The county is one of the six Metropolitan Statistical Areas that make up Northeast Ohio.

At its formation in 1806 Richland County encompassed a larger area.

Settlers cleared the land for farming and the population increased.

[5] As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 128,852 people, 49,534 households, and 34,277 families living in the county.

26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 124,475 people, 48,921 households, and 32,510 families living in the county.

[11] In terms of ancestry, 30.6% were German, 13.3% were Irish, 12.6% were English, and 8.0% were American.

[14] Prior to 1944, Richland County was Democratic in presidential elections, only voting for Republican candidates four times from 1856 to 1940.

At 43%, Herbert Hoover in 1928 claimed the largest percentage margin of victory.