Image courtesy of Rockford Homes.

Circleville, Ohio is a small Ohio city that is located 25 miles south of Columbus. It sits along the Scioto River, a 231 mile river that runs through Ohio. It was once used for shipping, but now is only used for drinking water and recreation. Circleville is the county seat of Pickaway County Ohio. It is a small city that has a population of about 13,000. This city is also best known for its annual pumpkin festival show. It has been held in the city every year since 1903. 

Here’s what you should know about moving to Circleville:

• History of Circleville
• Facts and figures about Circleville
• Local favorite things to do in Circleville
• And more!
  

History of Circleville

Before Moving to Circleville, Get to Know the History of Your New Home

Circleville was founded in 1810 by Daniel Dresbach. He established the town right along the Scioto river. The town was named “Circleville” after the circular structures that the Hopewell culture built into the land. The Hopewell culture was an Indigenous group of Americans that lived on the land before the Europeans arrived. The first courthouse in the town was built right in the middle of a circular earthwork structure. 

Circleville, in line with its name, was laid out in a circular pattern. This layout eventually became a point of controversy for the townspeople. They didn’t care for the untraditional layout and petitioned the government to change it. In 1837, the Ohio State Legislature authorized the redesign of the community to fit a more traditional grid pattern. The work was completed by the Circleville Squaring Company in 1856. This redevelopment caused most of the indigenous earthworks to disappear. 

In the 19th century, Circleville began to prosper. This was due in part to its location near the Scioto river and the Ohio and Erie canal. The town also got connected to the railroad network, which was consistently growing at the time. All the transportation available to the city brought about the growth of the manufacturing industry. Some of the industries that thrived in the town included canning, meatpacking, and milling. Circleville was once recognized for producing the largest amount of broom corn in the country. 

Aside from its agricultural pursuits, Circleville was also known for its religious diversity. There were several Christian groups in the area. There were Methodists, Lutherans, and Episcopalians among others. Several famous people had lived in Circleville at one point. One was Caleb Atwater, a writer who wrote about the earthworks, Benjamin Hanby, a composer, and Ted Lewis, a jazz musician. 

By 1998, Circleville’s population had risen up to over 12,000. Many of those people ended up working in the new business that came to replace all the ones that existed there in the past. The television manufacturer RCA was a company based there that employed many Circleville residents. Agriculture began to slowly decline during this time, but is still considered to be an important part of the city. 

Almost 90% of Pickaway County’s land was made up of farmland in 1982, but by a decade later, that number had dropped to over 80%. Many of Columbus’s residents prefer to live within smaller communities, and so much of Circleville’s land is made up of subdivisions. It is currently home to the sixth largest festival in the country, the annual pumpkin show. It is used as a showcase by many of the city’s farmers and their products. 

Circleville by the Numbers

Learn About Circleville’s Economy, Demographics, and What It’s Really Like to Live Here

Circleville’s Population

Circleville, Ohio is a small city with a population of over 14,000 people. The town is not the most densely populated, with less than 2,000 people per square mile. The median age of a Circleville resident is 37 years old, which is the same as the country’s median age. On average, there are 2.4 people per household, which is comparable to the country’s average of 2.6. About 46% of those households are married couples, and 26% of those married couples have children. And about 24% percent of Circleville’s households are made up of single parent families. 

Circleville’s Demographics

80% of Circleville’s residents are white, and 14% of the residents are black. 0.2 percent of the population is Asian. 1.3% of the residents are of Hispanic ethnicity. And around 4% of residents identify as two or more races. The median price for a home is around $168,000. 

Circleville’s Schooling

The Circleville Community School District serves thousands of students in the general area. They have one pre-school, five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. There are about 19 students per teacher, which makes space for students to receive plenty of individual attention. 

Things to do in Circleville

Circleville is a city filled with possibilities when it comes to things to do. It is a place that is somewhat slow paced, but offers a lot in terms of outdoor space and great indoor spaces. They have great shops, restaurants, and museums. You can really enjoy yourself trying out different things during the day, or you can take an opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors in silence. 

Get to Know Circleville Like a Local

Where People Shop, Dine, and Hang Out in Circleville

Circleville is a quiet city filled with farmland. It is very slow paced and the residents get to enjoy a quiet existence. There are plenty of things to do for fun around town. A lot of the activities available are family-friendly. There are multiple parks in town to spend time in. Since this is a rural community, people tend to spend lots of time outdoors enjoying nature. There are coffee shops in town and several restaurants that the locals frequent. They also have some great museums and state parks that are available to the public. If you visit Circleville, you’ll find out just why people love this town so much!

El Pedegral

This Mexican food will make you want to come back for more.

