View source for Worthington, Ohio

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name          = Worthington, Ohio
| settlement_type        = [[City]]
| image_skyline          = Downtown Worthington, Ohio.jpg
| imagesize              = 270
| image_caption          = High Street in 2010
| image_flag             = Flag of Worthington, Ohio.png
| image_seal             = 
| image_blank_emblem     = Logo of Worthington, Ohio.png
| blank_emblem_type      = Logo
| image_map              = {{maplink|plain=yes|frame=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=270|type=shape|stroke-width=2|fill=#000000|fill-opacity=0|zoom=12}}
| map_caption            = Interactive map of Worthington
| pushpin_map            = Ohio#USA
| pushpin_relief         = yes
| pushpin_label          = Worthington
| coordinates            = {{coord|40|05|53|N|83|01|05|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type       = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name       = United States
| subdivision_type1      = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2      = [[List of counties in Ohio|County]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Ohio]]
| subdivision_name2      = [[Franklin County, Ohio|Franklin]]
| unit_pref              = Imperial
| area_footnotes         = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude          = 
| area_total_km2          = 14.37
| area_total_sq_mi        = 5.55
| area_land_km2           = 14.17
| area_land_sq_mi         = 5.47
| area_water_km2          = 0.20
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.08
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft            = 817
| population_total        = 14786
| population_as_of        = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes    = 
| population_density_km2  = 1043.62
| population_density_sq_mi = 2703.11
| population_est          = 
| pop_est_as_of           = 
| population_demonym      = Worthingtonite
| postal_code_type        = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code             = 43085
| area_code               = [[Area code 614|614]]
| website                 = https://www.worthington.org/
| timezone                = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset              = -5
| timezone_DST            = EDT
| utc_offset_DST          = -4
| blank_name              = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info              = 39-86604<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info             = 2397377<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397377}}</ref>
}}
'''Worthington''' is a city in [[Franklin County, Ohio]], United States, and is a northern suburb of [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]]. The population in the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] was 14,786. The city was founded in 1803 by the Scioto Company led by [[James Kilbourne]], who was later elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]], and named in honor of [[Thomas Worthington (governor)|Thomas Worthington]], who later became governor of Ohio.

==History==
{{More citations needed|section|date=November 2021}}

===First settlement===
On May 5, 1802, a group of prospective settlers founded the Scioto Company at the home of Rev. Eber B. Clark in [[Granby, Connecticut]] for the purpose of forming a settlement between the [[Muskingum River]] and [[Great Miami River]] in the [[Ohio Country]]. [[James Kilbourne]] was elected president and Josiah Topping secretary (McCormick 1998:7).

On August 30, 1802, [[James Kilbourne]] and Nathaniel Little arrived at Colonel [[Thomas Worthington (governor)|Thomas Worthington]]'s home in [[Chillicothe, Ohio]]. They tentatively reserved land along the [[Scioto River]] on the [[Pickaway Plains]] for their new settlement (McCormick 1998:17).

On October 5, 1802, the Scioto Company met in [[Granby, Connecticut]] and decided not to purchase the lands along the [[Scioto River]] on the [[Pickaway Plains]], but rather to buy land {{convert|30|mi|km}} farther north from Dr. Jonas Stanbery and his partner, an [[American Revolutionary War]] general, [[Jonathan Dayton]]. Sixteen thousand acres (65&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}) were purchased along the Whetstone River (now known as the [[Olentangy River]]) at $1.50 per acre (McCormick 1998:19-27). This land was part of the [[United States Military District]] surveyed by [[Israel Ludlow]] in 1797 and divided into townships {{convert|5|mi|km}} square.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=001/llsl001.db&recNum=613|title=A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 - 1875|website=Memory.loc.gov|access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref>

===Organization===
On May 7, 1803, [[James Kilbourne]] arrived at what is now Worthington to inspect the Scioto Company's purchase. A work party of seven hired laborers, paid $12 per month each, soon began work clearing the forest (McCormick 1998: 29).

On August 10, 1803, the Scioto Company voted to name the village for [[Thomas Worthington (governor)|Thomas Worthington]], one of Ohio's first two senators, and for each member to contribute $2 (about four days wages) to support a library.

In September 1803 the first settlers departed Connecticut by horse. Ezra Griswold was the lone settler who traveled by ox-cart. With this he is officially the first settler of Worthington, beating his fellow Company men to the site.  By December 1803, Worthington was divided into 160, three quarter acre city lots with a {{convert|5|acre|m2|adj=on}} public green in the center of the village. Thirty seven persons bid between $53 and $0.25 to select a lot. Those who bid nothing were given a choice of the remaining lots.

