Bexley is a city in Franklin County, Ohio, United States. Incorporated as a village in 1908, Bexley is an old tree-lined suburb of Ohio's capital, Columbus, located on the banks of Alum Creek right next to Driving Park. A college town bisected by the National Road, Bexley resulted from a merger of neighborhoods including the prestigious Bullitt Park, established in 1889, and the Lutheran community centered on Capital University and Trinity Lutheran Seminary. The population was 13,203 at the 2000 census.
Bexley is considered one of the most desirable areas in Greater Columbus with a diverse range of housing options, from family starters to estate-sized mansions, including the Ohio Governor's Mansion, Jeffrey Mansion "Kelveden", and the estate used for the President of The Ohio State University. Located in northern Bexley, the Governor's Mansion — originally built as a private residence in 1925 and given to the state in 1955 — has been home to Ohio governors since 1957.
Bexley, Ohio was named at the suggestion of an early resident, Mr. Kilbourne, in honor of his family's roots in Bexley, England. The village of Bexley, Ohio was incorporated in 1908 when prominent citizens of Bullitt Park along Alum Creek, including former Mayor of Columbus and industrialist Hon. Robert H. Jeffrey, agreed to merge with the mostly Lutheran community of Pleasant Ridge located around Christ Lutheran Church and the adjoining Lutheran seminary. Bullitt Park had been founded in 1889, when Logan M. Bullitt of Philadelphia submitted his first plat (1891) for the area. Wealthy citizens of Columbus continued to build urban townhouses and country homes to the east along Broad Street and Town (now Bryden), extending out to Franklin Park. By the 1890s, several large homes took root across Alum Creek in the Bullitt Park area, whose borders include the aforementioned mansions and park, as well as the campus of the Columbus School for Girls, an exclusive private school. Camp Bushnell was overlaid for several months on the unsold lots of Bullitt Park in 1898, centered at Drexel Circle, bringing new utilities to the area, and subsequently, more home building. By 1909, Bullitt Park and the Lutheran community south of Main Street decided to merge neighborhoods and incorporate as the Village of Bexley. Later, with growth, the village of Bexley became the City of Bexley.
Bexley has been the home of many prominent citizens, including recent governors of Ohio Ted Strickland and Senator George Voinovich, Bob Greene (the Chicago columnist who wrote Be True to Your School), children's author R. L. Stine, cartoonist Paul Palnik. and billionaire Leslie Wexner (the wealthiest man in Ohio). For many years Larry Flynt, the creator of Hustler Magazine, also lived in the city. Other former residents include Frank Lesser, a writer for the Comedy Central show The Colbert Report, and Josh Radnor, an actor in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The residence of the president of the Ohio State University is located in the most affluent area of Bexley.
Bexley is home to several churches and synagogues, several historic sites and pieces of outdoor sculpture, the famous Rubino's pizzeria, the Drexel art house movie theater[1], and several miles of National Road Route 40.
Rubino's Pizzeria, mentioned in "Be True to your School," has become famous for barely changing since its opening in the early 50's. Rubino's does not deliver and only accepts cash or checks. The Main Street address is the only location and has always been independently run. Known for its thin crust pizza, carryout pizzas are packaged in paper, rather than cardboard boxes.
Founded in 1981, The Drexel Theater in Bexley is the original in an area chain of independently run theaters. Locations also exist in Grandview Heights, Ohio, Arena District and the newly-developed South Campus Gateway.
Bexley is also the site of a number of sculptor Alfred Tibor's work, including at the Trinity Lutheran Seminary and Congregation Agudas Achim. Adjoining Bexley is the Franklin Park Conservatory.
Bexley boasts several excellent public and private educational institutions including: Bexley City Schools [2]; Columbus School for Girls; Saint Charles Preparatory School; Capital University; and Trinity Lutheran Seminary [3] - one of the region's few seminaries.
Columbus School for Girls is one of the oldest private schools in the city. Founded in 1898, it was originally on the corner of East Town Street and Parsons Avenue, known as Parsons Place. In 1946 it moved to its current location on the corner of Broad St. and Drexel Ave. It is one of the few single sex schools left in the area. Often it partners with St. Charles Preparatory School[4], an all male Catholic school located just inside Bexley's borders.
Bexley High School[5] is well-known as one of the top schools in the state of Ohio. It has been rated as one of the top 5% performing schools in the nation, was ranked in the top 2% of Ohio high schools for the Ohio Proficiency test, and listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of the top public high schools in the nation. The Lions, as they are known, have been state basketball, soccer, and tennis champions.
Bexley, Ohio is located at 39¡Æ57¡Ç52¡ÈN, 82¡Æ55¡Ç58¡ÈW (39.964564, -82.932649)GR1.
The municipalities of Minerva Park, Bexley, Whitehall, Worthington, Upper Arlington and Valleyview are enclaves of Columbus.
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 13,203 people, 4,705 households, and 3,387 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,080.7/km² (5,398.4/mi²). There were 4,974 housing units at an average density of 783.9/km² (2,033.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.45% White, 4.48% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.
There were 4,705 households out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $70,200, and the median income for a family was $83,363. Males had a median income of $56,573 versus $39,851 for females. The per capita income for the city was $37,375. About 3.1% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Real Living HER, 77 E. Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215. Licensed in Ohio.
Modified: 11/5/2009 8:46:28 PM
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