Despite its reputation as a peaceful community, Hilliard is regarded as a great place to live with plenty of things. The Market at Hilliard, Hilliard Square Shopping Center, the Mill Run area, and local grocery stores are just a few places to find a range of shopping options.
All over the city, there are a lot of parks and other outdoor areas. The most notable park is Roger A. Reynolds Municipal Park, which has a pool, lazy river, little amphitheater, sports court, and more. The Rebel Woods and Scioto Run Nature Trail offer both walking and hiking trails, and Heritage Trail Dog Park is a terrific spot to bring a pet for some activity.
All over the city, there are a lot of parks and other outdoor areas. The most notable park is Roger A. Reynolds Municipal Park, which has a pool, lazy river, little amphitheater, sports court, and more. The Rebel Woods and Scioto Run Nature Trail offer both walking and hiking trails, and Heritage Trail Dog Park is a terrific spot to bring a pet for some activity.
There are lots of locations to have family-friendly entertainment, like Dave & Buster’s, Ten Pin Alley, the Early Television Museum, the Hilliard Family Aquatic Center, and more.
There are many fantastic restaurants in Hilliard, serving everything from comfort food favorites to ethnic fare and American cuisine. The Olive Tree Lebanese & Mediterranean Café, Wild Ginger Asian Fusion, Starliner Diner, and Abner’s Casual Dining are a few of the biggest restaurants in the region.
FOUNDING OF HILLIARD
Hilliard was founded in 1852 after Mr. John Reed Hilliard acquired lands in western Franklin County. The community was formerly known as Hilliard Station, a well-liked shipping location for supplies and agricultural goods. In Weaver Park, the historic railroad station has been rebuilt and is still there. John Hilliard established the area on September 1, 1853, and after the post office opened in 1854, the community became known as Hilliard. When Hilliard Village was established in 1869, only 280 people lived in the village. Fast-forward to the 1950s, when Hilliard experienced significant growth and the introduction of residential subdivisions. When Hilliard reached a population of 5,633, it was given official city status in 1960. The I-270 Outerbelt’s completion contributed to the 1980s’ economic boom.
GOVERNMENT OF HILLIARD
The city charter for Hilliard establishes rules for government employees, companies, and citizens. Every ten years, the city charter is reviewed by a review commission, which assesses the charter in light of recent events and makes suggestions for any necessary adjustments. This approach ensures that rigidity and flexibility coexist in harmony.
The municipal council is made up of seven members, each chosen for a four-year term. The City Council designates a City Manager to head the departments.
HILLIARD GEOGRAPHY
The coordinates of Hilliard are 40°2′4′′N 83°8′34′′W. Hilliard is bounded by Upper Arlington and Columbus to the east, Dublin to the north, Galloway and Columbus to the south, and open countryside of Brown Township to the west. Depending on the part of town your in, sometimes facing southeast you can see the Columbus city skyline.
As per the US Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.45 square miles, of which 14.27 square miles is land and 0.18 square miles is water.
HILLIARD DEMOGRAPHICS
There are about 36,800 people living in Hilliard. The population density is 2,579 persons per square mile. While the US median age is 37.4, Hilliard’s is slightly lower at 37.2. Hilliard has 2.8 persons per household, compared to an average of 2.6 people in American households.
EDUCATION IN HILLIARD OHIO
In Hilliard, there are 24 educational institutions, including 3 private and 21 public schools. Hilliard schools spend approximately $11,800 on each student, compared to the $12,383 national average. Each instructor has 19 students, each library has 432 students, and each counselor has 544 students.
Hilliard is home to one of the best public education systems. There 68% of students are at least proficient in reading and 71% are proficient in math. Additionally, it is a great arena for local athletes .
Both Hilliard Davidson High School and Hilliard Darby High School have won state championships in various sports in the last 15 years, the most recent being a 2015 boys volleyball championship.
The cutting-edge Innovation Campus in Hilliard is a learning facility where children can explore interests, receive personalized instruction, and more.
Along with Franklin University, Columbus College of Art & Design, and The Ohio State University, Hilliard is close to other schools and universities in the Columbus region.
EMPLOYERS AND BUSINESSES IN HILLIARD
Currently, Hilliard’s unemployment rate is 4.4%, which is significantly lower than the 6.0% national average. Future predictions indicate that the job market will continue to expand at a phenomenal rate. The projected rate of job growth over the next ten years is 40.4%, significantly greater than the 33.5% average for the United States.
The industries of manufacturing, retail commerce, banking and insurance, educational services, health care, and technical services are some of the ones where Hilliard locals work the most frequently. There are about 1,100 businesses that collectively employ 16,000 people and have yearly revenues in excess of $1 billion.
In Hilliard, the family median income is higher than average at $113,783. A property in Hilliard can be a wise investment, as the average home price is $277,200 and home appreciation has been roughly 33% over the past ten years.
FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM HILLIARD
Matt Lampson was from Hilliard and was lucky to be drafted by the Columbus Crew SC in 2012. He played with the team from 2012 to 2015 and returned for the 2020-2021 season but has since moved on again.
Taylor Price, Jeremy Ebert, and Ted Provost played in the NFL for a number of years, all growing up in Hilliard. Ted Provost was also a Ohio State Buckeye and was a member of the national championship team in 1968.
Thomas E. Latimer was born in Hilliard but later became the mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Latimer served as an attorney in the press freedom case, which led to the famous Supreme Court decision in Near v. Minnesota.