Farm lots, ranging from 20 to {{convert|130|acre|km2}} and averaging {{convert|93|acre|m2}}, were sold off in the same way. Both the Episcopal Church and Worthington Academy were given an {{convert|80|acre|m2|adj=on}} farm lot and {{convert|20|acre|m2|adj=on}} wood lot to provide financial support.

===Dissolution of the Company===
By August 11, 1804, the plat maps were completed, payments or notes promising payments collected and deeds prepared for all sixteen thousand acres (65&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}) of the Scioto Company's purchase (McCormick 1998:71). On January 28, 1805, having completed its work of apportioning land and establishing the church, school and library, the Scioto Company was dissolved (McCormick 1998:76).

===Incorporation===
On February 20, 1808, the Worthington Academy was incorporated by the Ohio legislature and a brick building was constructed facing the northeast quadrant of the public square. Its bell now adorns Kilbourne Middle School. That same year [[James Kilbourne]] erected a commercial building for a newspaper. This building still stands at 679-681 High Street as the oldest commercial building in continuous use in the state.

In 1811, Ezra Griswold built a large south-facing brick tavern on the lot north of the northeast quadrant of the public square. That same year, the Orange Johnson house was constructed north of the Village Green.

===War of 1812===
During the [[War of 1812]], several Worthington militia marched north with General [[William Hull]]'s army and were surrendered at Detroit on August 12, 1812. Orders issued by General [[William Henry Harrison]] from "Northwest Army Headquarters, Worthington, Ohio" on October 28, 1812, indicate the commander, like his supply wagons, was using the road north from the capital. On September 7, 1814, Zophar Topping died while serving with Indian scouts. He was one of two Worthington casualties during the war along with Luther Palmer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMBH5B_Veterans_Fountain_Worthington_OH|title=Veterans Fountain - Worthington, OH - Persian Gulf War Memorials|website=Waymarking.com|access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Aurora Buttles House aka Sidney Brown House.jpg|right|thumb|Aurora Buttles House in Worthington, built in 1818]]

===Growth===
On May 24, 1813, James Kilbourne took a seat in the [[United States House of Representatives]].

On August 25, 1817, President [[James Monroe]] visited Worthington. Also in 1817, [[Philander Chase]] moved to Worthington to become the first rector of St. John's Episcopal Church. He concurrently served as rector of Episcopal churches in Columbus and Delaware and as principal of the Worthington Academy. In June 1818, Rev. Chase was elected Bishop of the newly organized Episcopal Diocese of Ohio. Chase initially founded [[Kenyon College]] in Worthington.

The period from the 1820s to the Civil War was a time of slow growth for the sleepy village. In 1820, Aurora Buttles erected a Masonic hall. In 1826 the Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike was incorporated (now [[U.S. Route 23]]) to connect the center of the state to Lake Erie, further cementing the importance of High Street.

[[File:Lewis Noble House aka Hubert E. Stritmatter House, Bishop Noble House.jpg|right|thumb|Louis Noble House, built in 1863]]

===Civil War===
In September, 1861 Captain William Pinney and 14 members of the "Olentangy Reserves" mustered into Company E of Thomas Worthington Jr.'s [[46th Ohio Infantry|46th Ohio Volunteer Infantry]], which trained at Camp Lyon on the old Worthington Manufacturing Co. site southwest of the village. This unit suffered forty percent casualties at the [[Battle of Shiloh]] in April 1862.

On April 29, 1865, at Appx 6:50 AM, President Abraham Lincoln's funeral train passed through Worthington en route to the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.

===Post-war growth===
In 1866 the Bishop House was converted to the Union Hotel (Worthington Inn) by the Lewis family. In 1873 the Worthington School located at Evening Street and State Route 161 was completed. The first Worthington High School class graduated in 1880 (including 2 girls).

In 1931, the only [[Roman Catholic]]  [[Pontifical College| pontifical college]] outside of Italy, the [[Pontifical College Josephinum]] relocated just north of Worthington where it exists today.

[[File:High Street, Worthington, Ohio, 1948.jpg|right|thumb|High Street in 1948]]

==Geography==
Worthington is located at {{coord|40|5|29|N|83|1|15|W|type:city}} (40.091513, -83.020905).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|5.63|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|5.55|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.08|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name ="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2013-01-06}}</ref>

The cities of Worthington and [[Riverlea, Ohio|Riverlea]] form an [[Enclave and exclave|enclave]] of [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]].

Highways that pass through or adjacent to Worthington include [[Interstate 270 (Ohio)|Interstate 270]], [[United States Route 23]], [[Ohio State Route 161]], and [[Ohio State Route 315]].

