COLUMBUS — Residential foreclosures in Ohio set a new record in 2009, with signs that the continuing crisis has spread to rural and upscale suburban counties, according to data released on Wednesday, Feb. 17, by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Statewide, there were 89,053 foreclosures, up 3.8 percent from the 85,773 in 2008.

The 14.7 percent increase in Warren County — 1,498 compared to 1,308 in 2008 — represented the spread of the problem to suburban counties, said Bill Faith, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio.

“The really solid, stable wealthy counties are showing big increases,” said Faith. There were similar increases in Delaware County, north of Columbus, and in Medina County, in the Cleveland-Akron area.

Statewide, there were increases in 65 of 88 Ohio counties. There was a decrease in Montgomery County, where foreclosures dropped 9.5 percent, from 5,194 in 2008 to 4,703.

Faith said it is hard to say why that happened, since there were increases in other urban counties.

He said, however, that data shows there are a large number of mortgages 90 days or more delinquent that could result in a new big wave of foreclosures.

For whatever reason, Montgomery County Commissioner Dan Foley said that he was glad foreclosures were down in Montgomery County.

“I’d like to see them go down more,” Foley said.

Release of the information comes as the Ohio Senate continues to consider House-passed legislation that would impose a six-month moratorium on foreclosures and impose other requirements aimed at fighting foreclosures.

Faith said that it’s unlikely that the Senate will go along with the moratorium but is hopeful for a “good bill” with provisions such as mandatory mediation regulation of mortgage servicers.

Here’s the 2009 foreclosure picture for other area counties.

• Butler, 3,162, up 5.9 percent from 2,987 in 2008.
• Champaign, 318, up 24.2 percent from 256 in 2008.
• Clark, 1,104, down 1.8 percent from 1,124 in 2008.
• Darke, 311, up .3 percent from 310 in 2008.
• Greene, 851, up 10.1 percent from 773 in 2008.
• Miami, 741, up 25.6 percent from 590 in 2008.
• Preble, 370, down 1.1 percent from 374 in 2008.