Slower pace, lower prices and quick access to I-71 in Fredericktown
Life moves at a slower pace in Fredericktown, a village of less than 3,000 people in the core of Knox County’s agricultural heartland. Ample outdoor activities, proximity to major roadways and competitively priced homes draw buyers to town. “It’s got affordability, easy access to Interstate 71, it’s within 15 miles of a ton of outdoor recreation, and it’s just a nice, small agriculture-oriented community with great people,” says Dave Culberton, a lifetime Knox County resident and broker with Howard Hanna Real Estate with 30 years of real estate experience. “You get to a four-way stop in Fredericktown, and instead of people getting aggressive and trying to beat you to it, it could take five minutes because people are waving you on, saying ‘Go ahead, after you,’” he says with a laugh. Fredericktown also receives a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, which is lower than the national score of 4 out of 10.
Fredericktown’s 20th century homes cost less than Columbus
Many of the homes in the heart of Fredericktown feature styles from the early 1900s, like National and Victorian, alongside Craftsman and midcentury ranch-style homes. Outside of town, buyers can find small rural homes and sprawling country estates on multiple acres of hilly terrain. “People who live up and down I-75 think Ohio’s flat, but the rest of Ohio — from Fredericktown east, northeast and south — is hilly,” Culbertson says. “We’ve got rolling hills and it almost looks like Ireland.” The median price of a single-family home is about $220,000, slightly higher than Mount Vernon’s median of $200,000 but much lower than the Columbus median of nearly $300,000.
Interstate 71 gets travelers to Columbus in under an hour
“What’s important to a lot of people is really easy access to I-71, which is one of the main interstates in Ohio that runs from Cleveland to Cincinnati,” Culbertson says. “It’s probably 10 minutes away.” Columbus and John Glenn Columbus International Airport are about 50 miles away, or less than an hour’s drive, while Cleveland and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport are about 100 miles away, or an hour and a half. On the local level, state Route 13 runs west of town, and the community is intersected by several county and state roadways. Mount Vernon and Knox Community Hospital are about 10 miles away.
Local schools offer College Credit Plus and community events
Students may attend schools in the Fredericktown Local School District, a B-rated district by Niche with roughly 1,200 students. Fredericktown Elementary School receives a B, while Fredericktown Middle School receives a B-plus. Fredericktown High School, rated B, features a new engineering lab and offers College Credit Plus courses. The district brings students and community members together with events like the elementary school’s annual welcome back cookout at the start of the school year, and residents of all ages cheer on The Freddies at sporting events.
Community Park and Kokosing River anchor outdoor life
Fredericktown has about 130 acres of recreational space, including six parks, Ackerman Nature Preserve and Kokosing Lake Campground. The nature preserve is a go-to for hiking, birding and wildlife spotting. The nearly 30-acre Community Park is the cornerstone of the community and features a swimming pond, playground and views of the North Branch of the Kokosing River. Kayaking, canoeing and fishing are all popular river pastimes, and a new splash pad in town is named after the river. Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area offers one of the best fishing spots in Ohio for largemouth bass and flathead catfish, and the village-owned campground has waterfront sites so kayakers can launch straight from camp. “It’s close to Mid-Ohio [Sports Car Course] and close to Mohican State Park for hiking and camping,” Culbertson adds. “It’s about 20 minutes from two ski resorts and it’s close to Loudonville where there’s kayaking and canoeing.”
Locals eat in town but go to Mount Vernon for groceries
Main Street has an assortment of locally owned restaurants. Mornings may start with a fresh pastry and a latte at The Brickhouse Grind or Brake Brothers Grill, which offers hearty breakfast fare in addition to burgers and homemade pies. “People go about 10 miles into Mount Vernon to hit all the major grocery stores,” Culbertson says. “But they’ve got some cute restaurants. They’ve got very good pizza at Pizza Dock, it’s one of the best pizza places in Ohio and has won some awards,” including the title of “America’s Best Pizza” in 2008 and a first-place award at the North Atlantic Pizza and Ice Cream Show.
Annual Tomato Show celebrates agriculture and community connection
The annual Fredericktown Tomato Show has been a local tradition for nearly 50 years. Held the first Wednesday through Saturday after Labor Day, the street fair was originally created to promote agriculture and horticulture in the area. Residents present their best tomatoes, veggies and homemade goods for bragging rights during the annual showcase. The festival also features live entertainment, vendors, a 5K, parade and the Little Miss Tomato Pageant.
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Written By
Leslie Klosterman