[[Interstate 71]] and [[Ohio State Route 710]] pass just to the east of the city.

Except for a small border with Perry Township (Brookside Estates) on the west, Worthington is completely surrounded by Columbus.

Western Worthington now includes part of what used to be [[Neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio#Linworth|Linworth]], and is home to the [[Linworth Alternative Program (Worthington, Ohio)|Linworth Alternative Program school]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=right
|1840= 440
|1850= 484
|1860= 356
|1880= 459
|1890= 341
|1900= 443
|1910= 547
|1920= 705
|1930= 1239
|1940= 1569
|1950= 2141
|1960= 9239
|1970= 15326
|1980= 14956
|1990= 14869
|2000= 14125
|2010= 13575
|2020= 14786
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="GR2" /><ref name="Census1960">{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Ohio|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/37749282v1p37_ch02.pdf|date=1960|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="Census1990">{{cite web|title=Ohio: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-37.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=17 May 2020}}</ref> 2020<ref name="QF2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/worthingtoncityohio/PST045219|title=Quick Facts: Worthington city, Ohio|website=census.gov|accessdate=2021-11-18}}</ref>
}}

{{update|section|reason=Newer information is available from the 2020 Census|date=November 2021}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2013-01-06}}</ref> of 2010, there were 13,575 people, 5,691 households, and 3,874 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2445.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,940 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1070.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 5,691 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.9% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 44.9 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 30.7% were from 45 to 64; and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 14,125 people, 5,692 households, and 4,052 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,494.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,845 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,032.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.97% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.71% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.12% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.77% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.22% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.21% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 5,692 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $68,568, and the median income for a family was $83,074. Males had a median income of $59,258 versus $39,424 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $34,495. About 1.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Library==
The Worthington Public Library serves the community with three branches. In 2015, the library loaned more than 3.2 million items to its 79,500 cardholders, making it one of the busiest libraries in [[Ohio]].<ref name="OHLibStats">{{cite web|url=https://library.ohio.gov/documents/2015-ohio-public-library-statistics/|title=2015 Ohio Public Library Statistics|publisher=State Library of Ohio|access-date=March 30, 2017}}</ref> Total printed materials held are over 473,000 volumes with 20,000 print subscriptions. It is also the first unionized library in central Ohio, currently represented by The Ohio Federation of Teachers. <ref name="OHLibStats"/>

==Transportation==
Worthington's downtown centers around the intersection of [[Ohio State Route 161]] and [[U.S. Route 23]]. In addition, the [[Ohio State Route 315|315 expressway]] and [[Interstate 71]] flank Worthington's west and east ends respectively, and Worthington is accessible by [[Interstate 270 (Ohio)|Interstate 270]], a ring road surrounding Columbus which itself cuts through the northern end of Worthington.

Public transport is minimal in Worthington, though the [[Central Ohio Transit Authority]] operates bus line [[COTA 102|102]] along High Street. The only rail transport near Worthington is a [[Norfolk Southern Railway]] line parallel to I-71.

The [[Ohio State University Airport]] is the nearest [[general aviation]] airport to the city, and passengers are served by [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]]'s two airports: [[John Glenn Columbus International Airport]] and [[Rickenbacker International Airport]].

==Education==
[[File:Worthington Kilbourne High School.jpg|thumb|[[Worthington Kilbourne High School]]]]
[[Worthington Schools]] operates public schools.

[[Thomas Worthington High School]] and [[Worthington Kilbourne High School]] are the high schools of the city. The [[Linworth Alternative Program]] also operates within the city.

The office of the [[Columbus Japanese Language School]], a [[Hoshū jugyō kō|weekend supplementary Japanese school]], is located in Worthington.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://columbushoshuko.com/wordpress1/541-2/directory/|title=Directory|publisher=Columbus Japanese Language School|accessdate=2022-02-11|quote=School Office<nowiki>[Tuesday thru Friday]</nowiki> 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 450 W.Wilson Bridge Rd. Suite 360 Worthington Ohio 43085}}</ref> The classes are held in [[Marysville, Ohio|Marysville]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://columbushoshuko.com/wordpress1/about-us/|title=About Us|language=ja|publisher=Columbus Japanese Language School|accessdate=2022-02-11|quote=(3) 借用校 * Marysville市教育委員会（貸主）}}</ref> Previously classes were held at Worthington school district facilities.<ref name=Schoolhist>{{cite web|url=https://columbushoshuko.com/wordpress1/about-us/補習校の歩み/|title=columbushoshuko.com/wordpress1/about-us/補習校の歩み/|publisher=Columbus Japanese Language School|accessdate=2022-02-11|quote=1999年4月から、[...]}}</ref>

