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. The city of Pickerington has experienced growth, mirroring the expansion of Columbus and the surrounding suburbs, driven by land annexation, development, and immigration to the area. Pickerington is home to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, located off 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.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Pickerington had a population of 23,094, 7,914 households, 7,787 families, and 8,373 housing units.
The median age was 35.5 years; 29.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.8 males age 18 and over.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 15,587 || 67.5%
|-
| Black or African American || 4,550 || 19.7%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 61 || 0.3%
|-
| Asian || 951 || 4.1%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 7 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 335 || 1.5%
|-
| Two or more races || 1,603 || 6.9%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 947 || 4.1%
|}
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 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.
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 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
High Schools (9–12)
- Pickerington High School Central
- Pickerington High School North
- Pickerington Alternative School
Junior High Schools (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
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.
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 and 2024 Popular Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|+2023 Top Employers
!Employer
!# of Employees
|-
|Pickerington Local School District
|1,276
|-
|OhioHealth Corporation (Pickerington Methodist)
|1,150
|-
|Kroger
|369
|-
|Kohl's
|289
|-
|Cracker Barrel Restaurant
|238
|-
|Roosters Wings
|237
|-
|ABRH, LLC.
|155
|-
|McDonalds
|146
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+2024 Top Employers
!Employer
!# of Employees
|-
|OhioHealth Corporation (Pickerington Methodist)
|1,694
|-
|Pickerington Local School District
|1,332
|-
|Kroger
|371
|-
|Roosters
|262
|-
|Cracker Barrel Restaurant
|260
|-
|OhioHealth Physician Group
|231
|-
|JPMorgan Chase Bank
|228
|-
|Wendys
|220
|}
Notable people
- Annette Echikunwoke, Olympic women's hammer thrower
- Alex Bayer, football player
- Justin Boren, football player
- Zach Boren, football player
- Shane Bowen, football coach
- Jake Butt, football player
- Taco Charlton, football player
- Pat Elflein, football player
- Lindsay Hollister, television actress
- Caris LeVert, basketball player
- Roger Lewis Jr., football player
- Earl Moore, baseball player
- Ogre 1 and Ogre 2, esport players
- Brian Peters, football player
- Arthur Raymond Robinson, Indiana senator
- Jill Gray Savarese, actress
- Brian Shaffer, Ohio State student who disappeared in 2006
- Lorenzo Styles Jr., football player
- Sonny Styles, football player
- Spencer Sutherland, singer-songwriter
- A. J. Trapasso, football player
See also
- Pickerington Ponds Metro Park