Image courtesy of the Village of Lithopolis. 

The Village of Lithopolis, Ohio is a tiny town in Fairfield and Franklin counties, situated near stone deposits. The village’s name-- “Lithopolis”-- literally translates to “stone city” in Greek. Lithopolis manages to pack a lot into its just over-two-square-miles area, and it’s growing. If you’re thinking of adding your family to the mix, here’s everything you need to know about living in Lithopolis, Ohio. 

Planning your Move to Lithopolis

You are ready to make the big move, now what?

As we all know moving is very stressful. Worrying about if you packed everything, and trying to remember exactly where you put your great grandma's china or your son's favorite train set. Now despite these thoughts, the top thing that many people have the hardest time trying to do is set up a moving service to use. Between the number of items you need help moving and the distance, you may be traveling things can become quite pricey quite fast. 

The good news for you is that if you are moving from an area within Ohio then the following companies found within Groveport and Canal Winchester Ohio are perfect for you: 

• All My Sons 

• Hercules Movers 

• United Moving Pros

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Lithopolis City Services

Everything you could need and more is provided by the city services.

Established in 1814 under the name of “Centerville,” the name was changed in 1815 to better reflect the importance of the area due to the stone deposits nearby. The post office was established in 1827. 

The village office is located on Lithopolis Road and houses the offices of the Mayor, Village Administrator, Fiscal Officer, Zoning Inspector, Utility Clerk, and General Maintenance. The Mayor presides over the Village Council as President; however, he has no vote unless in the case of a tie. The Village Council is elected by the village members and serves as the legislative branch of local government. 

Each serves a term of four years. Meetings occur on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month and are open to the public. The Fiscal Officer also doubles as the Clerk of Council. Emails and Meeting Minutes-- as well as the Village Newsletter-- are available on the village website. 

If you’re planning on building a new house or renovating an older one (in part or whole), check out the appropriate section on the Building & Zoning Department’s site. There are fees and applications to fill out! The Building & Zoning Department does not require a permit for every home improvement, and the exemptions are also listed on the site. 

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‍City Income Taxes are handled by RITA-- the Regional Income Tax Agency-- the largest administrator of municipal income taxes in Ohio. Forms are available on both the local and the RITA websites. 

The Utility Department of Lithopolis focuses on water and sewage. Water is provided to the village from three wells, with an emergency water supply coming from Canal Winchester, Ohio. The village water plant can handle up to 500,000 gallons of water a day, and the water tower has the same capacity. The New Water Service Form is on the site, and the in-town water and sewage rates are lower than the out-of-town water and sewage rates: $7.29/gal (in town) vs $10.57/gal (out-of-town) and $7.82/gal (in-town) vs. $11.34/gal (out-of-town). 

The Village of Lithopolis has its own police department, which provides the same emergency and non-emergency services as most police departments-- police blotters are linked on the website. However, the village does not have its own fire department. The Bloomfield Township Fire Department Station 551 covers the Village of Lithopolis in emergencies. Contact them here if you have any questions or concerns. 

Area Vibes gave Lithopolis an A+ rating on crime-- the average is 13 crimes, mostly theft, burglary, or property damage. Virtually no violent crime statistics are available on the Village of Lithopolis, making it ideal for secure and comfortable living. 

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Lithopolis' Schools & Libraries

Live, Laugh, Learn and Read!

Families moving to the Lithopolis area are offered the choices of the Bloom-Carroll School District, the Canal Winchester local schools, or schools in Groveport or Lancaster, Ohio. The Bloom-Carroll School District boasts a primary school in Carroll, an intermediate school in Lithopolis, and a middle and high school in Carroll. In addition, there are two Christian schools-- Fairfield Christian Academy in Lancaster and Madison Christian School in Groveport--and the William V. Fisher Catholic High School in Lancaster.

Niche.com rated the local schools at a B or B+ rating-- the student-to-teacher ratios range from a low of 13:1 to a high of 23:1, but the proficiency in academic scores ranged all over the place. Check out each school individually and visit the ones you’re most interested in-- try to spend a good 20-30 minutes of the visit observing a class or two to see the kind of interactions encouraged and supported between staff, faculty, and students. Look through the textbooks-- nothing should be older than ten years-- and ask to see samples of the type of work done in class and at home. 

The Wagnalls Memorial Library was a gift to Lithopolis residents by Mabel Wagnalls Jones, the daughter of the Funk & Wagnalls Publishers co-owner Adam Willis Wagnalls. The library boasts gardens and a theatre, and the foundation provides scholarships. In addition, they offer a variety of classes, events, and clubs to join and will happily host weddings and business events. 

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Housing & Employment in Lithopolis

New opportunities Await!

Though the tiny village may not seem like it, Lithopolis is part of the Columbus Metro Area. 

Most people who live in Lithopolis, Ohio, are educated and make around $69,450 per year as a household. Individuals make approximately $34,949 per year. Both of these income statistics are slightly higher than the national averages. The Unemployment Rate is only 3%--on par with the percent of folks in the area living in poverty-- and the population is growing. They’ve nearly doubled since the 2010 census-- currently, around 1,500 people live in the village. The average Lithopolis citizen is about 36 years of age and somewhat conservative. The town's genders are represented equally, but the area has low racial diversity. It’s ranked #16 of the best suburbs to raise a family in Ohio, and the age statistics support this-- the average child is between 10 and 17 years of age. Almost half of the village’s population has college experience or education. 

