Plain City

Situated along Big Darby Creek, Plain City is somewhat unique because it's located in two counties. It's also a village, not a city as its name would imply. Residents enjoy Plain City's small-town feel and proximity to Dublin, Hilliard and Columbus, all of which offer a wide variety of employment opportunities, indoor amenities and recreational spaces. Read on to find out what makes Plain City so special.

History of Plain City

Native Americans lived in the area for hundreds of years before being driven away by white settlers during the War of 1812. Although Native Americans left during the war, it wasn't until 1818 that Isaac Bigelow decided to establish a new town at the site. Initially, the site was called Village of Westminster, but as it grew, the name was changed to Pleasant Valley.

When Village of Westminster was first established, many families were moving from Pennsylvania to Ohio, resulting in rapid development. Once that development slowed, Pleasant Valley's growth slowed accordingly. Fortunately, Pleasant Valley was located on one of the main routes used to travel west in search of new opportunities. To accommodate these travelers, local residents opened several businesses, causing Pleasant Valley to continue growing even though it didn't have much in the way of industry. One of those businesses was a log building that provided accommodations to weary travelers on their way through Ohio.

What really spurred Pleasant Valley's growth was the addition of a railroad in 1851. With this railroad, residents could easily travel to other parts of Ohio and import raw materials from cities throughout the country. In 1877, William Morrow Beach introduced a bill to change the village's name from Pleasant Valley to Plain City. Because Ohio had at least four communities named Pleasant Valley, Beach's intent was to prevent confusion and distinguish the village from other towns.

In the 1950s and 1960s, natural disasters caused widespread destruction in Plain City. Fortunately, residents were committed to rebuilding, allowing Plain City to become the vibrant Columbus suburb it is today.

Local Demographics

Plain City has fewer than 5,000 residents, but the village's average household income hovers around $91,000 per year. A vast majority of residents (91.62%) are white, 4.47% are biracial and nearly 4% are Asian. Less than 1% of Plain City's residents are Black. With a median home value of $220,000, Plain City is one of Columbus's more affordable suburbs. The median age of a Plain City resident is just under 37 years old.

Plain City Neighborhoods

Eversole Run

Eversole Run, part of Jerome Village in Dublin, features luxury estate homes, a community center and hundreds of acres of green space. Jerome Village also has a commercial center designed for a mix of restaurants, retail shops and other enterprises. Rather than building homes that follow the same standard floor plans, the developer does custom builds designed to fit the needs of each household. Homes in this subdivision feature park-like outdoor areas and high-quality interior finishes.

Darby Braeside

Darby Braeside is more affordable than Eversole Run and other parts of Jerome Village, making it the ideal neighborhood for young professionals and empty nesters looking to make the most of their retirement funds. Located on the banks of Big Darby Creek, Darby Braeside is known for its natural beauty. Wooded home sites give residents the privacy they crave, but the neighborhood is close enough to Dublin and Columbus that there's no need to give up opportunities for professional development and recreation.

The Suburbans

The Suburbans is a well-kept mobile home park for residents of all ages. Located just a few miles from Big Darby Creek, the neighborhood combines affordable homes with convenient access to outdoor recreation and the amenities of nearby Dublin and Hilliard.

Mitchell Highlands

Located in Dublin, Mitchell Highlands is a planned community featuring three- and four-bedroom homes with two or more bathrooms. Each home has a garage and spacious living areas, making the neighborhood ideal for families looking to escape the commotion of living in a larger city. Several design plans are available, making it easy to find a home that meets your family's needs.

Outdoor Attractions

Plain City is a small village, but there's no shortage of things to do when you consider that it's so close to Dublin, Hilliard and Columbus. One of the biggest draws is Glacier Ridge Metro Park, named after the debris left behind when glaciers began to melt thousands of years ago. As the glaciers melted, they exposed land that had once been uninhabitable, allowing settlers to establish new communities. The park has more than 1,000 acres with wetlands, a wildlife viewing tower and several hiking trails. Glacier Ridge Picnic Area also has a shelter that accommodates up to 60 people, making the park an ideal location for a children's birthday party or family reunion.

On weekends, many residents of Plain City head to nearby Dublin to visit Kiwanis Riverway Park, Coffman Park and Scioto Park. Kiwanis Riverway Park has a wooden boardwalk, walking paths and a nature area. It also offers river access, making it a popular destination for people who enjoy fishing, canoeing and tubing. Coffman Park blends outdoor activities with some of Dublin's most important historic features. Visitors enjoy fishing, ice skating, tennis, volleyball and walking along the park's multiple recreation paths. The park also has an art gallery, one of the oldest homes in the city and Dublin City Hall. Scioto Park is known for its river views, winter sledding hill, ampitheater and 12-foot stone memorial of Leatherlips, a Native American leader.

Arts and Culture

Plain City residents love to visit Dublin, Hilliard and Columbus to check out their museums, art galleries and other cultural attractions. Located in a historic home, Dublin Arts Center gives visitors the opportunity to take in French architectural features, including elements from the Art Deco period that became popular in France before World War I began. The Dublin Arts Center also offers sweeping views of the city, including the nearby Scioto River. Hilliard has a museum dedicated to preserving the history of early television. As you walk through the Early Television Museum, you'll see some of the earliest examples of TV sets and learn more about how technology made television more accessible.

If you're willing to take a 30-minute ride to Columbus, you'll have access to dozens of art galleries and museums. The Columbus Museum of Art has several permanent collections and often hosts traveling exhibits, making it the ideal destination for any art enthusiast who lives in Plain City. When you're done viewing the art on display, relax with a cup of coffee or pick up a souvenir at the museum store. If you're interested in local artists, check out the Wexner Center. Located on The Ohio State University Campus, this art gallery features works by contemporary artists from Columbus and surrounding areas. The city's art galleries have a little something for everyone, from abstract paintings to African sculptures.

Top Employers

Many Plain City residents commute to Dublin, Hilliard or Columbus to take advantage of the thousands of job opportunities available at world-renowned companies. The Ohio State University is one of the most important employers in the region, as it has opportunities for employees at every level, from students who need part-time work to highly educated faculty members. Dublin is the site of Cardinal Health's headquarters, making the region a great place to move if you have experience working in the health care industry. Plain City residents have also been able to find jobs at companies like Grange Insurance, Accenture, JPMorgan Chase, Deloitte and IBM.

Local Schools

Students in Plain City attend schools in the Jonathan Alder Local Schools district. As of 2021, the district has two elementary schools, a middle school, a junior high school and a high school. Jonathan Alder Local Schools employs nearly 300 people and has more than 2,000 students. Plain City is also home to Shekinah Christian School, a private educational institution serving approximately 130 students in grades K through 12. The school generally follows the approved state curriculum, but students must obtain three additional credits beyond the 20 required by the state of Ohio. These credits come from electives and required Bible classes. Shekinah Christian School has average ACT scores of 25.2.

Due to Plain City's proximity to Columbus, young residents don't have to leave the region to pursue higher education. The Ohio State University has more than 200 undergraduate and graduate majors, several undergraduate professional programs and graduate professional programs in law, medicine, dentistry and more. Students at OSU have opportunities to work on campus, participate in paid internships with companies in Columbus and study abroad in Europe and Asia, helping them become well-rounded world citizens.

Students from Plain City also attend other colleges in Columbus. Franklin University offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs, giving students the opportunity to enter competitive professional fields once they graduate. The private university also offers microcredentials to help working adults advance their careers while they're still working on their degrees. These microcredentials cover project management, data analytics, digital marketing and other in-demand professional skills. Plain City residents also attend Ohio Dominican University, DeVry University and Columbus State Community College.