Zanesville, Ohio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zanesville, Ohio
City
Downtown Zanesville
Nickname(s):  "City of Natural Advantages", "Y City", "Clay City", "The Y Bridge City"
Location of Zanesville in Muskingum County and the State of Ohio
Zanesville, Ohio Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Zanesville, Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Muskingum
Named for	Ebenezer Zane
Area
• Total	12.13 sq mi (31.41 km2)
• Land	11.78 sq mi (30.50 km2)
• Water	0.35 sq mi (0.91 km2)
Elevation	768 ft (234 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	24,765
• Density	2,102.83/sq mi (811.92/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	43701–43702
Area code(s)	740
FIPS code	39-88084
GNIS feature ID	1086738
Website	www.coz.org

Zanesville is a city in Ohio, United States. It is the main city, or "county seat," of Muskingum County. Zanesville is located where two rivers, the Licking River and the Muskingum River, meet.

The city is about 52 miles (84 km) east of Columbus. In 2020, Zanesville had a population of 24,765 people. From 1810 to 1812, Zanesville was the state capital of Ohio. Today, it is part of the larger Columbus metropolitan area.

A Look Back in Time

The second Ohio Statehouse, built in 1809

Zanesville is named after Ebenezer Zane. He created a famous pioneer trail called Zane's Trace. This trail went from Wheeling, West Virginia, to Maysville, Kentucky, passing through what is now Ohio.

In 1797, Ebenezer Zane gave land to his son-in-law, John McIntire. This land was where Zane's Trace met the Muskingum River. McIntire, with Zane's help, planned the town and opened an inn and ferry by 1799. In 1801, the settlement, which was first called Westbourne, was officially renamed Zanesville.

From 1810 to 1812, Zanesville served as Ohio's second state capital. The National Road, a historic highway, also runs through Zanesville as U.S. Route 40. The city grew quickly between the 1820s and 1850s.

Zanesville and Putnam (on the east side of the Muskingum River) were important stops on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people find freedom before the American Civil War. During the Civil War in 1863, over 5,000 Union soldiers were stationed in Zanesville. They helped protect the city during Morgan's Raid.

The famous novelist Zane Grey was born in Zanesville. He was a descendant of the Zane family. After the Civil War, Zanesville became known for its manufacturing and textile industries. Downtown Zanesville was a busy center with factories, shops, hotels, theaters, and churches.

In 1872, Zanesville added the nearby community of Putnam. This area is now known as the Putnam Historic District. Zanesville was also famous for making pottery. Many pottery companies operated here because of the good clay found nearby. They made both art pottery and useful everyday pottery. Some well-known companies included Weller Pottery and Roseville Pottery.

Where is Zanesville?

Zanesville is located where the Muskingum River and the Licking River meet. It is about 23 miles (37 km) west of Cambridge. The National (Cumberland) Road and its modern versions, U.S. Route 40 and Interstate 70, cross the Muskingum River in Zanesville.

The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 12.14 square miles (31.44 km²) of land and water. Most of this area, about 11.77 square miles (30.48 km²), is land. The area has important clay deposits. These were used by many pottery companies in the early 1900s.

Zanesville's Climate

Zanesville has a climate with warm summers and cold winters. The hottest month is usually July, and the coldest is January. The city gets a good amount of rain throughout the year. Snowfall is common in winter months.

Population and People

In the 1950s, Zanesville was known for its diverse population. This was partly because of its history as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Many people found safety and a new home here.

2010 Census Information

In 2010, Zanesville had 25,487 people living in 10,864 households. The city's population density was about 2,165.4 inhabitants per square mile (836.1/km²). Most residents (84.4%) were White, and 9.7% were African American. About 4.7% of the population identified with two or more races.

About 31.3% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.29 people. The average age of residents was 36.3 years old. About 25.1% of residents were under 18, and 15.2% were 65 or older.

Arts and Culture

Zanesville is famous for its unique three-way bridge called the "Y-Bridge". This bridge crosses where the Licking and Muskingum rivers meet. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Y-Bridge is one of the few bridges of its kind in the United States. The famous pilot Amelia Earhart once said Zanesville was "the most recognizable city in the country" because of this bridge. It has been rebuilt several times since the 1850s.

Education in Zanesville

Schools for Kids

The first school in Zanesville was a log cabin built in 1803. Today, Zanesville High School is the main high school for the Zanesville City School District. Most students living in Zanesville attend these schools. Some parts of the city are in other school districts, like West Muskingum Local School District and Tri-Valley Local School District.

There are also two private high schools in Zanesville:

• Bishop Rosecrans High School (a Roman Catholic school)
• Zanesville Christian School

Colleges and Universities

Zanesville is home to several colleges:

• Ohio University-Zanesville (OUZ) is a branch campus of Ohio University. It opened its current campus in 1969.
• Zane State College, which used to be called Muskingum Area Technical College, is next to OUZ. It was founded in 1969.
• Muskingum University is located in the nearby town of New Concord.

City Infrastructure

Getting Around Zanesville

The Muskingum River Canal was an important way to transport goods in Zanesville in the 1800s.

Zanesville has its own airport, Zanesville Municipal Airport. It was built during World War II and has two 5,000 feet (1,500 m) runways. The airport had commercial flights from the late 1940s to the early 1970s.

Several railroad lines also serve the city. Major highways like Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 40 (which follows the old National Road) pass through Zanesville. Other state routes, such as 60 and 93, also go through the city.

Hospital Services

In 2016, two hospitals, Good Samaritan and Bethesda, joined together to form Genesis Hospital. The Good Samaritan campus was then closed.

Notable People from Zanesville

See also

In Spanish: Zanesville (Ohio) para niños