Although the sun isn't the first thing that comes to mind when most people think of Ohio, Washington Court House is a town designed with the sun in mind. The peculiar orientation of this town was chosen to ensure that all sides of the courthouse building would receive sunlight throughout the year -- an interesting choice, given Ohio's generally overcast winters.
Washington Court House is a small city in southwest Ohio. As of the 2010 Census, there were 14,192 residents. Aside from the peculiar orientation of the downtown area, Washington Court House typifies small-city life in Ohio -- it is large enough to sustain most of the standard fast food restaurants and a few big-box retailers, but not so big as to require a public transportation system. There are plenty of apts for rent and homes for sale, so moving to the area will be a relatively simple task.
Geography of Washington Court House
Downtown: This area is the center of the city. Here, you'll find the government offices, Carnegie Public Library, the Fayette County Historical Museum and a few blocks of retail shops.
South end: This section of the city is home to the Fayette County fairgrounds and a significant residential area, including a fair number of studio and 2 bedroom apartments. This area also serves as the city's industrial hub.
Western end: This is where you'll find most of the fast food restaurants, as well as a few retail centers. The east and north sides of Washington Court House are primarily residential.
The city is located halfway between Columbus and Cincinnati. Interstate 71, which connects the two larger cities, offers easy access to Washington Court House. Dayton, a medium-sized city in western Ohio, is about an hour away by car.
Nearby Attractions
The courthouse building is the setting of one of Washington Court House's most interesting stories. It was the site of an 1894 riot that revolved around the attempted lynching of a convicted area criminal. Despite repeated warnings from militia ordered by Governor William McKinley, the crowd attempted to storm the building. Shots were fired through the courthouse's thick wooden doors, killing five people. If you visit the building, you can still see the bullet holes in the doors.
If you prefer shopping to history, venture about 10-minutes southwest, where you'll find Tanger Outlets. One of the biggest attractions in the area, Tanger Outlets is a sprawling mall complex where visitors can blow their paychecks at outlet versions of dozens of retail stores including Coach, Old Navy, and Justice. The complex attracts shopping addicts from throughout Ohio and beyond, and can be rather crowded on weekend afternoons during the summer months.
Moving to Washington Court House
With 6,433 housing units (including detached homes, one bedroom apartments, and larger rental units) throughout 8.8 square miles, Washington Court House gives residents the convenience of small-city life without feeling cramped. If you are trying to find an apartment in Washington Court House, you likely won't have to wait for more than a few months. Housing prices are somewhat below the median for both Ohio and the United States.
Apartments vary significantly in size. Studio apartments can be as small as 400 square feet, while larger units can approach 1,000 square feet.
Many people choose Washington Court House because of its location between Cincinnati and Columbus. You can reach either city in about an hour via Interstate 71. The city offers access to the conveniences of both metro areas, as well as to the shopping and restaurants of Dayton, while providing a respite from big-city traffic.