Historic Greenfield blends civic pride with economic opportunity
In the rolling hills of Highland County, the Ohio village of Greenfield blends history, community, and opportunity. With a population of just over 4,300 and pastureland views all around, it offers quintessential small-town living. “I grew up in Greenfield,” says Sherry Parker, the village’s director of public works. “I met my husband at McClain High School, where we fell in love, graduated and eventually raised our children just blocks away. Greenfield isn’t just a town; it’s a close-knit community where history and hometown pride run deep.” Founded in 1799 by General Duncan McArthur, Greenfield was named for its verdant surroundings. The village played a quiet but meaningful role in the Underground Railroad during the 1800s, reflecting a long-standing tradition of civic engagement and compassion.
South Central Ohio Industrial Park brings jobs to Greenfield
Around the turn of the 20th century, Greenfield supported a robust manufacturing industry, one in which the first and only black-owned automobile company, C.R. Patterson & Sons, thrived. The company was sold during the Great Depression, but manufacturing continues to anchor the village. JobsOhio, a nonprofit economic development corporation that helps improve the state’s business economy, authenticated the South Central Ohio Industrial Park as a certified development-ready site in 2018. It’s on the village’s north side, and major employers, including Adient, Corvac Composites and Weastec, have already set up shop.
Greenfield offers early 1900s homes and Victorian Revivals
Prices in Greenfield generally range from under $100,000 to almost $345,000. Vintage properties include cottages and bungalows from the early 1900s, along with Victorian Revivals, and some genuine Victorians, complete with turret rooms and gingerbread trim. A special flood zone encompasses Paint Creek, which runs along the village’s east side; properties touching this zone may require flood insurance for a federally backed mortgage.
Marble columns and murals set McClain High apart
One of Greenfield’s most iconic landmarks is McClain High, built in 1915 through the philanthropy of industrialist Edward Lee McClain. The school features marble columns, bronze statues, original murals and replicas of famous pieces from the Louvre in Paris. The high school earns an overall B-minus on Niche. Greenfield Middle has a C-plus, and Greenfield Elementary gets a B. The schools are part of the Greenfield Exempted Village School District, which also receives a B grade.
Nature lovers find hiking, fishing and hunting close to home
Greenfield and the surrounding region offer a variety of parks and recreational opportunities. Mitchell Park, located within the village, has ballfields and a fishing pond. Nearby Paint Creek State Park sprawls across over 5,600 acres, featuring hiking trails, fishing spots and an almost 1,150-acre lake for boating and swimming. Holly Hills Preserve, less than 10 miles away, has 220 acres of private, scenic game land. It’s noted for upland bird hunting, and hunters have the option to bring their own dogs or hunt with the Holly hounds. For waterfowl, deer, squirrel and rabbit hunting – or general wildlife observation – Paint Creek Lake Wildlife Area is also close by.
Edge-of-town ice cream and good eats on Jefferson Street
Parker says Dairy Nook, a locally owned spot with a walk-up window on the edge of town, is popular for “stellar ice cream and milkshakes.” Toward the village’s heart, a handful of local favorites for food and shopping line Jefferson Street. Catch 22 Sports Pub and Old Town Pizzeria are across the street from each other, offering good food and a laidback vibe. About the pizzeria, Parker says it’s “perfect for a slice and community conversation.” Grocery runs might take shoppers to Community Markets, Dollar General and Save A Lot. Big-box options, such as Walmart Supercenter and The Home Depot, are roughly 15 miles away in Washington Court House. For emergency medical care, residents rely on Adena Greenfield Medical Center.
Greenfield is around an hour’s drive from downtown Columbus
U.S. Route 62, accessible in Washington Court House, is a direct way to Downtown Columbus, roughly 55 miles away. John Glenn Columbus International Airport is closer to 65 miles away.
