Just 50 miles east of Columbus, Ohio, Zanesville is a small city located at the confluence of the Muskingum and Licking Rivers. As the county seat of Muskingum County, the city was historically a hub for manufacturing, textiles and pottery. This old-timey atmosphere can still be enjoyed today by residents visiting the Putnam Historic District or taking rides on the Lorena Sternwheeler. "It's a great area to live because you have the big city amenities of Columbus within an hour's drive, but you're also close to Ohio's beautiful countryside," says Brent Glass, an area local and Broker at Town and Country Realty.
Nowadays, the city's population has increased to over 24,600 people, helping support a healthy downtown shopping district and prominent companies like Genesis HealthCare System and Shelly and Sands Highway Construction. "Interstate 70 and National Road both pass through our city, bringing a lot of manufacturing opportunities and economic growth. Intel and Amazon are both planning to expand here in the next 5 years," Glass says.
I-70 runs through Zanesville, making the city a key stop along the highway.
Enjoy seasonal boat rides on the Lorena Sternwheeler in downtown Zanesville.
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Zanesville's revitalizing downtown and other shopping
Like many American cities, Zanesville experienced a post-industrial decline in the late 1900s, but efforts are underway to revitalize its downtown and attract more business to the city. "A lot more restaurants, antique shops and art studios have been coming to downtown. It's a really nice place to just take a walk," Glass says. Many of downtown's buildings have appealing Classical Revival and Victorian architecture from the 1800s. Built in 1870, The Muskingum County Courthouse is known for its Second Empire facade, complete with mansard roofs and a steeple.
The Downtown Exchange is a renovated antique mall that offers artisanal restaurants, coworking space and other tenant opportunities for businesses. For daily errands and other shopping, Colony Square Mall has 65 different stores and retail options. In addition to chain food options and a Cinemark, the indoor shopping mall is also surrounded by most of the city's big box stores, from Sam's Club to Kroger.
The Downtown Exchange supports Zanesville’s local economy and small businesses.
Colony Square Mall is Zanesville’s main indoor shopping destination.
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An expanding housing market in Muskingum County
Zanesville's housing inventory ranges from the late 1800s to new construction, with midcentury builds and suburban styles from the '60s being the most common. The median sales price has risen in recent years to over $198,000, meaning that homes in Zanesville are more affordable than both the Columbia and national average. "It's a growing city that still has competitive pricing. You can get a lot more house for your money compared to larger areas like Columbus."
Areas like Pleasant Grove offer brick ranch-styles sitting on large half-acre lots, while Putnam has historic bungalows and American Foursquares set close together on gridded sidewalks. Located near the city's hospital and most its new shopping, North Zanesville has a wealth of recently developed homes, with custom builds and attached garages being common.
The bungalow homes in Zanesville remain popular for their affordability and character.
Zanesville’s housing market includes new construction homes with modern designs.
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Zanesville City School District and lower rates at Zane State
Rated with a C-plus from Niche, Zanesville City School District is a relatively small public network that serves the city's 3,000 students with 5 different schools. Zanesville High School ranked as the fifth-best high school in the greater area, and is known for being the home of Ohio's first Mr. Football Award winner, Buster Howe.
Higher education options include Zane State College and Ohio University Zanesville. In addition to a recognized real estate program at Zane State, both schools offer a catalogue of associate's and bachelor's-level courses at lower rates than schools like Ohio State University. "One thing these schools offer is that you can get a good education without going into major debt," Glass says.
Zanesville High School is home to the Blue Devils and a strong academic community.
Zane State College provides degrees in business, healthcare, and technical fields.
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Getting around Muskingum County with I-70
Like its rivers, multiple highways also converge in Zanesville, making the city and its greater area highly accessible for drivers. The 55-mile drive to Ohio's largest city, Columbia, only takes 50 minutes on Interstate 70. The SEAT Bus offers two fixed routes and a reservation-based system for rides around the city.
In the case of emergencies, Genesis Hospital is located in the northern part of Zanesville, just off of Route 60. "Genesis is a prominent employer here and a top-rated healthcare system. The cardiovascular department is particularly renowned," Glass says. For flights to Wheeling, Parkersburg and larger airports like Columbus International Airport, Zanesville Municipal Airport is six miles east of the city.
Entertainment and attractions in Y-Bridge City
One unique feature the city is known for is the Muskingum River Y Bridge, one of the only Y-shaped bridges in the world. First built in 1814, this historic three-way bridge spans both of the city's rivers and is open to vehicle traffic. Tourists can visit the Putnam Park Overlook to get a scenic view of the bridge and Zanesville's downtown.
The Military Road Art Museum is another popular attraction that brings in art from all around the country, with exhibitions throughout the year. The Seacrest Auditorium and Music Hall is Zanesville's other prominent venue, hosting concerts, ballet and comedy events like ZaneY Laughs at Secrest. "The city also has plans for Seacrest to be renovated soon into more of a convention-type complex with some shopping, too. It should help bring in more business to the city," Glass says.
Zanesville’s iconic Y-Bridge has been rebuilt multiple times since the early 1800s.
Located downtown, Secrest Auditorium offers a stage for arts and entertainment in Zanesville.
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Getting out along the Muskingum River
Zanesville Parks and Recreation maintains 12 parks throughout the city, from small neighborhood playgrounds like Maple Hill Park to fishing opportunities at Riverside Park. Bike paths are woven throughout the city, while the Lorena Sternwheeler is a historic vessel that gives rides on the Muskingum River. For more fishing, swimming and camping, Dillon State Park surrounds Dillon Lake just 9 miles northwest of the city.
Zanesville has four distinct seasons, and a relatively moderate climate. Winters are cold, bringing an annual average of 19 inches of snow. Flood damage from the Platte River is possible, but a system of dams overseen by the Stormwater Utility Department helps guard against it.
Nature lovers in Zanesville enjoy birdwatching and walking at Maple Run Park.
Riverside Park in Zanesville offers trails, sports fields, and scenic river views.
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Important to know
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Kearney's violent crime rates are lower than the national average. Its property crime rates are more than double the national average, but have also decreased by 40% since 2015.
One of the latest programs aimed at combatting violent crime is a $350,000 dollar grant that the Zanesville Police Department is using to install crime prevention programming technology and Flock Cameras that locate gunfire.
Written By
Bayley Malo
Photography Contributed By
Holly Haarmeyer
Video By
Conar McDaniel
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Tiffany Bafford,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Zanesville, OH sell after 52 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Zanesville, OH over the last 12 months is $193,500, up 17% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Welcome to Mapleview Terrace Apartments, a HUD Section 8 community offering affordable, income-based housing in Zanesville, Ohio. Mapleview Terrace provides one, two, and three-bedroom units for families that are available now. If you meet HUD's low-income requirements, rents are based on 30% of your adjusted income.Eligibility:Applicants must meet HUD income requirements, typically
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Welcome to Colony Terrace Apartments, a HUD Section 8 community offering affordable, income-based housing in Zanesville, Ohio. Colony Terrace provides one-bedroom apartments for seniors aged 62 and older or individuals aged 50 and older with qualifying disabilities. If you meet HUD's low-income requirements, rents are based on 30% of your adjusted income.Eligibility:Applicants must
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