Pickerington, Ohio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pickerington, Ohio
City
The welcome sign located on Hill Road AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Pickerington Ponds Metro Park City Hall in Olde Pickerington Village Old Carnegie Library now home to Historical Society.
Nickname(s):  Picktown, Violet Capital of Ohio, The Purple City
Location of Pickerington in Fairfield County
Pickerington, Ohio Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Pickerington, Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States Pickerington, Ohio Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Counties	Fairfield, Franklin
Founded	1815
Government
• Type	Mayor-council-manager
Area
• Total	10.19 sq mi (26.40 km2)
• Land	10.19 sq mi (26.40 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	840 ft (260 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	23,094
• Estimate  (2023)	25,256
• Density	2,265.67/sq mi (874.79/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	43147
Area code(s)	614, 380, 740, and 220
FIPS code	39-62498
GNIS feature ID	2396197

Pickerington is a city in Fairfield and Franklin counties in the central region of the U.S. state of Ohio. It is a suburb of Columbus. The population was 23,094 at the 2020 census. It was founded in 1815 as Jacksonville, named after Andrew Jackson. The name was changed in 1827 in honor of its founder, Abraham Pickering. As land annexation, development, and immigration into the Columbus area continues, the city of Pickerington (like many area suburbs) has generally followed suit. Pickerington is home to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, located off of Interstate 70.

The Ohio Secretary of State certified Pickerington as a city in 1991 and it was designated as the "Violet Capital of Ohio" in 1996 by the Ohio Legislature. At 11.1 sq mi (29 km²), Pickerington is the second-largest city in Fairfield County behind Lancaster. Pickerington is located just east of Columbus.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 square miles (28.75 km²), all land.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 23,094 people, 8,373 households, and 7,787 families living in the city The population density was 2,355.8 inhabitants per square mile (909.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 69.1% White, 19.0% African American, 4.9% Asian, and 6.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 7,787 households. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.33.

The median age in the city was 36.2 years. 30.2% of residents were under the age of 18; The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 18,291 people, 6,226 households, and 4,869 families living in the city. The population density was 1,877.9 inhabitants per square mile (725.1/km²). There were 6,680 housing units at an average density of 685.8 per square mile (264.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.1% White, 13.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.9% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 6,226 households, of which 50.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 21.8% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.33.

The median age in the city was 32.9 years. 33.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.5% were from 25 to 44; 22% were from 45 to 64; and 6.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

Education

Pickerington Local School District consists of 15 buildings: two high schools, one alternative high school, two junior high schools, three middle schools, seven elementary schools, and an early childhood learning center.

PLSD is made up of approximately 43.4% White, 33.3% African-American, 8.9% Asian, 6.8% Hispanic, .2% American Indian, and 7.4% multi-racial students. 40.9% of students are on a free/reduced lunch program. 15.0% are students with disabilities. The school district also has an average attendance rate of 93.4%.

Schools

Infrastructure

Healthcare

OhioHealth Pickerington Methodist Hospital is on Refugee road in Pickerington. In 2021 OhioHealth announced details of a six-story, 220,000 square foot hospital that includes additional cancer services to the Pickerington community. It opened in December 2023, OhioHealth Pickerington Methodist Hospital expanded the services of what was Pickerington Medical Campus to a full service hospital.

Parks and recreation

Pickerington Parks and Recreation Department oversees a vast expanse of parkland that spans over 158 acres, featuring a community pool and an array of amenities such as shelter houses, fishing ponds, basketball courts, softball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, a putting green, playgrounds, swing sets, an arboretum, a covered bridge, sledding hills, a skate park, and an adult obstacle course.

Transportation

Local roads

The city's two main corridors are Hill Road (state route 256) which runs from Main Street in Reynoldsburg through to Olde Pickerington Village and Refugee Road which runs through the top of the city.

Highways

Pickerington has one highway running through it Interstate 70 in the North of the city on the border of Reynoldsburg.

Rail history

In 1879, the first Toledo and Ohio Central Railroad (T&OC) train arrived in Pickerington after the completion of the railroad tracks and depot. The event marked the beginning of a growth period, with Pickerington's population expanding from 150 to 290 residents, and the township's population increasing from 1,220 to 1,970. For over fifty years, trains transported passengers to and from Pickerington, but with the rise of car ownership and paved roads, rail travel declined. In 1950, Pickerington's passenger service was discontinued, and the depot stopped handling freight traffic eight years later in 1958.

Public transit

Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit has 2 bus routes in Pickerington. One is a loop the other connects to Lancaster and Carroll.

Economy

According to the city's 2023 Popular Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Notable people