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Canal Winchester, Ohio facts for kids

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Canal Winchester
City
North High Street District in Canal Winchester
North High Street District in Canal Winchester
Flag of Canal Winchester
Flag
Official logo of Canal Winchester
Logo
Nicknames: 
Winchester, Canal
Location of Canal Winchester, Ohio
Location of Canal Winchester, Ohio
Location of Canal Winchester in Franklin County
Location of Canal Winchester in Franklin County
Country United States
State Ohio
Counties Franklin, Fairfield
Area
 • Total 7.98 sq mi (20.68 km2)
 • Land 7.85 sq mi (20.33 km2)
 • Water 0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2)
Elevation
758 ft (231 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 9,107
 • Estimate 
(2023)
9,777
 • Density 1,160.42/sq mi (448.06/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
43110
Area code(s) 614 and 380
FIPS code 39-11332
GNIS feature ID 2397546
Website Canal Winchester, Ohio

Canal Winchester is a city located in Ohio, a state in the United States. It is found in both Fairfield and Franklin counties. This city is a suburb of Columbus, which means it's a smaller town near a larger city. In 2020, about 9,107 people lived there.

History of Canal Winchester

Old Canal Winchester Town Hall
Former town hall, now a substation for the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office

Canal Winchester was started in 1828 by two men, Reuben Dove and John Colman. At first, Reuben Dove was upset because the Ohio & Erie Canal was being built right through his wheat field. But the canal workers convinced him that starting a town there would be a great idea. The spot was perfect, being halfway between Columbus and Lancaster.

How the City Got Its Name

On November 4, 1828, Dove and Colman officially created the first map for a new village called Winchester, Ohio. Reuben Dove named it after his father's hometown, Winchester, in Virginia.

The village grew quickly thanks to farming and transportation. The Ohio and Erie Canal was very important. It helped people travel and moved goods like grain to markets. The first canal boat sailed through Winchester in 1831.

The village officially became "Canal Winchester" in 1841. This happened because there were already five other places in Ohio named Winchester. The "Canal" part was added to show its connection to the important waterway.

A Fun Story About the Post Office

There's a local story about how Canal Winchester got its post office. On Halloween in 1841, two teenagers played a prank. They tied horses to the post office building in a nearby town called Waterloo. Then, they pulled the building across the street into Winchester! After this, Waterloo was no longer a town, and Winchester became a recognized village. In 1851, Canal Winchester became part of Madison Township in Franklin County.

In May 1866, Canal Winchester officially became an incorporated village. This meant it could govern itself. Later, in 1869, a railroad came to Canal Winchester. This brought even more growth and helped the local economy.

Geography and Climate

Canal Winchester covers about 7.61 square miles (19.71 square kilometers) of land. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Weather in Canal Winchester

The climate in Canal Winchester is known as a "Humid Subtropical Climate." This means it has fairly warm temperatures and rain spread out throughout the year.

Population of Canal Winchester

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 352
1860 459 30.4%
1870 633 37.9%
1880 650 2.7%
1890 633 −2.6%
1900 662 4.6%
1910 740 11.8%
1920 791 6.9%
1930 906 14.5%
1940 1,046 15.5%
1950 1,194 14.1%
1960 1,976 65.5%
1970 2,412 22.1%
1980 2,749 14.0%
1990 2,617 −4.8%
2000 4,478 71.1%
2010 7,101 58.6%
2020 9,107 28.2%
2023 (est.) 9,777 37.7%
US Census

In 2010, about 7,101 people lived in Canal Winchester. There were 2,646 households, which are groups of people living together. Many of these households were families. The population density was about 950 people per square mile.

The people living in Canal Winchester come from different backgrounds. Most residents are White, with smaller numbers of African American, Asian, Native American, and people of two or more races. About 1.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in the village was about 39.7 years old. Many residents were under 18, and a good number were also 65 or older.

Fun Things to Do in Canal Winchester

Canal Winchester has many fun activities and interesting places to visit.

Festivals and Celebrations

The city hosts several exciting festivals throughout the year:

  • Labor Day Festival: Held on the first weekend of September, this festival has rides, live music, food, and games. There's also a parade on Labor Day Monday.
  • Blues and Ribs Fest: In early August, this event brings blues musicians and rib cooks from all over the country.
  • Christmas in the Village: During the first weekend of December, the city celebrates the holidays. You can enjoy food, listen to choirs, see amazing ice sculptures, and take horse-drawn buggy rides. There's even a gingerbread house contest!

Cool Places to See

  • Historic Downtown Canal Winchester: This area is full of old buildings and charm.
  • The National Barber's Museum and National Barber Hall of Fame: A unique museum dedicated to the history of barbering.
  • Slate Run Vineyard and Winery: A local place where grapes are grown to make wine.
  • BrewDog: This Scottish brewing company has its U.S. headquarters and even a beer hotel here.
  • Antique Shops: You can find many interesting old items in the village's antique stores.
  • Bergstresser Bridge: This is the only wooden covered bridge still standing in Franklin County. A covered bridge is a bridge with walls and a roof, often built to protect the wooden structure from weather.

Education in Canal Winchester

Canal Winchester has a strong school system. Since the year 2000, new elementary schools, a new middle school, and a new wing for the high school have been built.

Canal Winchester High School's sports teams are called the Indians, and their colors are maroon and white. The high school offers many advanced classes to help students prepare for college. The school is well-known for its sports teams, including football, wrestling, basketball, and track. These teams compete at a high level. The baseball team was even state runner-up two years in a row, in 2008 and 2009.

CanalWinOHsign
Town sign honoring local musician Oley Speaks

In recent years, two students, Greg Guiler and Andy Rhinehart, were recognized as Wendy's High School Heisman State Finalists. This award honors top student-athletes in the state. The soccer team has also had success, winning two district titles (in 2013 and 2014) and one OCC Cardinal Division title (in 2014).

Sister City

Canal Winchester has a special connection with another city far away:

  • Bernay, Eure, France

Famous People from Canal Winchester

Some notable people who have lived in or are from Canal Winchester include:

  • Byron Mullens: An NBA basketball player.
  • Oley Speaks: A famous composer and songwriter.
  • Robert Warren: A television painter.

See also

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