Pickerington, Ohio

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pickerington is a city in Fairfield county, with a very small portion of land in Franklin county in Ohio. The population was 9,792 at the 2000 census. However, as urban sprawl from nearby Columbus persists, Pickerington is becoming increasingly developed. The 2005 population estimate for Pickerington was 15,878.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Education
4 Claim to Fame
5 Notables from Pickerington
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Pickerington is located at 39°53′32″N, 82°45′50″W (39.892168, -82.763837)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.2 km² (7.4 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 9,792 people, 3,468 households, and 2,687 families residing in the city. The population density was 508.8/km² (1,317.4/mi²). There were 3,573 housing units at an average density of 185.7/km² (480.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.18% White, 3.72% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.

There were 3,468 households out of which 48.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city the population was spread out with 32.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 35.6% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $63,664, and the median income for a family was $71,161. Males had a median income of $51,155 versus $31,850 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,839. About 2.6% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

The Pickerington Local School District is a two-branch school district enrolling 9,714 students as of the 2005-2006 school year. Enrollment has been expanding at an average of 425 students over the past five years. The Pickerington Local School district is the 19th largest school district in Ohio. In the 2004-2005 school year, the district was rated effective[1], after six years with an excellent rating. From the district's founding until 2003, the district had one mascot, the tiger. In 2003, the district branched with the opening of Pickerington High School North, which has the panther as a mascot. With the opening of Pickerington High School North, the original Pickerington High School was renamed Pickerington High School Central.

Currently the district has eleven schools.

Schools are listed alphabetically and with attendant grade levels.
- Diley Middle School (5-6)
- Fairfield Elementary (K-4)
- Harmon Middle School (5-6)
- Heritage Middle School / Elementary (K-6)
- Lakeview Junior High School (7-8)
- Pickerington Elementary (K-4)
- Pickerington High School Central (9-12)
- Pickerington High School North (9-12)
- Ridgeview Junior High School (7-8)
- Tussing Elementary (K-4)
- Violet Elementary (K-4)

The district has a policy of equity between schools. Almost every course or service that is offered at Pickerington High School Central is also offered at Pickerington High School North, and the equity extends down to the junior high schools, middle schools, and elementaries.

Various awards have been given to the district and to individual teachers. In 2006, the district was rated as one of the top school districts in the United States by Expansion Management magazine[2].

[edit] Claim to Fame

Pickerington City Hall

Pickerington is the home of the American Motorcyclist Association Motorcycle Heritage Museum and Motorcycle Hall of Fame. The goal of the museum is to tell the stories and history of motorcycling.

Pickerington's girls' high school basketball program is also one of the winningest in the state[3]. Pickerington earned a #1 vote from the Associated Press (AP) poll in every year from 1989 through 1997, a 9 year period in which Pickerington only suffered 4 regular-season losses, and won the post-season OHSAA state championship tournament 3 times in that same period. Pickerington received an AP #1 vote in 2002.

The Men's Cross Country team remains the only men's sport in Pickerington history to win a state title. The Tigers won the state D1 championship in 1997, under coach John Long.

Each summer since 1998, Pickerington has hosted the annual Violet Festival.