In 1865 George Kinder and George Clark set up shop on Madison Street and began publishing The Ottawa County News. In 1867, the Ottawa County Republican opened. Both newspapers changed names numerous times. In 1969, the two merged into the News Herald. Later that year, F.J. Daubel purchased the newspaper and owned it until 1975, when Gannett acquired both the News Herald and The News-Messenger in Fremont. The News Herald is the only daily newspaper published in Ottawa County. It serves the home city of Port Clinton and a majority of the outlying county areas. The News Herald's TMC product, Adwrap, with a circulation between 7,000 and 9,000, is distributed every Saturday by the U.S. Postal Service.

Port Clinton, the Ottawa County seat, is the center for recreation activities on the adjacent waters of Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay. These activities include boating, fishing and sailing along with sandy beaches, island excursions, Lake Erie wineries and wildlife areas. The National Rifle and Pistol Matches are held annually at Camp Perry, just west of Port Clinton.

Tourism, light industry and agriculture are the key industries of the area. Ottawa County is easily accessible to nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population and within 90 minutes of Canada. Port Clinton is on the south shore of Lake Erie, 37 miles east of Toledo, Ohio, and 81 miles west of Cleveland.

Ottawa County enjoys a rich historical past. Oliver Hazard Perry defeated the British Fleet in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812; Johnson's Island served as a Confederate prisoner of war camp during the Civil War. Camp Perry served as a prisoner of war camp during the Second World War. The Marblehead lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Erie.

Area population: 28,377
Median family household income: $47,398
Median age: 42.8
Largest employers: Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Brush-Wellman, Silgan Plastics, U.S. Gypsum, Magruder Hospital
Key colleges: Terra Community College, University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University