitement and opportunities of urban life are just a short ride away.

Location

Situated in southwest Ohio, Preble County encompasses 424.8 square miles and borders Butler, Montgomery, and Darke counties in Ohio and Wayne County in Indiana. It is centrally located within driving distance of several major metropolitan areas, including Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Indianapolis. The city of Eaton is the county seat for ten villages and twelve townships.

As the larger cities in the region continually expand, Preble County is rapidly becoming an ideal location for corporations to produce and move materials easily around the Midwest and the rest of the nation with easy access to key interstate, railroad, and air travel points. Residents can easily enjoy all of the cultural and entertainment amenities of several moderate to large, clean, model Midwestern cities, while immediately surrounded by the peaceful calm of beautiful countryside.

While Preble County mainly consists of ready to develop land, it also boasts excellent access to key transportation points by road, rail, and air. Interstate Highway 70, US Route 35 and 40 (National Road), and State Route 122 and 725 cross the county east and west. US Route 127 and State Routes 121, 177, 503, 726, and 732 run north and south. The east fork of the Whitewater River flows into Preble County.

Transportation

Preble County is indeed located at the "Crossroads of America." Within short driving distance are several major airports, including the Dayton International Airport, the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati International Airport, and the Indianapolis International Airport. The Richmond Municipal Airport is also nearby in Richmond, Indiana. In addition to major airport proximity, Preble County is served by the Norfolk and Southern Railway Company, which operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states.

Quick Facts

• Preble County is located in southwest Ohio and borders Butler, Montgomery and Darke counties in Ohio and Wayne County in Indiana.

• Preble County was named for the Commander of the American Naval Fleet in the Mediterranean during the Tripolitan War, Commodore Edward Preble.

• Within easy driving distance of Preble County are a variety of higher education options, including Miami University, University of Dayton, University of Cincinnati, and The Ohio State University.

• In addition to major airport proximity, Preble County is served by the Norfolk and Southern Railway Company, which operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states.

• Preble County offers prime sites for business development. Land currently available includes several multiple-acre sites with existing buildings zoned for commercial and industrial development, as well as greenfield sites along major corridors that could be considered for development.

• Currently available properties in Preble County are priced per acre at negotiable prices, and most offer municipal sewer and water services, plus electric, gas, high-speed Internet availability, and good highway access.

• According to the 2000 Census, the population of Preble County is 42,337, which is an increase from the 1990 census of 5.3% (+2,224).

• Roughly 58% of the population of the county resides outside of municipalities. Those living within municipalities account for about 42% of the population.

• The majority of Preble County's landscape is influenced by agriculture. However, manufacturing employs the largest number of residents and offers the highest average weekly earnings (Ohio County Profiles, 2000).

• Dayton, OH, and Richmond IN, are just minutes from Preble County, while Columbus, OH and Indianapolis, IN are within 90 miles.

• Programs such as Dayton Power and Light's Partners in Business Plus program offer comprehensive growth incentives to businesses that create jobs and invest in capital equipment in Preble County.

• The population of Preble County is well-educated, making residents excellent prospective employees. Nearly one-half of the adult population of Preble County holds high school diplomas or equivalent, while one-third of the county residents have attended college, hold an associates or bachelors degree, or hold a graduate degree.

• Professional spectator sports within easy driving distance of Preble County include the Cincinnati Reds baseball and Bengals football teams, the Dayton Dragons (a Single-A farm baseball team for the Reds), and the Dayton Bombers hockey team.