The average cost of a house in Lithopolis, Ohio, is $226,400, with the latest statistics placing home appreciation increasing by a bit over 7%. The commute is just under 30 minutes, and the weather is typical midwestern weather of hot summers, cool spring and fall, and cold winters. September, June, and August are the best, while December and January are the worst. As a result, the cost of living is 2.1% lower than the national average. 

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Food & Fun in Lithopolis, OH

Remember the 4 Fs: Food, Friends, Fun, and Festivities, all accomplished here!

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Lithopolis Honeyfest

The main festival in Lithopolis is Honeyfest, dedicated to the art and education of beekeeping. It’s held on the first Saturday following the first Monday in September, during some of the best weather Lithopolis offers. Most of the information is located on the Honeyfest Facebook page. 

Honeyfest attractions include bee beards, honey tastings (trust us-- varieties you wouldn’t think exist!), honey extraction, hive inspections, music, and meade tastings. (Meade is a delicious honey wine typically credited to the Vikings and other Germanic tribes known as Normans.) You can also grab swag in the form of t-shirts, arts and crafts for souvenirs, and a local honey beer brew from Bloom-Carroll Kiwanis beer garden. Finally, don’t forget to grab your copy of the Taste of Honey cookbook--maybe even have some of the presenters, musicians, and educators sign it with bits of lore and advice while you’re at it! 

As you might imagine, a small two-square-mile village won’t have too many options for eating out. One of the best options is the Mexican restaurant El Pedregal. It’s a family-owned and operated restaurant serving authentic Mexican cuisine with full bar service. They claim to have the best margaritas this side of the border and offer catering. There are vegetarian and vegan-friendly options, making this a perfect restaurant for a family outing or special event. TripAdvisor highly recommends this Tex-Mex wonder for lunch or dinner. There’s a second location a bit further away, but the original is in Lithopolis. 

Das Kaffee Haus has rated the #1 place for coffee and tea in Lithopolis. Theirs is the official coffee of 99.7 “The Blitz,” and-- as you might guess from the name-- the inspiration for this coffee house came from the German underground. In Germany, coffeehouses are edgy and almost pub-style-- not quiet and quaint little tea shops. The owners-- “Frau” Amy and Joe Contino-- met in the military (we salute you both, and thank you for your service!) and began this coffeehouse as a way to synthesize their passions with their travels in Europe. 

Frau Amy comes from a long line of German relatives, while Joe is Italian and still an active service member. Their coffee roasted techniques are distinctive of their family origins-- the “Kaffee” is German, and espresso Italian-- and traditional, rather non-American methods are used. The results are a lighter coffee than the typical American blend and a dark Vienna roast for espresso. The pastries are fantastic, made fresh daily, and true to Germanic street styles. 

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Places of Worship in Lithopolis

Churches are the primary place of worship within the city's limits.

Lithopolis is not religiously diverse. The population is overwhelmingly Christian. The only places to worship listed on the village website are churches, including--but not limited to-- Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Catholic, and Evangelical Lutheran. The Catholic church-- Saint John XXIII Catholic Church-- is the only church listed outside of the Lithopolis village limits in nearby Canal Winchester, Ohio. 

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Road Trips from Lithopolis

Want to go on an adventure? What's holding you back? Grab your family and friends, jump in the car and see where the road takes you.

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Lithopolis is unique, but it is one of those places where if you want to get out and do something, you’re probably going to drive somewhere else. So where should you go? 

Try Harrison Farm first. They’re a family-owned and run farm in nearby Groveport, Ohio, that has begun to shine in some exciting ways. They offer the traditional farm offerings-- tours, livestock, produce-- but they also are part of Edible Columbus and partake in farm-to-table dinners in the Hanger (yes, it used to house the farm’s airplane). 

They also offer yoga with wine or goats, photography, and painting classes. It’s also a learning farm, so you can become an apprentice to learn the trade hands-on yourself! Check out the Yelp reviews and call them up to schedule an appointment-- this is one community asset you don’t want to miss. 

If you are a yoga lover or want to try something new, you don’t want to miss the chance to take a yoga class at Harrison Farms, where you will have the opportunity to practice your balance and make an animal friend or two.

If you’re looking to get away from home for a while and don’t want to go to the city of Columbus, try Murray’s Landing. You can canoe, kayak and tube down the river in Nelsonville, Ohio. They’re open seven days a week and need at least two-hours notice before you arrive. Choose from one of three river adventures based upon your experience and skill level-- and, perhaps, your stress level! Then, let the world's worries disappear as you soak in the river’s calming atmosphere. 

With all this new knowledge, we leave the decision to move up to you. Are you ready to take a leap into the unknown and see what kind of life awaits you here in Lithopolis, Ohio? Let us know in the comments if you have moved here and any must-do activities for those who have recently or are considering moving here.