Lancaster, OH

A Thriving Hub of Industry and Small-Town Spirit

Seamlessly Blending Manufacturing Legacy with Modern Amenities, Vibrant Downtown, and Strategic Economic Vision

Nestled in the heart of central Ohio, Lancaster is a city of over 40,000 residents that masterfully blends rural tranquility with urban convenience. “Lancaster provides residents a mix of rural and city living,” explains Stephanie Bosco, Lancaster’s Economic Development Director.

Located just 35 minutes southeast of Columbus, Lancaster offers residents the best of both worlds with access to big-city opportunities and the charm of a tight-knit, outdoor-oriented town.

The city’s identity is deeply rooted in its history, particularly its legacy of glass manufacturing, and its commitment to growth. “We’re an older city, but it’s almost like a small town,” Bosco notes. As Lancaster evolves, it remains focused on preserving its community spirit while welcoming new development, a vision Bosco and local leaders are actively shaping.

Community and Lifestyle

Lancaster’s charm lies in its strong sense of community, where collaboration and connection define daily life. “It’s a close-knit place where community is very important,” says Bosco, noting how residents take pride in supporting organizations that do good as well as one another. This warmth extends to newcomers. When Bosco first joined the city three years ago, she was met with an outpouring of hospitality. “I had so many people, especially women, reaching out to me. I got cards, phone calls, emails saying, ‘welcome, let’s meet,’” she recalls.

The city’s lifestyle strikes a rare balance. Downtown buzzes with activity. Restaurants, offices, and retail spaces fill historic buildings, while just beyond, rolling farmland offers quiet respite.

“I’m looking at our downtown right out of my window,” Bosco shares. “Downtown has a bustling area with retail, commercial, restaurants, offices but if you go a little bit further out from our downtown, you run into farms and corn fields.”

Outdoor enthusiasts thrive here, thanks to walking trails along the Hocking River and easy access to the hiking haven of Hocking Hills. “We’re an outdoor community that we’re trying to make very walkable,” Bosco explains. Efforts to add sidewalks, bike lanes, and green spaces reinforce this vision, ensuring Lancaster remains a place where both people and nature can flourish.

Economic Foundations and Key Employers

Lancaster’s economic identity is deeply tied to its manufacturing heritage, namely Anchor Hocking, the city’s largest employer with approximately 800 workers. “They began making glass in the early 1900s,” says Bosco, noting the company’s enduring legacy. Its everyday glassware, marked by a distinctive anchor logo, can be found in homes nationwide. “You may actually have their glassware in your home and not even realize it,” she adds.

Beyond glass, Lancaster hosts other major manufacturers that leverage the region’s skilled workforce. Magna Seating, a Canadian company, produces specialized seating for SUVs. Meanwhile, Chiyoda Integre, a Japanese company, supplies the automotive industry with noise-dampening materials to keep your ride smooth.

Adding a tech dimension, Google’s data center, spanning 500,000 square feet, showcases Lancaster’s capacity for high-tech investment. “Google’s been a great partner,” Bosco remarks, emphasizing the facility’s role in diversifying the economy.

This mix of traditional and advanced industries reflects Lancaster’s adaptable workforce. “We have a long history of manufacturing, we have a lot of manufacturing skills and continue to prepare our current and future workforce through the Fairfield County Workforce Center,” Bosco notes, a selling point for companies seeking both expertise and community commitment.

Downtown Revitalization and Livability

Lancaster’s downtown serves as the vibrant heart of the community, where strategic revitalization initiatives under Lancaster’s Main Street program Destination Downtown Lancaster.  DDL is fostering a sense of community, attracting and retaining businesses, and planning for the future. “A block of downtown at a central intersection is closed off all summer to have family programming and events all summer long,” explains Bosco. This pedestrian-focused approach, coupled with traffic-calming measures, reinforces downtown’s role as a communal gathering space.

The district’s appeal is amplified by standout businesses like Provisions Bakery and Ale House 1890, both owned by entrepreneur Matt Brady. Provisions, a breakfast and lunch spot, has become a social anchor. ” Think you don’t know anyone around here? Head over at lunchtime—you’ll be surprised how many familiar faces you’ll see,” Bosco notes. Nearby, Ale House 1890 offers an upscale dining experience, catering to both professional and personal occasions. “It’s something that you get in a big city with a reputation of consistency. You’ll get the same meal, same great quality, same great cocktail every time,” she adds.

Looking ahead, the Gateway Site development promises to elevate downtown’s profile further. The project, slated to include a hotel, market-rate apartments, and a parking garage, aims to attract more visitors and residents. Simultaneously, the city is repurposing historic factories into mixed-use spaces with market-rate apartments and brand new commercial space, blending preservation with modern utility. “The Shumaker is providing us with the first downtown market-rate apartments in years,” Bosco shares, underscoring Lancaster’s commitment to adaptive growth while maintaining its character.

These efforts collectively position downtown as both an economic driver and a testament to Lancaster’s balanced approach to progress.

Growth Challenges and Housing

Lancaster faces the complex economic challenge of aligning job creation with housing availability, a dynamic Bosco characterizes as “a chicken or the egg situation.” With major economic development projects bringing thousands of jobs to the surrounding region, demand for housing continues to rise. “We do hear from our local employers that we need more housing. Proximity correlates with retention,” she notes. This dual demand underscores Lancaster’s need to balance economic expansion with residential development.

To address this challenge, Lancaster has multiple housing initiatives underway. Several apartment complexes, both market-rate and affordable, are currently under construction through partnerships with developers like Vision Companies and Metro Development, both planning second projects following initial success. The city has also prioritized senior living, opening three full-service care facilities in recent years.

A forthcoming housing study, due this fall, will provide data-driven direction. “We believe it’s going to tell us what we already know, that we need more housing,” Bosco states. This proactive approach ensures Lancaster can accommodate growth while maintaining its appeal as a livable, balanced community.

By aligning housing supply with economic opportunities, the city aims to attract and retain talent, a critical factor in sustaining its development momentum.

Infrastructure and Future Vision

Lancaster has made strategic investments in core infrastructure to support its growth, with significant upgrades to water, wastewater, and utilities. “We have invested a lot of money in our utilities,” notes Bosco, highlighting the city’s municipal gas company as a competitive advantage for industrial prospects. “It’s viewed very favorably when companies are looking to locate here because we have access to natural gas and it is very reasonably priced.” While these improvements lay a strong foundation, infrastructure remains an ongoing priority.

Looking ahead, Lancaster remains focused on two parallel objectives, attracting diverse employers while safeguarding its community character, and enhancing quality-of-life amenities like walkability.

The city’s vision balances economic ambition with livability. “We’re trying to create a great work-life balance for our residents,” Bosco explains. This dual focus, business-friendly infrastructure paired with community-centric development, positions Lancaster to grow thoughtfully while maintaining the qualities that define it.

Building Tomorrow’s Lancaster

Lancaster stands as a compelling model of balanced growth, a community where industrial heritage and forward-looking development coexist with small-town values.

With its skilled workforce, strategic infrastructure investments, and commitment to livability, the city offers businesses both opportunity and quality of life. As the city continues to attract diverse employers while enhancing walkability and community spaces, it demonstrates how thoughtful planning can preserve character amid expansion. Lancaster’s story is one of connection, between rural and urban and tradition and innovation, making it not just a place to work, but a place to belong.

AT A GLANCE

Who: City of Lancaster, OH

What: A 41,600-resident community balancing industrial strength with walkable downtown vibrancy and housing expansion

Where: Fairfield County, Ohio (35 mins from Columbus)

Website: www.ci.lancaster.oh.us