Life In Lank Es Ter, Ohio (Lancaster)
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9/21/2008
I often use my hometown of Lancaster, Ohio, to compare stats with other cities and states. I always see the comment about the pronounciation of Lancaster. In nearly 40 years, I've yet to hear it referred to as "Lank Ster." It is pronounced with three syllables rather than two, although it is not the typical Lancaster as in CA or Bert. For a small town, Lancaster is pretty much self-contained. While Columbus is 20 minutes away, nearly anything needed can be found locally, and the cost of living, as well as the crime rate, is much lower. The Ohio University campus participates in many cultural activities, and it is not uncommon to see the downtown area closed for concerts, art shows, parades and so forth. Lancaster is rich with history and many local museums. While the town has grown, most people are still friendly and there is a sense of small-town living. The job situation has been difficult with the major employer, Anchor Hocking Glass, closing some of their factories. Lancaster Glass is history as well. There has been a major boost in retail sales with many larger chain stores entering the area, a very nice mall, so sales jobs are still available. There are many family activities available, and the area seems to cater more-so to families than single lifestyle. Of course, Columbus is only 20 minutes away.
Education is taken seriously, and many children are advanced in comparison with other states. Sports abound, and most families try to keep their kids pretty active in this area. All in all, it's not a bad place to live if quality of life vs life in the fastlane is more important. If you are not an Ohio State football fan, you're not going to like it here :)
Joni | Lancaster, OH