Pataskala, Ohio

Pataskala ( ) is a city in Licking County, Ohio, United States, approximately east of Columbus. The population was 17,886 at the 2020 census. Pataskala was a small community until 1996, when what was then the village of Pataskala merged with Lima Township, vastly increasing its population and geographic area.

History

Pataskala was laid out in 1851 when the railroad was extended to that point. "Pataskala" is a name derived from the Delaware language. A post office has been in operation at Pataskala since 1852.

Pataskala was originally called Conine Town, after an early settler of the area, Richard Conine, and his wife Sarah (Van Dorn) Conine. Born in New Jersey, the Conines purchased over 2000 acres in Lima Township, permanently settling in the area in 1821.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

The Southwest Licking Local School District has one high school (Watkins Memorial High School), one middle school (Watkins middle school), one intermediate school (Watkins Intermediate School) and three elementary schools (Etna, Kirkersville, Pataskala).

Licking Heights Local School District has one high school, one middle school, one intermediate school, and two elementary schools.

Private schools in the area are Liberty Christian Academy.

Post-secondary education

Central Ohio Technical College has a branch located within the city.

Culture and recreation

Public libraries

The Pataskala Public Library serves the area. The current building was dedicated in 1969 at a cost of $119,314.54. The library has over 12,000 cardholders. The library has over 70,000 items, with annual circulation topping 250,000.

Parks and recreation

Pataskala features 127 acres (0.51 km2) of parkland spread across 7 parks with wooded natural areas and river frontage. Multiple parks are located alongside the South Fork of the Licking River. The parks are spread across the city and feature athletic fields at many of the parks.

The Thomas J. Evans Foundation Park is the largest park in the city at 78 acres (0.32 km2), 22 of which are wooded. A 1.4 mile (2.2 km) trail runs throughout the park.

Municipal Park is a 15-acre (61,000 m2) park boasting the city's pool (leased to the Pataskala Recreation Association), athletic fields, and wooded areas.

Golf courses

Pataskala has 2 golf courses within its boundaries: Broadview Golf Course and Willow Run Golf Course Inc. There are an additional 47 golf courses within 20 miles (32 km) of Pataskala, including Cumberland Trail Golf Club, which borders Pataskala to the south in Etna Township.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Pataskala had a population of 17,886. The median age was 38.3 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.9 males age 18 and over.

84.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 16.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 6,554 households in Pataskala, of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.8% were married-couple households, 14.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

| White || 13,912 || 77.8%

| Black or African American || 1,323 || 7.4%

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 73 || 0.4%

| Asian || 1,255 || 7.0%

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 5 || 0.0%

| Some other race || 264 || 1.5%

| Two or more races || 1,054 || 5.9%

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 595 || 3.3%

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 14,962 people, 5,588 households, and 4,132 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 5,960 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 90.0% White, 6.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 5,588 households, of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.1% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.07.

The median age in the city was 35.8 years. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 10.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census

File:Bethel Baptist Church Pataskala Ohio.jpg|Bethel Baptist Church (#83001990)

File:Casterton House.jpg|Casterton House (#83001992)

File:Elliot House Pataskala Ohio.jpg|Elliot House (#83004315)

File:Warren F. Kauber Funeral Home.jpg|Warren F. Kauber Funeral Home (#83001993)

File:Mead House Pataskala Ohio.jpg|Mead House (#83001994)

File:Pataskala Banking Company.jpg|Pataskala Banking Company (#83001996)

File:Pataskala Elementary School.jpg|Pataskala Elementary School (#83001995)

File:Pataskala Jail.jpg|Pataskala Jail (#83001997)

File:Pataskala Presbyterian Church.jpg|Pataskala Presbyterian Church (#83004323)

File:Pataskala Town Hall.jpg|Pataskala Town Hall (#83001998)

File:Pataskala United Methodist Church.jpg|Pataskala United Methodist Church (#83001999)

</gallery>

Notable people

Jeaniene Frost, New York Times-bestselling author
John Holmes, better known as Johnny Wadd, porn star
John Reuben, Christian rap artist and raised here
Robert Smith, professional ten-pin bowler
Chalmers Wylie, thirteen-term congressman
Eleanor Youmans, children's author, winner of an Ohioana Award for juvenile fiction in 1945