Image courtesy of Columbus Neighborhoods.‍‍

New Albany, Ohio is a suburb of Columbus located just 20 minutes away. It has a population of about 11,000. It’s a great residential area. It is known for being one of the best suburbs in the country. In 2015, New Albany was classified as the number one best suburb in the country by Business Insider. There are different places in town where you can see music, dance, theater, and even lectures. There are over 600 acres of public parks and thirty miles of walking trails that connect the neighborhoods to market square. 

Market Square is a walkable place full of cafes, shops, cafes, and the New Albany Farmers Market. The nation’s largest walking-only race, The New Albany Walking Classic, is held there. They even hold the New Albany Classic Grand Prix there, the top equestrian event in the nation. This town is great for fun loving residents. Whether you are in New Albany for a permanent stay or for a short visit, your time there will surely be remembered! 

Here’s what you should know about moving to New Albany:

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

History of New Albany

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

New Albany, Ohio was founded in 1837 as a small farming village. The village was named by Noble Landon, one of the founders. He had grown up in St. Albans, Vermont, which is where his main inspiration for the name “New Albany” may have come from. The other settler was William Yantis, a veteran of the war of 1812. He was a neighbor of Francis Scott Key, who wrote the “Star Spangled Banner.” During that time, the land was split up and sold to the new settlers. In 1856, New Albany became incorporated once 50 people were settled there. That is when they voted for their first official mayor. A sawmill was developed in 1889. The town voted for their first female mayor in 1922. People began to refer to New Albany by the name, “Hope.”

In 1980, New Albany’s population was still extremely small. It had less than 500 residents, and did not yet reach Columbus. The town began to grow rapidly in the 1990s, which was largely due to the expansion of Lex Wexner’s clothing empire. Lex Wexner owns “L Brands,” a large multi-billion dollar brand. Lex Wexner has the second largest mansion in central Ohio, located right in New Albany. Freeways providing easy access in and out of town were built around the same time as his mansion. Wexner’s business brought many people in the area jobs, and brought in outsiders in search of them. It is one reason for New Albany’s modern prosperity. 

New Albany has a large Jewish population. Because of that, they are home to “Temple Beth Shalom,” “The Chabad Center for a Jewish Tomorrow,” and “The Columbus Jewish Day School.” There are other Jewish communities right in town to accommodate that segment of the population. 
‍

New Albany’s sawmill closed down in 2008. It was converted to a hardware store that became a town staple for the residents. The village is now home to multiple businesses, large and small. Many of those businesses are situated in Market Square, a popular shopping and gathering spot for the community. There are multiple stores and places meant for leisure in Market Square, like Starbucks and the Columbus Metro Library. There are a few large notable businesses in New Albany that keep the town running well. There is the Abercrombie & Fitch headquarters, Bob Evans Farms, and Discover Financial Services. New Albany is a very prosperous city whose residents maintain great quality lives. 

New Albany by the Numbers

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

New Albany Population

New Albany has a population of over 10,000 people. The median age of the average resident in this village is 39, two years older than the U.S average. Their average number of people per household is 3.2. About 73% of households belong to married couples, most of whom have kids, and around 5% are single parent households. 
‍

New Albany’s Demographics

New Albany has a bit of diversity in its population. About 80% of its residents are white. And about 9% of the population is African American. Around 8% of the population is Asian, and 1.4% claim two or more races. 0.4% of New Albany’s population is of Native American descent. As New Albany is quite a wealthy village, the median home price is around $500,000. The homes start out at around $200,000 and go all the way up to $4.9 million. The median household income is just under $200,000.  
‍

New Albany’s Schooling

New Albany is known for having great schools. Its schools are all located on a single campus. It covers an area of 26 miles.The district has eight buildings that serve K-12 grades. The buildings are all connected by tree-lined walkways, and also surrounded by an 80 acre nature preserve. It is the only district in Ohio where every school is designated a “National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence” by the U.S. Department of Education. 
‍

Things to do in New Albany

New Albany is an idyllic village where you would be very comfortable. There are plenty of chances to relax and to have a great time. This village has great shopping, great restaurants, and awesome outdoor spaces. Make sure to take advantage of everything this village has to offer!
‍

Get to Know New Albany Like a Local

Where People Shop, Dine, and Hang Out in New Albany

New Albany is filled with opportunities for a good time. It is a great village for anyone who wants to experience the comfort of a small town with some big city benefits. You will find plenty of restaurants and shops there that are well appreciated by the community. There also happens to be a great amount of outdoor space available for leisure.

You can take some very relaxing walks, and also sit outdoors with friends or family for hours. You will always find something to do there, and if you want more to do, Columbus is only a 20 minute drive away! There are some places you should definitely stop by when you’re in town. Here are some of the places you should visit while in New Albany.  

