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Lancaster, OH

Frequently asked questions

Lancaster, OH

Lancaster is a city in and the county seat of Fairfield County, Ohio, in the south-central part of the state. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 40,552. The city is near the Hocking River, about 33 miles (53 km) southeast of Columbus and 38 miles (61 km) southwest of Zanesville. It is part of the Columbus metropolitan area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.90 square miles (48.95 km²), of which 0.06 square miles (0.16 km²) is covered by water.

The earliest known inhabitants of the southeastern and central Ohio region were the Hopewell, Adena, and Fort Ancient Native Americans, of whom little evidence survived, beyond the burial and ceremonial mounds built throughout the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys. Many mounds and burial sites have also yielded archaeological artifacts. Serpent Mound and Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, though not in Fairfield County, are nearby.

Before and immediately after European settlement, the land today comprising Lancaster and Fairfield County was inhabited by the Shawnee, nations of the Iroquois, Wyandot, and other Native American tribes. It served as a natural crossroads for the inter- and intra-tribal wars fought at various times. Frontier explorer Christopher Gist reached Lancaster's vicinity on January 19, 1751, when he visited the small Delaware town of Hockhocking nearby. Leaving the area the next day, Gist rode southwest to Maguck, another Delaware town near Circleville.

Having been ceded to the United States by Great Britain after the American Revolution in the Treaty of Paris, the lands north of the Ohio River and west of the Appalachian Mountains were incorporated into the Northwest Territory in 1787. White settlers began to encroach on Native American lands in the Northwest Territory. As the new United States government began to cast its eye westward, the stage was set for the series of campaigns that culminated in the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794 and the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. With pioneer settlement within Ohio made legal and safe from Indian raids, developers began to speculate in land sales in earnest.

Knowing that such speculation, combined with congressional grants of land sections to veterans of the Revolution, could result in a lucrative opportunity, in 1796 Ebenezer Zane petitioned Congress to grant him a contract to blaze a trail through Ohio, from Wheeling, West Virginia, to Limestone, Kentucky (near modern Maysville, Kentucky), a distance of 266 miles (428 km). As part of the deal, Zane was awarded square-mile tracts of land at the points where his trace crossed the Hocking, Muskingum, and Scioto Rivers. Zane's Trace, as it is now known, was completed by 1797. As Zane's sons began to carve the square-mile tract astride the Hocking into saleable plots, the village of Lancaster was founded in 1800. Lancaster antedated the formal establishment of the state of Ohio by three years. Many villages and townships right outside Lancaster, such as Lithopolis, Royalton, and Greencastle, were settled around the same time, which contributed to the village's success.

Initially known as New Lancaster, and later shortened by city ordinance (1805), the town quickly grew; formal incorporation as a city came in 1831. The connection of the Hocking Canal to the Ohio and Erie Canal in this era provided a way for the region's rich agricultural produce to reach eastern markets.

Lancaster places a strong emphasis on health and wellness, with numerous facilities and initiatives dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle. Fairfield Medical Center is a leading healthcare provider in the region, offering comprehensive medical services and state-of-the-art facilities. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Lancaster Parks and Recreation Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Planet Fitness, Lancaster Health & Fitness Center, and What Women Want Fitness Club. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Lancaster, such as the Mount Pleasant Trail and Shallenberger Trail. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in Lancaster, OH are Ohio Glass Museum, Sherman House Museum, AHA! A Hands-On Adventure, A Children's Museum, and Olde Shoe Factory Antique Mall.

Population: 41,422 (2023). ZIP code: 43130. Area codes: 740, 220. Elevation: 879 ft (268 m). Area: 19.03 sq mi (49.29 km²).

FAQs

What is Lancaster, OH known for?

Lancaster is the center of a rich agricultural region principally of swine, dairy, and beef cattle farms. The principal industry is glass which includes a large producer of table glassware. Located at the foot of Mt. Pleasant is the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.

How much does it cost to live in Lancaster, OH?

The total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities for a single adult in Lancaster is $33,488 a year — greater than the annual cost of living for Ohio of $31,572 yet less than the national figure of $38,433. In Lancaster, the median home value is $121,300, less than the national median home value of $204,900. The typical renter in Lancaster spends $791 a month on housing, greater than the $1,023 national median monthly rent.

What is the crime rate in Lancaster, OH?

The crime rate in Lancaster is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 24 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Lancaster is 1 in 42. Based on FBI crime data, Lancaster is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Ohio, Lancaster has a crime rate that is higher than 89% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Lancaster

Fairfield Medical Center

Lancaster Parks and Recreation Department 

Planet Fitness 

Lancaster Health & Fitness Center 

What Women Want Fitness Club

Mount Pleasant Trail

Ohio Glass Museum

Sherman House Museum

AHA! A Hands-On Adventure, A Children's Museum

Olde Shoe Factory Antique Mall

NeighborhoodScout

24/7 Wall St.

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