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 km), 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.
Pickerington is located at 39°53′32″N 82°45′50″W / 39.89222°N 82.76389°W / 39.89222; -82.76389 (39.892168, −82.763837).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 square miles (28.75 km), all land.
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/km). There were 6,680 housing units at an average density of 685.8 per square mile (264.8/km). 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.
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 1,317.4 inhabitants per square mile (508.7/km). There were 3,573 housing units at an average density of 480.7 per square mile (185.6/km). 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.
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.
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.
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.
There are several positions appointed between the mayor and city council to aid in the day-to-day management of the city.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
Pickerington has two highways running through it Interstate 70 in the North and U.S. Route 33 in the South.
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.
Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit has 2 bus routes in Pickerington. One is a loop the other connects to Lancaster and Carroll.
