The history of Lancaster OH reflects the history of the United States.
In 1763, farmers from Connecticut settled in what is now Lancaster, Ohio. They had moved west from New York and were looking to settle on land that wasn’t as crowded as eastern communities. The city was laid out by James Hamilton, a son of a Revolutionary War general who received the land as a grant.
By the War of 1812, 4,020 people resided in Lancaster. Today, the population has climbed to 59,409 residents. About 1/3 of this population is Amish or English (Descendents of Plain Anabaptists). Lancaster OH is also home to many Mennonites.
Because of the presence of Amish and Mennonite communities, Lancaster had to develop special accommodations for people who did not have vehicles. For instance, horse-drawn buggies are allowed on public roads while some traffic rules don’t apply to them. Some forms of lighting in businesses are turned off at 9 p.m. so that no one has to work past dark.
Additionally, individuals in this community do not own or operate motor vehicles for personal transportation. They rarely will use electricity and telephones due to their beliefs. For example, they may not enter a home that has electrical wiring unless someone who does own an automobile is with them.
The Lancaster’s Popular Attractions
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Lancaster is the Ohio Swiss Festival, which celebrates the city’s rich heritage of Swiss immigrants (the name “Ohio” comes from the word “Hio”, used by Native Americans to denote a land of many glasses of water).
The festival takes place on Labor Day weekend each year. Lancaster was also ranked as one of America’s Top 100 Small Towns.
One of the most affordable places in Ohio is Lancaster, with an average house costing $136,000 A bike path was recently constructed to connect Lancaster to downtown Columbus (35 miles away) through various towns and cities.
Outdoor activities include boating on the many reservoirs, biking or hiking on the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway, and horseback riding along the many trails in Fairfield County.
Source:
http://www.ohioexploration.us/heritagehistory4.html
http://www.travelsmart-journeys.com/lancasterohio-facts.htm