Licking County, Ohio Business Directory & Community Resources
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View the 2025 U.S. Census demographic profile for Licking County
Licking County — County Seat: Newark
2026 Population Estimate: 186,788 | Official Website: https://lickingcounty.gov/
Licking County is a rapidly growing central Ohio county east of Columbus with the city of Newark as its county seat. The county is experiencing explosive growth as suburban Columbus development sweeps eastward, and it is poised for even more dramatic growth: Intel Corporation announced a $20+ billion investment to build two of the world's most advanced semiconductor fabrication plants (fabs) in New Albany (on the Licking-Franklin County line) — described as the largest economic development project in Ohio history and one of the largest manufacturing investments in American history, expected to bring thousands of jobs. Beyond Intel, the county is home to Denison University in Granville — one of Ohio's finest liberal arts colleges. The county contains the remarkable Newark Earthworks — the largest surviving set of geometric earthworks in the world, built by the Hopewell culture roughly 2,000 years ago, recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023.
▸ Key Industries & Major Employers
Semiconductor manufacturing (emerging), retail/distribution, healthcare, and agriculture. Newark is the county seat.
Major employers include Licking Memorial Hospital, Heath City Schools, Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Amazon (fulfillment center), and Longaberger (legacy). Intel's Ohio One semiconductor campus in New Albany is Licking County's most consequential investment—a $28B project expected to create 3,000 direct Intel jobs and 7,000+ construction jobs at full build-out (first fab targeted 2030-2031).
Intel's Ohio One campus is the largest single private-sector investment in Ohio history and is reshaping Licking County's economic trajectory. The county is developing semiconductor supply chain and workforce infrastructure in partnership with Ohio State University. Vertical construction has logged 9.4M+ work hours as of early 2026. Intel reinvested in the project in 2026 following AI-driven semiconductor demand growth. JobsOhio's Matt Englehart described Ohio as 'at the center of cutting-edge semiconductor production.'
▸ Infrastructure & Investment Highlights
I-70 provides primary highway access. SR-161 connects New Albany (Intel site) to Columbus. The county is expanding water and sewer infrastructure in the New Albany area to support semiconductor fabrication needs. Broadband and power grid investment in the county has accelerated due to Intel's requirements.