The Ohio Contemporary Chinese School (OCCS, {{zh|first=s|s=俄州现代中文学校|t=俄州現代中文學校|p=Ézhōu Xiàndài Zhōngwén Xuéxiào}}<ref>"[http://www.columbus-occs.org Home]." Ohio Contemporary Chinese School. Retrieved on May 10, 2014.</ref>) is located in the area, holding classes at Worthington Kilbourne.<ref>[http://www.columbus-occs.org/ctrContact.html "Contact Us"], Ohio Contemporary Chinese School; retrieved May 10, 2014.</ref> It serves the [[Chinese American]] community.<ref>[http://www.worthingtonchamber.org/moving/language.asp "Language and Cultural Schools"] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140512224317/http://www.worthingtonchamber.org/moving/language.asp Archive]). Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce; retrieved May 10, 2014.</ref>

St. Michael's, a private Roman Catholic school, was founded in Worthington in 1954.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stmichaelworthington.org/|title=Private Catholic School Worthington & Columbus &#124; St. Michael School|website=Stmichaelworthington.org|access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Andrew Anglin]], founder of white-supremacist website [[The Daily Stormer]].
* [[Gary Berry]], [[Green Bay Packer]] defensive back
* [[Earle Bruce]], [[Ohio State University]] football coach
* [[Casey Close]], [[Sports agent]]
* [[Dieter Cunz]] and [[Oskar Seidlin]], professors, openly gay couple 1957-1969
* [[Susan Diol]], actress
* [[Colin Gawel]], lead singer and guitarist of [[Watershed (American band)|Watershed]]
* [[Maggie Grace]], actress
* [[Rachael Harris]], actress and comedian
* [[John Wesley Hoyt]], third Governor of [[Wyoming Territory]]
* [[Pat McCrory]], longest-serving mayor of [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]
* [[Eldon Miller]], OSU basketball coach
* [[Betty Montgomery]], Former Ohio [[Attorney General]] and Auditor
* [[J. R. Niklos]], [[National Football League|NFL]] fullback
* [[Danny O'Rourke (soccer)|Danny O'Rourke]], [[MLS]] soccer player
* [[Christopher Paul]], [[al Qaeda]] terrorist
* [[Troy Perkins]], former professional soccer goalkeeper and 2006 [[Major League Soccer|MLS]] Goalkeeper of the Year
* [[Michael R. Perry]], Emmy Award-winning television and film writer
* [[Jack Plotnick]], actor
* [[Roswell S. Ripley]], [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] brigadier general who fought in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]
* [[Claire Shipman]], [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] news correspondent
* [[J. K. Simmons]], [[Academy Award]]-winning actor
* [[Jeff Smith (cartoonist)|Jeff Smith]], [[Cartoonist]], writer and illustrator of Bone comics
* [[Nick Swisher]], former [[MLB]] baseball player
* [[Dana Tyler]], [[New York City]]'s [[CBS]] news anchor

==See also==
* [[Colonial Hills]]
* [[Ohio Railway Museum]]
* [[Rush Creek Village]]
* [[Worthington Christian High School]]
* [[Worthington Industries]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* McCormick, Virginia E. & McCormick, Robert W. ''New Englanders on the Ohio Frontier. Migration and Settlement of Worthington, Ohio'', The Kent State University Press, 1998. {{ISBN|0-87338-586-1}}
* McCormick, Jennie. [http://www.worthingtonmemory.org/Timeline.cfm ''Timeline prepared for Worthington's 2003 Bicentennial''], 2003.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.healthyworthington.org Healthy Worthington Coalition]
* [http://www.worthingtonlibraries.org/ Worthington Public Library website]
* [http://www.worthington.org/history/ Worthington Historical Society]
* [http://www.worthingtonmemory.org Worthington Memory Project]

{{Geographic location
| Northwest = 
| North     = 
| Northeast = 
| West      = [[Dublin, Ohio|Dublin]]
| Center    = Worthington, Ohio<!--<ref name=map>{{cite web|title=County Map Front|publisher=Franklin County Ohio}}</ref>-->
| East      = [[Westerville, Ohio|Westerville]]
| Southwest = 
| South     = [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]], [[Riverlea, Ohio|Riverlea]]
| Southeast =  
}}
{{Franklin County, Ohio}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Worthington, Ohio| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Ohio]]
[[Category:Cities in Franklin County, Ohio]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1803]]
[[Category:1803 establishments in Ohio]]