Canal Winchester, located about 30 minutes southeast of downtown Columbus, combines the best of small town life with access to big city jobs and amenities. The city of around 7,100 residents (according to the 2010 U.S. Census Report) is best known for its historic downtown area, as home to the Mid-Ohio Doll and Toy Museum and for its elaborate annual Victorian Christmas celebration. Canal Winchester real estate includes Victorian-style century homes, mid-century modern ranch-style homes, townhouse-style condos and new construction.
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Canal Winchester grew up around the Ohio-Erie Canal, which bisected the city. The original settlers chose the name Winchester after Winchester, Virginia, since that was where their ancestors had lived. However, as there was already a "Winchester" in Ohio, they added the canal moniker. The city's placement on the canal, and later the railroad, brought people and access to markets for farms and businesses in the area. Canal Winchester remained a small town until the 1990s. Since then, the population has leaped from 2,600 residents to its present population of 7,100 residents.
Today, Canal Winchester is primarily a bedroom community to Columbus. Although the city does have a number of restaurants and a vibrant downtown shopping district, the majority of residents commute to jobs in the larger city. Some of the top Columbus employers include the Ohio State University, the State of Ohio, Limited Brands, American Electric Power, Battelle Memorial Institute, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Cardinal Health Systems and Big Lots.
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New construction abounds in Canal Winchester, making it one of the fastest-growing of the Columbus suburbs. Half a dozen new housing developments, with both single family dwellings and condos, are currently under construction. In addition, there are a number of century homes and a few mid-century homes in the area. The median home value in Canal Winchester is $181,500. However, that number hides the variety of price points available in the city. You'll find ranch-style homes and cottages for less than $150,00, as well as new luxury homes at more than $350,000.
City services are struggling to keep up with the Canal Winchester's explosive growth. However, the city does own and maintain 225 acres of park land, as well as a community pool. In addition, the 1,032-acre Walnut Woods Metropark, part of the Central Ohio Metropark System, is located just a few miles west of Canal Winchester. There are also several public golf courses within a short drive of the city. For healthy eating, the area is home to a number of seasonal farm stands, as well as a city-sponsored seasonal market in downtown.
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Since the City of Canal Winchester is primarily residential, most people travel outside of the city for entertainment. However, Canal Winchester is home to the Mid-Ohio Toy and Doll Museum, the National Barber's Museum, a popular winery and the only remaining covered wooden bridge in Franklin County. Of course, Canal Winchester is just a short drive away from major league and minor league sports, museums, professional theater, dining and shopping in Columbus, not to mention Ohio State football and basketball games..
One of the best things about living in Canal Winchester is the friendly, family-oriented vibe. In addition, it's easy to get around the city, despite its rapid growth. Ohio Route 33 bisects the city and connects it to Columbus to the northwest and Lancaster and Logan to the southeast. Public transportation has yet to connect Canal Winchester with the rest of central Ohio. For travel outside of the region, the 2,185-acre Port Columbus International Airport is less than an hour away and offers more than 140 daily non-stop flights to cities throughout the United States and Canada. The facility serves more than six million passengers each year. For general aviation (private aircraft), Rickenbacker International Airport is just a few miles west of Canal Winchester.
Although there is one small hospital located in Canal Winchester, it is not particularly well-rated. However, the city is within 20 minutes of Mt. Carmel East Hospital and within an hour's drive of the nationally-ranked Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University and Riverside Methodist Hospital.
School-age children who live in Canal Winchester attend Canal WInchester Local Schools. The district, which has an enrollment of around 3,600 students, includes two elementary schools, a preschool, a middle school and a high school. The district is well-known for its winning sports teams. Canal Winchester is also home to Harvest Preparatory School, a private, Christian K-12 school. For higher education, central Ohio offers a number of colleges and universities, including the Ohio State University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Capital University and Ohio Dominican University. In addition, Ohio University in Athens, Ohio is just a little more than an hour's drive away.
