Darke County, Ohio Business Directory & Community Resources
View a map of Darke County
View the 2025 U.S. Census demographic profile for Darke County
Darke County — County Seat: Greenville
2026 Population Estimate: 51,595 | Official Website: https://www.mydarkecounty.com/
Darke County is a predominantly agricultural county in western Ohio, centered on Greenville — the county seat and birthplace of the legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Moses in 1860 near the hamlet of North Star). The Annie Oakley Festival in Greenville each August is a nationally recognized celebration of her extraordinary legacy. The county is one of Ohio's most productive agricultural areas, famous for its rich farmland and dairy operations. The Garst Farm Resorts near Greenville honors Roswell Garst, the innovative Iowa farmer who sold corn seed to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, helping ease Cold War tensions. Major employers include Wayne HealthCare, Reid Health, and various agricultural processing and manufacturing operations. The Shawnee Prairie Preserve offers natural area recreation. The Treaty of Greenville (1795), which opened the Northwest Territory for American settlement, was signed in present-day Greenville, making this county pivotal in American frontier history.
▸ Key Industries & Major Employers
Agriculture, food processing, and manufacturing.
Major employers include Wayne Healthcare, Greenville National Bank, Fram Group (automotive filtration), and several food processing operations including dairies and grain elevators. The county is one of Ohio's leading agricultural producers, particularly for hogs and soybeans.
▸ Notable Economic Development Initiatives
Darke County Economic Development works with JobsOhio's Dayton Development Coalition partner to attract food and agricultural processing investments. The Darke County Port Authority manages economic development financing tools. A 2024 rural broadband grant targeted the county's most underserved townships.
▸ Infrastructure & Investment Highlights
US-127 is the primary north-south corridor. The Greenville Municipal Airport supports business aviation. AES Ohio provides electric utility service and has partnered with economic development efforts to market the county's energy infrastructure to industrial prospects.