Plain City, Ohio, is located about 40 minutes northwest of downtown Columbus. This small community, located at the juncture of US Route 42 and Ohio Route 161, is known for its many parks, its historic buildings and its sizeable Amish population. The village also boasts an increasing number of large, luxury homes. Plain City combines a small town ambiance with big city amenities, such as sporting events, cultural performances and world-class health care, in nearby Columbus.
Plain City is home to 4,225 residents according to the 2010 US Census Report, and has an average per capita income of $20,185. More than half of the village's population age 25 and older are married and living with their spouse. There are slightly more than 1,609 housing units in Plain City and the median home listing price in Plain City is $382,992, up an astonishing 62 percent in the last five years. The average age of Plain City residents is 34 and the population includes slightly more females than males.
One of the best things about living in Plain City is the number of parks and green spaces in the area. Pastime Park, in the heart of the village, offers hiking and biking trails, ball fields, picnic grounds and a children's playground. Big Darby Creek cuts through the center of town and offers additional recreational opportunities. Plain City also offers a number of seasonal produce stands and a weekly downtown farmers' market from mid-May through October.
While Plain City is a mostly a residential community, the area does offer a few, mostly service, jobs. Most residents commute to Columbus for employment. Some of the region's large employers include The Ohio State University, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, American Electric Power and Limited Brands (The Limited, Bath and Body Works and Victoria's Secret stores).
Although Plain City is a relatively quiet community, residents will still find plenty of things to see and do within the city limits and adjacent region. You can stroll through the downtown business district and pop in at the several antique stores and independent retailers there. There are also a number of independent restaurants in Plain City, including several that feature Amish home cooking. Among the most popular of these is Der Dutchman Restaurant. Each July, the village hosts a steam threshers festival in Pastime Park.
Just a short drive away, Plain City residents can savor the many cultural, sports and recreational options offered in Columbus. Among these are Columbus Clippers baseball and Columbus Blue Jackets hockey, the Columbus Art Museum and COSI. Of course, boating, water sports and fishing on Big Darby Creek and the nearby Scioto River.
It's easy to get around Plain City, given its relatively small size. While the village is outside of the reach of the Columbus public transportation system, it's an easy commute across Route 161 into Dublin and Columbus beyond. State Route 33 runs just north of the village and connects Plain City to Delaware to the northwest and Columbus to the southeast. For trips outside of the region, Port Columbus International Airport offers more than 140 daily non-stop flights to cities throughout North America and is less than an hour's drive from Plain City.
The Plain City Public Library, located on West Main Street, offers more than 160,000 volumes. Cardholders also have access to books in the Columbus Metropolitan Library system.
People who live in Plain City don't have to worry about access to world-class health care. In addition to the usual complement of doctors, dentists and veterinarians offices, there are several hospitals within an hour's drive of the village, including the Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University, Mt. Carmel Medical Center and Riverside Methodist Hospital.
Plain City is known for it's schooling. School-age children in Plain City attend the schools of the Jonathan Alder School District. This district, which has an enrollment of around 4,500 students and serves both Plain City and the surrounding area, owns and manages five schools-- two elementary schools, a middle school, a junior high school and a high school. There are also several private schools in the area, including Skekinah Christian School and Plainview Christian School. For higher education, the greater Columbus area is home to a number of colleges and universities, including Ohio Dominican University, Capital University, Columbus State Community College and The Ohio State University.
