Why Would You Want to Live in Delaware?

Why would you want to live in Delaware?

It was one of the most common questions; I got asked when I moved here five years ago. It was asked in Tiffin, where we moved from; Danvile, where I grew up; and even in Delaware.

The answer to me seemed easy, and it has only gotten easier in the past five years.

Growth and Expansion
This past year Delaware County was the 15th fastest growing area in the country. This has a lot to do with the jobs available in Columbus, but it doesn’t stop there. Just in the last two weeks three companies have announced they will be relocating to the Delaware area from places like Stone Mountain, Ga. This expansion has slowed down this year – just like every where else – however the community remains a wonderful place to live.

The Brown Jug
When you mention Delaware County, one of the first things that enter almost everyone’s mind is the Delaware County Fair and the Little Brown Jug. The Jug is the Kentucky Derby of harness racing and the party is almost as much fun. Jug Day – the third Thursday in September – is a local holiday – the banks close at noon (if they are open at all) and all the local businesses are closed. Jug Day actually begins the first day of the fair, as that’s the only way to get a good seat trackside for Thursday’s race. Don’t think you need it? The past two years attendance at the Jug has been more than 60,000 people. The money and alcohol flows in amazing quantity for this wonderful party. Just because the Jug’s been awarded, doesn’t mean the party’s stopped. Everyone heads downtown to the – aptly named – Brown Jug Restaurant and the party continues until the wee hours of the morning.

It’s Our Grape

Next time you have a glass of wine that proudly says it’s a Delaware Grape. Don’t be fooled to think it’s from the Northeast – it was first grown right here in Delaware County, ironically in Concord Township.

He’s Our Champion

Ben Curtis became an overnight sensation when he won the British Open, but no where more loved than Delaware, Ohio. Curtis routinely plays at Mill Creek Golf Club in his hometown of Ostrander.

Work Hard – Play Harder

Delaware County has two large rivers that meander through the county – the Olentangy and Scioto. This has led to several water-sheds in the area, which also double as state parks. Delaware Lake and Alum Creek are a water and nature lover’s dream throughout the summer and fall.

Delaware County has three distinct faces. Delaware, proper, is the historic county seat. It has expanded and grown and is attempting to stay true to its roots. The southern portion of the county has become a sleeper-community for Columbus and the northern region of the county retains a lot of the areas traditional agricultural roots.

Delaware – the County Seat and Heart and Soul

• Revitalized Downtown — When I first moved here, the downtown revitalization efforts had stalled out. There were boarded up store fronts and not a lot of reason to come downtown. But, that has all changed. The area has become a hot-spot for funky and fun restaurants. The rebirth could almost be traced back to Ohio Wesleyan University taking over the Strand Theatre. Kara McVay became the general manager of the Strand and at the same time a “voice” for downtown. Stop by the historic theatre for a movie and you’ll find a lot of choices for dinner. Within easy walking distance are Chelly Belly, Taradino’s, Hamburger Inn, Rudy Z’s, El Acapulco, Old Bag of Nails, Bun’s Family Restaurant, Nova, and Brown Jug Restaurant. But, there is a lot more to downtown Delaware than just food, there is also shopping. While a Delaware icon, Pilsner’s Five and Dime will close soon because of the owners’ retirement, it will be a rare vacancy in downtown. There are several antique stores, several furniture stores, and a couple of barbershops, several banks, and other exciting shops.
• Housing Choices – The boom of growth has led to a wide selection of housing in Delaware. If you want a home built from the mid-1800s until yesterday - it’s here. The east side is seeing a rebound, much like the west side has undergone over the past decade, and is becoming one of the area’s hottest buys.
• The Ohio Wesleyan Connection — When Delaware was still a small town on the route between Franklinton (as Columbus was known then) and Toledo, the community founders felt the need for a college. They joined with the Methodist church to found Ohio Wesleyan University and the rest is history. The community and school have seen a major growth and reconnection with current President Mark Huddleston and first-lady Emma Bricker. Ohio Wesleyan is where a young Branch Rickey (yes, the man that signed Jackie Robinson to play for the Dodgers) honed his skills. The city and University recently renamed a portion of Henry Street as “Branch Rickey Way” in honor of his legendary achievement, of course this in addition to having the gymnasium complex named after him.

The South Side

Delaware can be considered a bedroom community, but if only to its south side neighbor, Columbus. However, it should be said that a lot of Columbus’ residents make the trek north to Delaware County to have their fun. Polaris Fashion Place Mall – located just off I-71 – has become one of the areas marquee shopping experiences. The mall has turned a sleepy area into one of the nation’s fastest growing areas. The Mall brought hundreds of other retail and eating establishments with it, which helped spawn a housing boom in areas like Powell, Lewis Center, and Galena on the county’s southern edge.
The Columbus Zoo - made famous by Jack Hanna’s visits to numerous television shows - is located in southern Delaware County and will soon be undergoing another major expansion.

Heading North to Tradition
Slip through Delaware on U.S. 23 and the first thing you notice is the lack of sub-divisions right along the highway. This area is still as it has been for decades. Small towns – like Ashley, Radnor and Waldo (barely over the line in Marion County) – dot the landscape between fields that are full of beans and corn throughout the summer time.

And you wonder why I moved to Delaware.

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