Lancaster, Ohio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lancaster, Ohio
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Main Street in Downtown Lancaster
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| Nickname(s):
"Glass City", "The Stir", "L Town"
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Location of Lancaster in Fairfield County
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 Lancaster, Ohio
Location in Ohio
Lancaster, Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Fairfield |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19.03 sq mi (49.29 km2) |
| • Land | 18.97 sq mi (49.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 840 ft (260 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 40,552 |
| • Density | 2,138.03/sq mi (825.50/km2) |
| Demonym(s) | Lancastrian |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
43130
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| Area codes | 740 and 220 |
| FIPS code | 39-41720 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1086078 |
| Website | www.ci.lancaster.oh.us |
Lancaster is a city in Ohio, located in the south-central part of the state. It is the main city of Fairfield County. In 2020, about 40,552 people lived here. Lancaster is close to the Hocking River. It is also part of the larger Columbus metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Lancaster
Early Inhabitants
Long ago, Native American groups like the Hopewell, Adena, and Fort Ancient people lived in this area. They built large mounds for burials and ceremonies. You can still see some of these mounds today, like Serpent Mound.
Before Europeans arrived, the land around Lancaster was home to the Shawnee, Iroquois, and Wyandot tribes. Explorer Christopher Gist visited a nearby Native American town called Hockhocking in 1751.
Founding the City
After the American Revolution, the land became part of the Northwest Territory. More settlers began to move west. In 1796, Ebenezer Zane got permission to create a trail through Ohio. This trail, called Zane's Trace, was finished by 1797.
As part of the deal, Zane received land. He divided a piece of land near the Hocking River into plots. This is how the village of Lancaster was started in 1800. It was first called New Lancaster, but the name was shortened in 1805. Lancaster became a city in 1831.
Growth and Development
The city grew quickly, especially when the Hocking Canal connected to the Ohio and Erie Canal. This helped farmers send their crops to markets in the east.
Many early settlers in Lancaster were German immigrants. The city's newspaper, the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, has a long history. It was formed by two older papers that used to be rivals. They merged in 1937.
Geography and Climate
City Area
Lancaster covers about 19 square miles (49 square kilometers). A very small part of this area is water.
Weather in Lancaster
The weather in Lancaster changes with the seasons. Here's a look at the average temperatures and rainfall:
| Climate data for Lancaster, Ohio, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1997–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
79 (26) |
86 (30) |
88 (31) |
92 (33) |
99 (37) |
100 (38) |
99 (37) |
97 (36) |
91 (33) |
81 (27) |
74 (23) |
100 (38) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 62.5 (16.9) |
64.0 (17.8) |
74.3 (23.5) |
83.1 (28.4) |
89.3 (31.8) |
92.3 (33.5) |
93.1 (33.9) |
92.0 (33.3) |
91.3 (32.9) |
83.7 (28.7) |
72.4 (22.4) |
64.2 (17.9) |
94.2 (34.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 37.5 (3.1) |
41.3 (5.2) |
51.6 (10.9) |
64.8 (18.2) |
74.1 (23.4) |
82.0 (27.8) |
85.0 (29.4) |
84.1 (28.9) |
78.1 (25.6) |
65.8 (18.8) |
53.0 (11.7) |
41.8 (5.4) |
63.3 (17.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.5 (−1.4) |
32.6 (0.3) |
41.7 (5.4) |
53.0 (11.7) |
63.0 (17.2) |
71.6 (22.0) |
74.9 (23.8) |
73.4 (23.0) |
66.5 (19.2) |
54.7 (12.6) |
43.2 (6.2) |
34.4 (1.3) |
53.2 (11.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.5 (−5.8) |
24.0 (−4.4) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
41.2 (5.1) |
51.8 (11.0) |
61.1 (16.2) |
64.7 (18.2) |
62.7 (17.1) |
54.8 (12.7) |
43.5 (6.4) |
33.5 (0.8) |
26.9 (−2.8) |
43.1 (6.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 1.6 (−16.9) |
3.9 (−15.6) |
15.0 (−9.4) |
25.4 (−3.7) |
35.5 (1.9) |
48.3 (9.1) |
52.0 (11.1) |
50.4 (10.2) |
42.3 (5.7) |
28.3 (−2.1) |
19.5 (−6.9) |
10.6 (−11.9) |
−0.8 (−18.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −12 (−24) |
−9 (−23) |
2 (−17) |
16 (−9) |
28 (−2) |
40 (4) |
41 (5) |
40 (4) |
31 (−1) |
18 (−8) |
11 (−12) |
−7 (−22) |
−12 (−24) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.86 (73) |
2.32 (59) |
3.40 (86) |
3.93 (100) |
4.17 (106) |
4.08 (104) |
4.22 (107) |
3.37 (86) |
3.22 (82) |
3.07 (78) |
2.69 (68) |
2.85 (72) |
40.18 (1,021) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.8 | 9.8 | 10.4 | 11.2 | 11.4 | 10.7 | 10.0 | 9.2 | 7.8 | 9.5 | 8.3 | 10.4 | 118.5 |
| Source: NOAA (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020) | |||||||||||||
People of Lancaster
Population Changes Over Time
Here's how Lancaster's population has grown over the years:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 1,037 | — | |
| 1830 | 1,530 | 47.5% | |
| 1840 | 3,272 | 113.9% | |
| 1850 | 3,483 | 6.4% | |
| 1860 | 4,308 | 23.7% | |
| 1870 | 4,725 | 9.7% | |
| 1880 | 6,803 | 44.0% | |
| 1890 | 7,555 | 11.1% | |
| 1900 | 8,991 | 19.0% | |
| 1910 | 13,093 | 45.6% | |
| 1920 | 14,706 | 12.3% | |
| 1930 | 18,716 | 27.3% | |
| 1940 | 21,940 | 17.2% | |
| 1950 | 24,180 | 10.2% | |
| 1960 | 29,916 | 23.7% | |
| 1970 | 32,911 | 10.0% | |
| 1980 | 34,925 | 6.1% | |
| 1990 | 34,507 | −1.2% | |
| 2000 | 35,335 | 2.4% | |
| 2010 | 38,780 | 9.7% | |
| 2020 | 40,552 | 4.6% | |
| Sources: | |||
2020 Census Information
In 2020, Lancaster had about 40,438 people. Most people (92.5%) were White. About 1.8% were African American, and 0.3% were Asian. About 5% of the population identified as two or more races. Around 1.8% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
About 30.9% of homes had children under 18 living there. The average age in the city was 39.2 years old.