129 W Main St | Circleville | pedregalrestaurant.com

El Pedegral is an authentic restaurant that makes delicious food. It is owned and operated by a family that has been in the restaurant industry for decades. They make sure to provide their customers with a memorable dining experience that will have them wanting to return for more. Their service is friendly and their food is amazing. Some of their menu options include tacos, burritos, fajitas, and enchiladas. Each thing they offer has multiple options to choose from. You can get soups, salads, and even desserts. They are also known for their amazing margaritas. 

This restaurant offers catering. Whether you’re throwing a birthday party, work meeting, or a holiday gathering, El Pedegral is prepared to serve you. You can choose to have a taco bar, a burrito bar, an enchilada bar, and so much more!

“Thank god we finally got an authentic Mexican restaurant in Circleville. We gave them a while to get settled in and get through the growing pains when they first opened and they hit the ball out of the park for sure. Both our meals were very good and the service was great considering the place was packed. The margaritas were strong and very tasty for sure. We highly recommend this place and can't wait to go back and try more authentic items from their menu!” -- Yelp Review

Wittich’s Candy Shop

This shop is loaded with all kinds of sweet treats.

117 W High St | Circleville | wittichscandyshop.com

Wittich’s Candy Shop is a place that has many different sweet offerings. It was established all the way back in 1840, and has been in business for over 181 years! You can simply stop in to pick up treats, or you can call to make a personalized order. They sell hand-dipped chocolates, mints, nuts, buckeyes, and jelly bellies among others. They also sell sodas, ice-cream, milkshakes, and sundaes. You can also order mugs, toys, and wedding supplies from them. 

This place is old fashioned in several ways. It is one of the oldest candy shops in the country. This shop has a great vintage themed interior that brings to mind a past era. They also sell old fashioned candies that you won’t find in most places. 

“This candy shop! My goodness I haven't had one thing out of here I haven't liked! I can understand why they've been in business as long as they have! Very cute place to visit when in town and of course to take the kids to, they have such a blast and the staff is so kind!” -- Yelp Review

Richie’s New York Corner Deli

A piece of New York in the middle of the Midwest. 

206 S Ct St | Circleville | rnycd.com

Richie’s New York Corner Deli sells New York style deli food right in the middle of Ohio. It was founded by a former Brooklyn resident. This deli only uses the finest of ingredients in their meals. It carries a selection of Boar’s Head meat and cheeses, which are of the highest quality. They carry Boar’s Head hot dogs and mustard along with other condiments as well. They also carry great products from other premium brands. They carry over 20 flavors of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, cookies, brownies, and muffins from Pattycake Bakery, high quality sodas from Q Drinks, and kettle chips from Zapp’s. 

They have an extensive menu that includes dozens of unique New York subs. Some options include “the jerk” made with jerk chicken, “say cheese” made with three types of cheese, and the “little Italy” with prosciutto. They also have some amazing desserts. You can grab cheesecake, cannoli, brownies, and cookies. 

“This place rocks. Cool people and a great owner from Brooklyn, NY. They know how to make a sandwich and they take care of their customers, regardless if you're a regular or it's your first time. Boar's Head Meats and gluten free options as well. What is not to like about a deli like this? Quick, friendly service and a damn good sandwich.” -- Yelp Review

Circleville Pumpkin Show

This is one of the biggest pumpkin shows in the country!

159 E Franklin St | Circleville | pumpkinshow.com

Circleville is most known for its annual pumpkin show. People come into Circleville from all over to enjoy this festival. Over 400,000 people have been at this festival at the same time. It has even been called “the greatest free show on earth.” It is a four day event that goes on from morning until night. Circleville even has a “preview day” before the full event so that residents get to enjoy the show for a while before hundreds of thousands of people flock into the city. 

When walking around the festival, you can find all kinds of foods made with pumpkins. You get to enjoy those treats along with seeing some of the largest pumpkins ever grown. The biggest pumpkin from 2021’s festival was just under 2,000 pounds. 

This festival covers 8 blocks of the city. You will find rides, concerts, games, and parades. And aside from seeing giant pumpkins, you’ll also get to see a giant pumpkin pie! Every year, Lindsay’s Bakery makes a pie that weighs over 400 pounds. 

“This was my first outing to the Circleville Pumpkin Show, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself! I came on the first day of the festival (which I highly recommend) and it was a good time. My friends and I walked around for about 3 hours, and we found a lot of tasty food (so many pumpkin-flavored options!) and great decorations for the holidays.” -- Yelp Review

Circleville, Ohio is a small town with lots of farmland. It is known for its agriculture and lively celebrations. In this city, you can easily enjoy a slow-paced lifestyle, but still drive into a larger city whenever you need to.