KNOX COUNTY
County Offices
117 East High Street
Mount Vernon 740-393-6703
www.co.knox.oh.us
Chamber of Commerce
400 South Gay Street
Mount Vernon 740-393-1111
www.knoxchamber.com
Ideally located in the geographic center of Ohio, Knox County is 50 miles northeast of Columbus. Most of the gently rolling hills in the county are covered by picturesque farmland and woodlands, where rushing streams and the Kokosing and Mohican rivers create postcard scenes of natural beauty. Knox County was once known as the sheep capital of America and remains the largest sheep and wool-producing county in Ohio.
Services
Newcomers will be pleased to find a respected, comprehensive educational system in this rapidly growing rural county. Parents can choose from quality public schools or private schools on the elementary and secondary levels. The public school system provides a Career Center that offers vocational coursework, academic classes, progressive programs for adults, and custom training programs in association with area businesses. Another valuable resource for business and industry, Central Ohio Technical College in Newark provides a campus in Mount Vernon, making it possible for residents to earn associate degrees and certificate in a wide range of desirable programs. The county is home to two private liberal arts institutions: Kenyon College and Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Located just outside Mount Vernon in the village of Gambier, Kenyon College claims a proud history and a distinguished reputation for academic excellence. Situated on the southern edge of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Nazarene University has grown rapidly in size and stature, founded in 1968 as a two-year college, advancing to a four-year institution in 1970 and achieving university status in 2002.
State-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities are anchored by Knox Community Hospital, owned by the community and maintaining a non-profit status that ensures a continual dedication to reinvesting in upgrades and improvements. Skilled physicians, efficient staff members, and a strong base of volunteers enhance the commitment to advanced technology and expansion of services to meet every routine need and most specialized care needs close to home. Knox Community Hospital provides many services and capabilities that are usually found only in major urban medical centers, yet the atmosphere is patient-centered and highly personalized. In addition to comprehensive medical and surgical care, the hospital offers a Birthing Center, a Center for Cancer Care, and a Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness, and a Center for Wound Healing among many other specialized units. Should the need arise for exceptional resources, the major metropolitan area of Columbus is easily accessible, adding a world of additional research centers, specialties and sub-specialties.
Lifestyle
Crowned by the attractive leading city of Mount Vernon, Knox County draws newcomers to a unique quality of living in an environment that blends rural and urban features. Four distinct seasons beckon outdoor adventurers to golf, hike, bicycle, horseback ride, nature study, hunt or fish, and enjoy both water and winter sports. In addition to beautiful area parks, the picturesque Kokosing Gap Trail winds alongside the Kokosing River through miles of beautiful countryside to offer a multi-purpose recreational path. The Mohican Valley Trail encourages hiking and bicycling from Mount Vernon to Brinkhaven. Camping and canoeing are popular activities in the Mohican and Kokosing areas; while the resort area of Apple Valley offers a 580-acre lake for swimming, boating, skiing and fishing in a breathtaking setting. Others may prefer to spend the day shopping in quaint downtown districts in beautiful Mount Vernon or the villages of Centerburg and Fredericktown.
Mount Vernon and the adjacent village of Gambier, home of Kenyon College, are the cultural hubs for Knox County. Kenyon College presents outstanding musical and theatrical performances as well as seminars and readings that are open to the public. Those interested in heritage will find some of the finest rural museums in Ohio in Knox County, including the unique Knox County Agricultural Museum with its expansive collection of farm and home implements from the 1800s and 1900s. The Knox County Historical Museum showcases memorabilia from two great Knox County performing artists—Dan Emmett, the composer of Turkey in the Straw and Dixie, and world famous comedian Paul Lynde. The Woodward in downtown Mount Vernon preserves the original Woodward Opera House, distinguished as America’s oldest authentic 19th century theater. Few corners of the nation can rival Knox County for sheer visual appeal, from quaint brick streets and grand architecture to stunning natural beauty or elegantly crafted college campuses. To crown the calendar year with exciting events to remember, each community brings friends and neighbors together and attracts regional visitors to colorful festivals and seasonal events. Discover the warmth and friendliness of Knox County living.
