Pickerington, Ohio

Pickerington, Ohio
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 , Pickerington is the second-largest city in Fairfield County behind Lancaster. Pickerington is located just east of Columbus. The city features a historic downtown shopping area, while Violet Township is home to rolling hills, log houses, forests, and fields.
Geography
Pickerington is located at (39.892168, −82.763837).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
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 . There were 6,680 housing units at an average density of . 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.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,792 people, 3,468 households, and 2,687 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 3,573 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.18% White, 3.72% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 3,468 households, out of which 48.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 32.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 35.6% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $63,664, and the median income for a family was $71,161. Males had a median income of $51,155 versus $31,850 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,839. About 2.6% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.
Law and government
Pickerington uses the weak-mayor version of the mayor-council government, which constitutes an elected executive mayor position, an elected city council, and an appointed city manager position.
Mayor
The current mayor, Lee A. Gray, was elected in November 2011. Gray previously served as mayor from 1992 to 1999 and as a city council member in 1987.
City council
The Pickerington City Council is a seven-member body that is elected by rolling. There are four standing committees in the council: the finance committee, the rules committee, the safety committee, and the service committee.
Current council members with elected or re-elected year and position.
Administration
There are several positions appointed between the mayor and city council to aid in the day-to-day management of the city.
Police Department
The Pickerington Police Department, currently led by Chief Tod Cheney, is a 24/7 operation consisting of approximately 30 sworn personnel, 10 civilian dispatchers/records technicians, and 1 administrative assistant.
The police department is responsible for all police activities within the city and is made up of the patrol bureau and detective bureau.
Education
Pickerington Local School District consists of 14 buildings: two high schools, one alternative high school, two junior high schools, three middle schools, and seven elementary schools. Three of the schools were newly built in 2010: a middle school off Toll Gate Road and elementary school off Toll Gate Road and in the Sycamore area.
PLSD is made up of approximately 70.2% White, 20.9% African-American, 3% Asian, 1.6% Hispanic, .2% American Indian, and 5% multi-racial students. 10.2% of students are on a free/reduced lunch program. 9.6% are students with disabilities. The school district also has an average attendance rate of 97%.
Schools
High Schools (9-12)
Pickerington High School Central
Pickerington High School North
Pickerington Alternative School
Junior Highs (7-8)
Pickerington Ridgeview Junior High School
Pickerington Lakeview Junior High School
Middle Schools (5-6)
Diley Middle School
Harmon Middle School
Toll Gate Middle School
Elementary Schools (K-4)
Fairfield Elementary
Heritage Elementary
Pickerington Elementary
Violet Elementary
Tussing Elementary
Sycamore Creek Elementary
Toll Gate Elementary
Infrastructure
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 I-70 to Olde Pickerington Village and Columbus Street in Olde Pickerington Village.
Highways
Pickerington has two highways running through it Interstate 70 in the North and U.S. Route 33 in the South.
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 2019 Popular Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
Notable people
Alex Bayer, NFL football player
Justin Boren, NFL player
Zach Boren, NFL player
Shane Bowen, NFL coach, Tennessee Titans
Jake Butt, NFL player
Taco Charlton, NFL player, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pat Elflein, NFL player, Carolina Panthers
Antony Hämäläinen, vocalist for Swedish Melodic Death Metal bands Armageddon and Nightrage
Lindsay Hollister, television actress
Caris LeVert, NBA player, Cleveland Cavaliers
Roger Lewis Jr., NFL player
Earl Moore, MLB pitcher for Cleveland Indians, first pitcher in American League to throw no-hitter (May 9, 1901)
Brian Peters, NFL player
Arthur Raymond Robinson, Indiana senator, "dark horse" presidential candidate on Republican ticket in 1932
Dan and Tom Ryan, professional Halo players
Jill Gray Savarese, actress
Brian Shaffer, Ohio State University medical student who disappeared in Columbus in 2006
Spencer Sutherland, singer-songwriter
A. J. Trapasso, football player, Ohio State University and NFL
See also
Pickerington Ponds Metro Park
References
External links
Cities in Ohio
Cities in Franklin County, Ohio
Cities in Fairfield County, Ohio
Populated places established in 1815
1815 establishments in Ohio