‍

Soulshine Tavern & Kitchen 

This restaurant has amazing food and drink options.

266 E Main St | New Albany | soulshinetavern.com

This restaurant sells upscale American food. The name “Soulshine” comes from a 1994 Allman Brothers song of the same name. It has been around since 2017, and the owners strive to create a warm atmosphere that feels authentic to customers. They have a chef curated menu filled with comforting but unique classics. On the menu, you’ll find fried bologna on a brioche bun, fish & chips, and hot honey chicken mac and cheese. They are very familiar foods spiced up and made more interesting by Soulshine’s talented chefs. 
‍

When you stop there for a meal, you might end up seeing a live band. The owners are big music fans. They have happy hour from 4-6 p.m. four days out of the week. You’ll have a great time if you choose to have a meal there. You can even order their food online, which is a new feature. 

“Their holiday sangria was sooo good, I especially loved the caramel garnish around the rim of my glass. The fish & chips were the best I've had in a while. I'm salivating just thinking about it right now. My husband got the breakfast sandwich which we both liked. The staff was very attentive. I hope this place continues to stay open!”-- Yelp Review

‍

Local Cantina

This place serves amazing Tex-Mex food you don’t want to miss. 

5525 New Albany Rd | New Albany | localcantina.com

Local Cantina strives to create an inviting environment for their guests. Their staff is very open to questions and helping to guide you towards making the right choices. They provide classic Tex-Mex fare, but with their own twists on the classics. They make sure to serve only the freshest ingredients. You’ll find many different variations of tacos, quesadillas, and burritos on the menu. They even have an all you can eat fresh-made chips and salsa bar!
‍

Another specialty for this place is beer and spirits. They are all freshly made, finely crafted, and stored in single barrels. It is all gotten from nearby breweries. You will find brands like Patron, Knob Creek, and Buffalo Trace. Your options there are vast!

“We've been here twice now and it is definitely in our regular rotation from now on. First visit was on a weekday evening and the second was a late Saturday afternoon, service was friendly, attentive and spot on both times. Kitchen does a fantastic job of preparing fresh, consistent quality dishes quickly. Love the vibe inside and you can never go wrong with margs and chimichangas!” -- Yelp Review

‍

Asian Taste

This restaurant offers amazing Asian food you’ll likely want more of. 

5505 New Albany Rd | New Albany | asiantaste-ohio.com

Asian Taste is one of the few Asian restaurants right in New Albany. It is also a really great choice for lunch or dinner. Most of their dishes are Chinese, but you can find other options like Korean and Mongolian foods. This place gets great reviews. People in the area are very fond of having this place as an option nearby. You’ll get to choose from popular Asian dishes like wonton soup, fried rice, and pad thai. The menu is long and filled with chef’s selections and chef’s specials. You probably won’t regret visiting this place. 
‍

They have a decent selection of drinks and desserts. You can have coffee, tea, milk, or juice. They even have beer on the menu, domestic and imported. The dessert list is short, but it contains items we don’t often see on menus, even on Chinese menus. You get to order a sesame ball, an almond cookie, or even Chinese donuts! 

“First time getting take out here and it was so good! The crab rangoons are the best I've had. I ordered the sweet and sour chicken, the sweet and sour sauce had chopped onion, and tomato, not my thing but it was still really good. Everything was awesome, and the lady giving me my food was extremely nice. Will definitely come here again.” -- Yelp Review

‍

Hayley Gallery

This art gallery showcases some captivating pieces. 

260 Market St | New Albany | localartohio.com

Hayley Gallery has been promoting the work of local artists in Ohio since 2007. Over 90% of the artists they showcase live right in Ohio, mostly from Columbus suburbs like New Albany. They feature all types of different art, from paintings and sculptures to jewelry and home décor. You are likely to fall in love with some of the art, and the best part is that you can order anything in the place! It is all available for sale. They even offer custom framing and interior design services. You can have a place decorated by some very artistic experts. You can even rent out the gallery if you’d like. 
‍

This art gallery holds plenty of events. Each month they hold a monthly opening reception to introduce an artist to the public. They make the prospect of building an art collection fun and easy! You can even take an art piece home for three days to test it out before you commit. 

“Who knew the best art gallery would exist outside of a big city like New York or LA and instead be right in Ohio? This place is incredible. With everything from paintings to sculptures to blown glass and jewelry, there is something for everyone here. The owner and staff are incredibly knowledgeable and kind. Plus, the store pooch is as cute as it gets.” -- Yelp Review
‍

New Albany, Ohio is a great village with an even greater reputation. The residents live extremely comfortably, and you can too! But even if you’re only there for a visit, you’re bound to have a great time.