Pataskala, located about 30 miles east of downtown Columbus, Ohio, is home to 14,962 residents, according to the 2010 U.S. Census report. The community had just 3,000 residents until 1996 with the (then village of) Pataskala merged with Lima Township, tripling its population and geographic area overnight. This quiet suburb is still one of the fastest-growing areas in central Ohio and is primarily a bedroom community for people who work in nearby Columbus. Pataskala combines the peaceful, relaxed and friendly atmosphere of small town life with access to jobs, events and health care in nearby Columbus. Pataskala real estate runs the gamut from restored century homes to mid-century ranch-style and split-level homes to new construction. Most of the housing in this community consists of single family homes, although there are a few townhouse-style condos in the area.
The history of Pataskala dates back to 1851, when the railroad lines extended to the area. However, as recently as the 1996, Pataskala was primarily farmland, with fewer than 3,000 residents. However, that year brought a merger with neighboring Lima Township that vastly increased the land mass and population of the city overnight. Today, Pataskala is the largest city in Licking County.
Pataskala is primarily a residential and rural community. However, nearby Port Columbus International Airport, just ten miles away, provides a number of jobs as do the close suburbs of Gahanna and Reynoldsburg. Of course, downtown Columbus and the myriad of jobs located there are just a short commute away. Some of the top employers in Columbus include Nationwide Insurance, Cardinal Health Systems, Big Lots and The Ohio State University.
The community of Pataskala offers one of the most diverse selection of housing in central Ohio. Housing options here range from restored 19th century bricks and frame homes, venerable Victorians, mid-century ranch and split-level homes and even a few condo. This area also boasts a number of large properties, many of which are used as horse farms. There are also several new developments under construction in Pataskala. The median home value in the city is $254,000, which represents an astonishing 27 percent increase from the previous year. However, the median value masks the diversity in housing options in the city. You can find properties available from $150,000 to well over $750,000 in Pataskala.
One of the best things about living in Pataskala is the large number of family activities in and around the city. The City of Pataskala Parks and Recreation Department owns and maintains six municipal parks as well as an aquatic center and recreation center. Facilities include hiking and biking trails, picnic areas and shelters, playgrounds and athletic fields. In addition to the city parks, Pataskala is just a few miles away from Buckeye Lake and the water sports, boating and fishing opportunities offered there.
For healthy eating, Lynd Fruit Farm is located just north of Pataskala and Birney Market in town offers a variety of local produce and organic foods. Pataskala also has a sesonal, weekly farmers' market in downtown.
Pataskala is a relatively quiet community. However, in addition to the parks, residents can enjoy several public golf courses, an good selection of pubs and sports bars and a few, popular restaurants, including the local favorite, Rusty's Wharf. Of course, Pataskala is just a short drive away from major and minor league sports, museums, professional theater and shopping in Columbus as well as Ohio State football and basketball games.
It's easy to get around the City of Pataskala, despite its relatively large size. Interstate 70 runs just south of the city and connects Pataskala with I-270 and downtown Columbus to the west. State Route 161 runs just to the north of Pataskala and connects the city with New Albany and other Columbus suburbs to the west and to Granville and Newark to the east. Pataskala is outside the range of the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) system. However, there are a number of park-n-ride locations just a few miles west of Pataskala where residents can connect with public transportation to downtown Columbus. For longer trips, the 2,185-acre Port Columbus International Airport is just 10 minutes away by car and offers more than 140 daily non-stop flights to cities throughout the United States and Canada.
The Pataskala Library, located on S. Vine Street has more than 12,000 card holders offers more than 70,000 books, movies and CDs.
Pataskala residents need not worry about access to world-class health care. In addition to the usual selection of doctors', dentists' and veterinarians' offices, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, ranked among the top hospitals in the Midwest, is just a short drive away, as are Licking Memorial Hospital in Granville, Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus and Mt. Carmel East Medical Center in New Albany.
School-age children in Pataskala attend the schools of the Southwest Licking Local School District or the Licking Heights School District, depending on their address. There are also a number of private schools in and near Pataskala, including Liberty Christian Academy and Grace Christian School. For higher education, central Ohio is, of course, home to The Ohio State University as well as Capital University, Trinity Lutheran Seminary and Ohio Wesleyan University.
