Using the watershed map below, from the Firelands Coastal Tributaries website, let's make a definition of "local" based on who is in the same watershed as us.

Next, using the larger watershed map below, let's expand our definition of "local" based on the nearest counties in the same watersheds as Erie County.

Let's follow the surface-drainage watersheds starting from the City of Sandusky in Erie County.  Following the Cold Creek Watershed, the next nearest town to Sandusky is Castalia.  Following the Mills Creek or Pipe Creek watersheds, the nearest town is Bellevue, located at the intersection of Erie, Huron, and Seneca counties. Hemminger Ditch and Plum Brook lead us essentially to NASA's Plum Brook Station.

Along watershed lines, the next most "local" counties might be considered as follows:

(1) Huron
(2) Sandusky
(3) Seneca
(4) Ottawa