Mount Vernon
City Offices
740-393-9517
www.mountvernonohio.org
Chamber of Commerce
740-393-1111
www.knoxchamber.com
With its towering Civil War-era monument honoring both sides of that tragic conflict, beautiful downtown Mount Vernon boasts one of the most recognizable streetscapes in Ohio. Historic pride has preserved the charm of architecturally significant buildings along tree-lined streets in the downtown district, filled today with quaint shops and eateries. The restoration of The Woodward, the oldest opera theater of its kind in the nation, adds cultural enrichment to the downtown attractions. This thriving community offers an attractive selection of homes in a wide variety of styles, sizes and periods from historic to modern. Two private colleges add sophistication and intellectual stimulation to the social scene while adding a world of cultural enrichment. Recognized as “Ohio’s Most Livable Community” by Ohio Magazine, Mount Vernon continues to maintain its high standards by blending historic preservation with a contemporary and progressive outlook for the best of all worlds.
Village of Centerburg
Village Offices
740-625-7808
www.centerburgoh.org
Chamber of Commerce
740-393-1111
www.knoxchamber.com
Located along the north Fork of the Licking River, the village of Centerburg claims the unique status of being the exact geographical center of Ohio. Newcomers and residents are reminded of that fact each time they enter the village in the welcome greeting, “Heart of Ohio.” Centerberg offers all the friendliness and warm of a small town, inviting commuters to Columbus to enjoy a close-knit community atmosphere within a 40-minute drive from major employment centers. The village is just 14 miles southwest of Mount Vernon, so residents can enjoy the shopping, dining, entertainment, and educational benefits of a well-developed urban center with two private liberal arts college campuses. Recreational opportunities are abundant throughout the region, which offers spectacular natural surroundings for hiking, camping, swimming, boating, horseback riding, bicycling, hunting and fishing.
Village of Fredericktown
Village Offices
740-694-9010
www.fredericktownohio.net
Chamber of Commerce
740-393-1111
www.knoxchamber.com
When newcomers and visitors first discover Fredericktown, the pride and community spirit is immediately evident in the care of buildings and streetscapes throughout the village. Fredericktown is a place where village leaders, area organizations, local businesses, and active residents cooperate on projects like the recent construction of the bandstand, assuring a high quality of life and a dedication to constant progress. The village offers a number of scenic community parks filled with recreational and sports facilities for four-season outdoor enjoyment. Knox Lake and Kokosing Reservoir provide beautiful bodies of water that are ideal for fishing and boating within five minutes of the village. The surrounding area offers facilities for golf, softball, baseball, ski resorts, bowling, tennis, basketball, and many other sports and activities. Clubs and organizations are exceptionally active, allowing newcomers to become immediately involved and feel at home in this charming village.
Village of Gambier
Village Offices
740-427-2671
www.villageofgambier.org
Chamber of Commerce
740-393-1111
www.knoxchamber.com
Nestled in the beautiful hills of Knox County, the Village of Gambier is surrounded by unspoiled beauty and provides a serene country lifestyle just four miles from the urban center of Mount Vernon. The village is best known as the home of Kenyon College, one of the most distinguished of the nation’s private liberal arts institutions. Residents benefit from the collegiate atmosphere through cultural enrichment in the form of performing arts as well as seminars and lectures that are open to the public. The magnificent architecture showcased on the college campus is a crowning complement to the picturesque village itself, which features many structures that date back to the 19th century. One of the recreational highlights is the Kokosing Gap Trail, an extensive multi-purpose trail that meanders through the landscapes that surround the village.
Knox County Townships
Township Listing and Information
http://www.co.knox.oh.us/index.php/townships
Besides the cities, villages and towns within Knox County, 22 townships comprise a large part of the area in the county. These townships range from smaller rural communities with a few hundred residents to more than several thousand people. The townships are spread throughout the region and are generally comprised of farm, rural and residential land.
Click on the link above to go to the State of Ohio listing of municipal web sites for the county.
