Page Contents for Westerville, Ohio

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Community events.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Ohio state capital is Columbus.
The population of Westerville is approximately 30,269 (1990), 36120 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 10,521 (1990), 13859 (2010).
The amount of land area in Westerville is 27.3 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Westerville to Washington DC is 334 miles.
The distance to the Ohio state capital is 9 miles. (as the crow flies)
Westerville is positioned 40.12 degrees north of the equator and 82.91 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Westerville elevation is 874 feet above sea level.

Location

in the northeast corner of Franklin County, 20 minutes (14 miles) from downtown Columbus, north of Interstate 270.
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History & History Related Items

Westerville was first settled in 1806 by a family from Connecticut. By 1838, the town boasted more than 90 settlers, including the Westervelt brothers, from whom the town acquired its name. In 1847, what is now Otterbein College replaced the short-lived Blendon Seminary and began enrolling students regardless of gender or race. The move by the college prefaced the town's strong involvement in the anti-slavery movement. The college is the crown jewel of the Westerville community, and its campus offers a pleasant stroll among historic buildings.
In the mid-1800s, Westerville town trustees provided a legacy for the present day when they passed one of the earliest prohibition ordinances in Ohio, banning "spirituous liquerurs." It was once known as, "the Dry Capital of the World." Westerville later became the national headquarters of the Anti-Saloon League and today is home to the Anti-Saloon League Museum, which depicts the history of the town's pivotal rolein the Temperance Movement.
Just steps away from the Anti-Saloon League Museum and still rooted in the 19th century, Uptown Westerville transports shoppers to an array of more than 50 specialty shops, cozy eateries and antique stores.

For genealogical information, please see the US GenWeb pages for Franklin County
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The founding of Westerville

1806

Attractions

NOTED NOTABLES

Benjamin Hanby
Author and composer of "Darling Nelly Gray" and "Up on the House Top." His Hanby House is located at 160 W. Main St. in Westerville. It has been restored and furnished accordingly. The home is from pre-Civil War days.

See the Westerville attractions page for many things to see and do in Westerville

Uptown Westerville is known as a "Place for People" due to its restored 19th century shopping district with many shops, great food and wonderful entertainment.
Westerville is "A Tree City USA Community"
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Westerville Community Events

See this Events page for what is happening in Westerville.

Westerville has many special events throughout the year. Some of these are:

February
Inniswood Quilt Show

March
Uptown Merchants' Spring Fling
St. Patrick's Day Walk

May
Uptown Merchants' Market Day

June
Uptown Merchants' Sidewalk & Craft Sale

July
Fourth of July festivities including a parade, evening concert and fireworks
Vintage Motorcycle Days
Hanby Ice Cream Social

August
Uptown Merchants' Market Day

September
Sertoma Antique Car show
Wander Westerville Tour (Visitors Bureau)
Inniswood Affair of the "hart"

October
Inniswood Herb Fair
Uptown Merchants' Midnight Madness

November
Uptown Merchants' Holiday Open House

December
Hanby Open House
City Tree-Lighting Ceremony
Christmas Parade
Inniswood Luminaries in the Garden
Candlelight Christmas

Westerville Libraries

The Westerville Library is home to the desk where the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was penned. Westerville

Miscellany

A portion of Westerville was annexed to Delaware County in 2003, although most of the city remains in Franklin County. The old township name was Blendon Township which was a part of Franklin County.