Wilmington, OH 1 Apartments for Rent

Many cities and towns in the United States have staked their claims to some rather impressive discoveries. Dayton, Ohio claims to be the "Birthplace of Aviation," while Detroit, Michigan holds the title of "Motor City." Wilmington, Ohio asserts a more austere claim. Allegedly, it is the "Birthplace of the Banana Split." Although this claim might lack the wow factor of cars or airplanes, the city is immensely proud of its sweet creation.

Wilmington is a small town in southwestern Ohio. It is about an hour away from Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus. Although it is not truly a suburb, Time Magazine listed it among the top suburban cities in the United States. As of the 2010 Census, there are 12,520 people residing in this town. Given that Wilmington covers 10.93 square miles of land, the relatively low population offers a less crowded feel than you'll find in Ohio's larger cities.

Living in Wilmington

The cost of rentals i n Wilmington is somewhat lower than the national median and substantially lower than in Cleveland, Columbus, or Cincinnati. Within the city limits, you'll find mostly colonial and cape cod-style homes; however, it is not difficult to find an apartment in Wilmington. An apartment search will turn up a wealth of options near the downtown area, but there are also quite a few attractive apartment complexes on the outskirts of the town. Apartments with paid utilities, though, are a rarity in Wilmington.

Because Wilmington is not a major metropolitan area, there are only a few major grocery stores and other typical retailers within the town. Thanks to the town's relatively rapid growth and Wilmington's proximity to Interstate 71, though, several big-box retailers have shown up outside the town in recent years.

As with most small Ohio towns, the downtown area is walkable -- the early-1900s architecture and the independently owned shops are well worth an afternoon of browsing. Outside of downtown, though, you won't find many pedestrian-friendly areas. Also, don't expect to see much activity during the evenings or on weekends -- Wilmington isn't exactly known for bustling nightlife.

Area Attractions

During mid-June each year, you can spend a weekend at the Banana Split Festival, a celebration of Wilmington's famed dessert creation. Highlights of the event include a classic car show, a banana split contest, pony rides, and street fair games. There are also live music acts featuring blues, Motown, and country performers throughout the weekend. Although you won't find amusement rides, you will find enough banana splits to send you into a weekend-long sugar rush.

A few miles from Wilmington in Harveysburg, the annual Ohio Renaissance Festival features several weekends of medieval revelry. If you've ever wanted to dress up as a bard, wench, or pirate in public, this festival is for you! You'll have the opportunity to witness mock jousting competitions, shop for replica swords and maces, and converse with costumed actors sporting terrible accents. While you're here, you can order Steak on a Stick or gnaw on a leg of lamb while you pretend you've been transported back in time.

Although flea markets are common in Ohio, you won't find many like Caesar Creek Flea Market in Wilmington. Self-described as the "Savings Empire," this flea market boasts 159,000 square feet of space spanning seven connected buildings. You'll find the standard offerings of antique furniture and miscellaneous gewgaws; however, there is much more to see at Caesar Creek. Wander through hundreds of vendor booths to shop for everything from concert t-shirts to major appliances. The flea market even features a food court so you won't have to leave the premises to fill up on chicken wings, nachos, and other casual fare.