Gahanna

[guh-han-uh]

Gahanna, city (1990 pop. 27,791), Franklin co., central Ohio, a growing, residential suburb of Columbus; inc. 1881.

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Gahanna, Ohio

Gahanna is a city in Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The population was 32,636 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Gahanna is located at (40.026713, -82.869131).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.4 square miles (32.1 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 32,632 people, 11,990 households, and 8,932 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,632.8 people per square mile (1,016.2/km²). There were 12,390 housing units at an average density of 999.5/sq mi (385.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.46% White, 8.14% African American, 0.20% Native American, 3.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.

There were 11,990 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $66,031, and the median income for a family was $85,917. Males had a median income of $51,391 versus $35,922 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,040. About 2.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The City of Gahanna is in the Gahanna-Jefferson Local Public School District. The school colors are blue and gold. Gahanna has seven elementary schools, three Jr. High/Middle schools, and only one high school Lincoln High School (Gahanna). However, there are also several private education options, including the Columbus Academy, located on Cherry Bottom Road, as well as various parochial schools.

History

Gahanna Plantation was founded by John Clark of Ross County, Ohio as an 800 acre (3.2 km²) farm. Its population grew over time, and it was incorporated in 1881. The first mayor of Gahanna was L. John Neiswander. According to the Gahanna Historical Society, the community was not named for the Biblical Gehenna, but from a local Native American word describing the meeting of three creeks, as the community is located at the confluence of branches of Big Walnut Creek, once called Gahanna Creek. Gahanna is also known as a bedroom community, with most of its residents living in Gahanna and traveling to neighboring Columbus or other suburbs of Columbus to work.

In 1970 most of northern Gahanna was still unannexed portions of Mifflin and Jefferson Townships.

Economy

In recent years, Gahanna has worked hard at revitalizing the downtown "Olde Gahanna" section of the city. In October 2004, Gahanna's new Creekside Gahanna redevelopment and park extension project began, making way for everything from public spaces and restaurants to residences and office space. As of late 2007, the project businesses began to open. It includes a 389 space public parking garage, something sorely needed in an area with little space to park and explore Olde Gahanna. The multi-million dollar project is expected to bring in up to 150 new residents as well as bolster tourism to the area.

Gahanna also has an aggressive brownfields assessment and redevelopment program that includes the development of a community-wide brownfields inventory, the cleanup of a major abandoned landfill, and City-initiated assessments and demolition of abandoned or environmentally suspect properties.

The largest brownfields redevelopment project to date is the closure of the Bedford I Landfill, recently completed in late 2007. The closure is a result of a 2005 public-private development partnership with the non-profit Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation to remediate and redevelop the abandoned Bedford I Landfill. The site will be transformed into Central Park of Gahanna, a major new business campus that will feature office buildings, golf academy, conference center, and retail businesses. Funding for this major project includes $3,000,000 from the Clean Ohio Redevelopment Fund, $200,000 from the US EPA, $150,000 from the Community Development Block Grant program, significant assistance with assessment, stormwater remediation, and staff time from Gahanna, and other investments by the Central Ohio CIC.

Gahanna has been listed as one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2007 by Money magazine.