Economy
Major Employers
Many people in Lancaster work for these top companies and organizations:
| # | Employer | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfield Medical Center | 2,314 |
| 2 | Anchor Hocking | 1,782 |
| 3 | Fairfield County | 1,387 |
| 4 | Lancaster City Schools | 1,121 |
| 5 | Kroger | 936 |
| 6 | MAGNA | 621 |
| 7 | City of Lancaster | 496 |
| 8 | SRI Ohio Inc | 456 |
| 9 | Daily Services | 432 |
| 10 | Group Management Services | 412 |
Arts and Culture
Fairfield County Fair
Lancaster is famous for the Fairfield County Fair. This big event happens every October. It's the last county fair of the year in Ohio. The fair has many fun things to do. You can see truck and tractor pulls, demolition derbies, and concerts. There are also food, animals, exhibits, games, and rides for everyone.
AHA! A Hands-on Adventure
AHA! is a children's museum that opened in 2006. It's a place where kids can learn and play. The museum has interactive exhibits that encourage curiosity and exploration. It's a fun spot for all ages to discover new things.
Georgian Museum
The Georgian Museum is a historic house built in 1832. It shows what homes looked like in the 1830s. The museum has original furniture and items from Fairfield County. It's located in one of Lancaster's historic districts.
The Decorative Arts Center of Ohio
This museum teaches people about decorative arts. It's in the beautiful Reese-Peters House. The center offers exhibits, public programs, and art classes. It's a great place to learn about art and history.
Ohio Glass Museum
The Ohio Glass Museum opened in 2002. It's in downtown Lancaster. This museum tells the story of the glass industry. Glassmaking has been very important to Fairfield County's economy for over 100 years.
Sherman House
Lancaster is the birthplace of two famous brothers: William Tecumseh Sherman and John Sherman. William Tecumseh Sherman was a well-known general during the American Civil War. John Sherman was a senator and served as Secretary of State.
Their childhood home, built in 1811, is now a museum. It displays items from General Sherman's life and artifacts from the Civil War.
Robert K Fox Family YMCA Swim Team
The Lancaster YMCA Swim Team (LYST) is a competitive swim team. Swimmers from ages 5 to 18 can join. They practice all year round and compete in many swim meets. The team often attends national competitions.
Shopping
For shopping, people in Lancaster usually go to River Valley Mall or the shops in downtown Lancaster.
Education
Lancaster City School District runs Lancaster High School. The city also has a public library, which is part of the Fairfield County District Library. For higher education, Ohio University-Lancaster is a branch campus of Ohio University located in the area.
Media
Lancaster has a daily newspaper called the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. There is also a monthly magazine called Lancaster Living Magazine.
Notable People
Many interesting people were born or grew up in Lancaster, including:
- Allan Anderson, a professional baseball pitcher
- Mark Baltz, an NFL official
- Bobby Carpenter, an NFL player
- Rob Carpenter, an NFL player
- Gene Cole, an Olympic silver medalist in track and field
- Jim Cordle, an NFL player
- Thomas Ewing, the first Secretary of the Interior
- Malcolm Forbes, who published Forbes magazine
- Bill Glassford, a football player and coach
- David Graf, an actor known for the Police Academy movies
- Robert G. Heft, who designed the current 50-star flag of the United States
- James Hyde, an actor and model
- Rex Kern, a football quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes
- Augustus Roy Knabenshue, an early aviator
- Clarence E. Miller, a Republican congressman
- Mary Murphy, a ballroom dance champion and judge
- Joe Ogilvie, a professional golfer
- Richard F. Outcault, a cartoonist who created the Yellow Kid
- Jacob Parrott, the first person to receive the Medal of Honor
- John Sherman, a U.S. senator and Secretary of State
- William Tecumseh Sherman, a famous Union Army general
- Henry Stanbery, a Attorney General
- Rebecca Harrell Tickell, an actress
See also
In Spanish: Lancaster (Ohio) para niños
