Lancaster, Ohio
Lancaster is a city of 41,249 people in Fairfield County, Ohio, founded in 1800.
Why visit Lancaster
Townapedia lists 22 museums and landmarks, 32 parks and trails, 125 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 12 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Skyview Cruise-In Theater, John Bright Covered Bridge, Lancaster Historic District and John Artz Farmhouse.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 22°F.
Weather in Lancaster
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lancaster
Lancaster (locally LANK-(ə-)stər) is a city in Fairfield County, Ohio, and its county seat. The population was 40,552 at the 2020 United States census, making it Ohio's 30th largest city, having surpassed Warren and Findlay due to its own growth while the latter two cities declined. The city is near the Hocking River in the south-central part of the state, about 33 miles (53 km) southeast of Columbus and 38 miles (61 km) southwest of Zanesville. It is part of the Columbus metropolitan area.
From the Wikipedia article Lancaster, Ohio (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do12
Cinemark River Valley Mall and XD
Cinema and theater · 1.2 mi
1611 River Valley Circle South, Lancaster
Museums and landmarks22
Lancaster Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic district in Ohio, United States
John Artz Farmhouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.6 mi
Historic house in Ohio, United States
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
John Sherman Birthplace
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Lancaster, Ohio, listed on the NRHP in Ohio
Decorative Arts Center of Ohio
Museum · 0.8 mi
145 East Main Street, Lancaster
We-Fr 11:00-16:00; Sa-Su 13:00-16:00
10 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds32
Shallenberger State Nature Preserve
Hiking and trails · 3.3 mi
Shallenberger State Nature Preserve is an 87.57-acre area in Fairfield County, Ohio, featuring two sandstone knobs and 1.8 miles of...
2470 Becks Knob Road, Lancaster
(sunrise-00:30)-(sunset+00:30)
20 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes125
Ale House 1890
Diner · American · 0.8 mi
149 West Main Street, Lancaster
Mo-Sa 16:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 16:00-24:00
Nick's Restaurant and Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.8 mi
702 West Wheeling Street, Lancaster
Mo-Fr 10:00-22:00; Sa 07:00-22:00
Pizza Cottage
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.9 mi
2223 West Fair Avenue, Lancaster
Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00
Tiberio's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.5 mi
416 North Columbus Street, Lancaster
Su,Mo 15:00-21:00; Tu-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00
Cherry Street Pub
Restaurant · 1.5 mi
202 North Cherry Street, Lancaster
Mo off; Tu-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Tim Hortons
Cafe · Coffee Shop
823 North Memorial Drive, Lancaster
Mo-We 05:00-20:00; Fr-Su 05:00-20:00
Tim Hortons
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.1 mi
1621 East Main Street, Lancaster
Mo-Su 05:00-20:00
113 more on the map.
History
The earliest known inhabitants of the southeastern and central Ohio region were the Hopewell, Adena, and Fort Ancient Native Americans, of whom little evidence survived, beyond the burial and ceremonial mounds built throughout the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys. Many mounds and burial sites have also yielded archaeological artifacts. Serpent Mound and Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, though not in Fairfield County, are nearby.
Before and immediately after European settlement, the land today comprising Lancaster and Fairfield County was inhabited by the Shawnee, nations of the Iroquois, Wyandot, and other Native American tribes. It served as a natural crossroads for the inter- and intra-tribal wars fought at various times. Frontier explorer Christopher Gist reached Lancaster's vicinity on January 19, 1751, when he visited the small Delaware town of Hockhocking nearby. Leaving the area the next day, Gist rode southwest to Maguck, another Delaware town near Circleville.
From the History section of Lancaster, Ohio on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Churches and places of worship57
St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption (Lancaster, Ohio)
Church · 0.9 mi
Crossroads A Family Ministry Center of the First United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist · 1.5 mi
2095 West Fair Avenue, Lancaster
New Hope Assembly of God
Church · Assembly Of God · 2.6 mi
2020 Cincinnati-Zanesville Road Southwest, Lancaster
Good Shepherd Church
Church · Nondenominational · 1.7 mi
700 Spring Street, Lancaster
Shopping35
Gas and EV charging23
Schools, colleges and libraries22
William V. Fisher Catholic High School
School · Roman Catholic · 1.6 mi
Healthcare23
Granville Pike Family Physicians
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.8 mi
1800 Granville Pike, Lancaster
Fairfield Medical Center Outpatient Therapy Services Sports Clinic / Work Life
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.6 mi
1143 East Main Street, Lancaster
Fairfield Medical Diagnostic Services
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.6 mi
1159, Lancaster
Map of Lancaster
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 22°F | 2.9 in |
| Feb | 41°F | 24°F | 2.3 in |
| Mar | 52°F | 32°F | 3.4 in |
| Apr | 65°F | 41°F | 3.9 in |
| May | 74°F | 52°F | 4.2 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 4.1 in |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.2 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.4 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 55°F | 3.2 in |
| Oct | 66°F | 44°F | 3.1 in |
| Nov | 53°F | 34°F | 2.7 in |
| Dec | 42°F | 27°F | 2.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lancaster (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Fairfield County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-31: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2012-08-20: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds (Severe Storm)
- 2012-06-30: Severe Storms (Severe Storm)
- 2008-10-24: Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike (Severe Storm)
- 2008-04-24: Record Snow And Near Record Snow (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 18 miles away.
- Pickerington 14 mi northwest, about 23 min by car
- Canal Winchester 14 mi northwest, about 22 min by car
- Reynoldsburg 19 mi northwest, about 31 min by car
- Circleville 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
- Pataskala 21 mi north, about 34 min by car
- Whitehall 22 mi northwest, about 36 min by car
- Heath 22 mi northeast, about 36 min by car
- Bexley 24 mi northwest, about 39 min by car
- Newark 26 mi north, about 42 min by car
- Columbus 27 mi northwest, about 44 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Romanesque Building in Lancaster, Ohio, Analogue Kid ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lancaster, Ohio (30843041665), dankeck, CC0
- Lancaster, Ohio (30843042305), dankeck, CC0
- Lancaster, Ohio (30755167961), dankeck, CC0
- Lancaster, Ohio (30755171831), dankeck, CC0
- Lancaster, Ohio (30541987660), dankeck, CC0
- Lancaster, Ohio (30843041095), dankeck, CC0
- Lancaster, Ohio (30657282302), dankeck, CC0
- Lancaster, Ohio (29506643494), dankeck, CC0
- Lancaster, Ohio (29506643934), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (25709114733), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (27344045686), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (27307251981), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (26770270294), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (27344045186), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (27344045486), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (26770270754), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (26770270534), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (27344045326), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (27344045076), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (27307252511), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (26640778375), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (26614013296), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (26367426170), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (26848363771), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (26882618656), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (26882615106), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (26882606556), dankeck, CC0
- Kmart closing in Lancaster, Ohio (26882607016), dankeck, CC0
- St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church Lancaster Ohio, Wdzinc, CC BY-SA 3.0
- John Artz Farmhouse, Tristan Blatt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- John Sherman Birthplace, Jack Boucher, Public domain
- Tasty Made menu (30207747773), dankeck, CC0
- RichOil, Unknown author, CC0
- Pillory for Hillary, dankeck from Ohio, CC0
- All sales final (26770269954), dankeck, CC0
- We provide shopping carts for your convenience. Please return them to the store or cart corrals. (26037001613), dankeck, CC0
- The pharmacy is now closed (26037002243), dankeck, CC0
- Pharmacist recommend (26614014556), dankeck, CC0
- Fixtures, furniture and equipment for sale (26640777985), dankeck, CC0
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.