Each month, we feature an Ohio City as part of our Ohio Community Spotlight series. This month we spotlight the “Glass City” of Lancaster!
Lancaster, Ohio is the focus of this month’s Ohio Community Spotlight. Join us for a tour of this city of 40,000 in Fairfield County—once the historic front of the Northwest Territory.
Before European settlers, the Lancaster region was home to the Hopewell tradition—a network of Indigenous peoples who built intricate earthworks and ceremonial mounds, leaving one of North America’s most remarkable ancient legacies.
The Shawnee, along with Iroquois and Wyandot peoples, also inhabited the land now known as Lancaster—using it as a crossroads of trade
Lancaster was founded in 1800 by Ebenezer Zane and became Fairfield County’s seat in 1831. Many early settlers were German immigrants from Lancaster, PA—bringing their culture and even the city’s name.
Col. Ebenezer Zane laid out “New Lancaster” along Zane’s Trace, a 266-mile frontier road he and partners cut from Wheeling, WV to Limestone, KY. The route drew European settlers to the fertile Hocking River valley.
The original blocks of Lancaster, called Square 13, are still present today just north of Lancaster’s central business district. They are now recognized as one of the nation’s finest concentrations of early-19th-century architecture.
Founded in 1905, Anchor Hocking grew into one of the nation’s largest glassmakers and still operates in Lancaster today. Its presence earned the city the nickname “Glass City,” shaping local identity and industry for over a century.
Beyond glass, Lancaster’s private sector is diverse: auto suppliers like Magna Seating, electric battery recyclers, like CIRBA Solutions, custom glass decorators, and professional services firms employ hundreds locally—anchoring today’s economy.
The Ohio Glass Museum in Lancaster celebrates the state’s rich glassmaking heritage—and even lets visitors try their hand at glassblowing!
Lancaster’s Sherman House Museum honors brothers Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and Sen. John Sherman, both born here. Exhibits include Civil War artifacts and family history.
The Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, in the 1835 Reese–Peters mansion, offers rotating exhibits, classes, and community programs—all free. Through August: a Star Trek exhibit!
Nearly $300M in new housing is underway in Lancaster: ~1,600 units planned, including 616 single-family homes, 843 market-rate apartments, and 645 affordable units—meeting growing demand across incomes.
Emerald Place, a 216 affordable housing project for families is expected to be complete by LDG development in December 2026 and Heritage Trail will provide 95 units of new senior housing with community lounge, elevator, and green building standards.
Downtown Lancaster’s revival includes The Shumaker—a former shoe factory being adapted into lofts + retail. Backed by state historic tax credits, it’s slated to open Spring 2026.
The heart of Lancaster beats with restored 19th-century storefronts, Lancaster’s oldest independent market (since 1932), and community events at Zane Square. A DORA district adds to the lively downtown scene.
For a dose of nature, head to Stebelton Park and see the old grist mill and covered bridges along the Hocking River. The Mill is often open from May to October.
Thank you for joining us on this tour of Lancaster, Ohio. Parts of this thread were generated by AI with human oversite. Tune in next month as we explore another Ohio gem.
