New Lexington, Ohio | |
|---|---|
Village | |
_%25E2%2580%2594_New_Lexington%2c_Ohio.jpg) CurrentPerry County Courthouse | |
| Nickname: The City With Values | |
 Interactive map of New Lexington, Ohio | |
  New Lexington  New Lexington | |
| Coordinates:39°42′58″N82°12′29″W / 39.71611°N 82.20806°W /39.71611; -82.20806 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Perry |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Trent Thompson (R) |
| • Police Chief | Doug Gill |
| • Council President | Janie DePinto |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.95 sq mi (5.05 km2) |
| • Land | 1.95 sq mi (5.04 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0039 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 929 ft (283 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 4,435 |
| • Density | 2,277.4/sq mi (879.31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 43764 |
| Area code | 740 |
| FIPS code | 39-54866[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2399471[2] |
| Website | www |
New Lexington is a village in and thecounty seat ofPerry County, Ohio, United States,[4] 21 miles (34 km) southwest ofZanesville and 45 miles (72 km) miles southeast ofColumbus. The population was 4,435 at the2020 census.
The area around New Lexington and Perry County had been home to various indigenous groups for centuries prior to European settlement. Archeologists have foundmounds and relics from groups such as theAdena andHopewell cultures in areas near present-day New Lexington, most notably theGlenford Fort mound.[5]
TheShawnee tribe lived across wide areas of Ohio including Perry County prior to the 1800s. AfterTecumseh's defeat at theBattle of the Thames in 1813, many Shawnee were forced to relocate to present-day Oklahoma.[6]
New Lexington was first formally settled in 1817 by James Comly, though he was not conscious of it at the time. Comly had lived with his family nearCircleville, and contractedmalaria. He spent a long period of time bedridden by the disease, and when he eventually recovered he was surprised to find that he had apparently sold his home inPickaway County and signed a deed for property in Perry County. The negotiations had been overseen by his mother and wife during his sickness, and despite his obliviousness to the property transfers Comly decided he was content with the sales.[7]
The village was named afterLexington, Massachusetts, and originally consisted of 64 lots, which Comly sold for prices ranging from $25 to $50 apiece. After the sale, the village began to grow and residents built houses and businesses including atannery, hat shop, andtavern.[7] A post office was first established in 1829.[8]
For over two decades after the New Lexington's formation, it stayed close to the same size as when it was founded. After a bitter and hotly contested contest against the communities ofSomerset andRehoboth, New Lexington became the seat of Perry County in 1857.[9] Beginning in the 1840s plots were added onto the village, and by the end of the century the village had more than quadrupled in population. New Lexington and its surrounding area became home to multiple industries, three newspapers, and two railroads.[7]
Many residents of Perry County were passionate supporters of theUnion cause, and large numbers of people from New Lexington fought for the United States during theAmerican Civil War.[9]General Philip Sheridan's horse Rienzi was from New Lexington.[10]
New Lexington was severely damaged by a fire in February 1874, which originated in a drug store around midnight. The flames quickly spread to the second floor of the drug store, and then inflamed several more buildings, before igniting an entire block of structures. Townspeople hurried to tear down a one-story building by a wide alleyway, preventing the flames from catching a further row of houses and stopping the spread. After that point, the damage was more limited and no more buildings were lost. In the end, total damages from the fire were estimated at $50,000.[7]
In 1887 thePerry County Courthouse was erected to replace the smaller building used previously. After completion, it stood vacant for a few years before offices were opened inside.[9]
New Lexington and its surrounding regions are within the Clay Belt of Ohio, and it was once home to numerous ceramic industries.Ludowici Roof Tile has operated a factory in New Lexington since 1902, and has produced tile at this location for projects includingWalt Disney World,Ellis Island, andthe White House.[10][11]
Star Manufacturing was founded in New Lexington in 1871 as a smallfoundry for making feedgrinders,stoves,plows, and other items. Starting in the 1880s they branched into production ofmine cars for the area'scoal industry. Over time the company grew to focus on grinders, engines, and mining equipment.[10] In 1941 the company and its factory were bought and turned into STAR Engineering, which designs and builds equipment for ceramic manufacturers. As of 2025, this company continues to work as a manufacturer of custom machines for the ceramic industry.[12]
In 2025 it was announced that the village'sCooper-Standard Automotive manufacturing plant would be closing in early 2027 after 50 years of operation, putting an estimated 200 to 275 employees out of work.[13]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.95 square miles (5.05 km2), all land.[14]
| Climate data for New Lexington, Ohio (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 75 (24) | 78 (26) | 86 (30) | 102 (39) | 94 (34) | 100 (38) | 103 (39) | 100 (38) | 101 (38) | 91 (33) | 88 (31) | 77 (25) | 103 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 37.1 (2.8) | 40.5 (4.7) | 50.6 (10.3) | 63.9 (17.7) | 72.8 (22.7) | 80.2 (26.8) | 83.4 (28.6) | 82.6 (28.1) | 76.8 (24.9) | 65.3 (18.5) | 52.8 (11.6) | 41.7 (5.4) | 62.3 (16.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.4 (−2.6) | 30.1 (−1.1) | 38.8 (3.8) | 50.1 (10.1) | 60.0 (15.6) | 68.3 (20.2) | 72.1 (22.3) | 70.8 (21.6) | 64.2 (17.9) | 52.5 (11.4) | 41.2 (5.1) | 32.6 (0.3) | 50.7 (10.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.7 (−7.9) | 19.6 (−6.9) | 27.0 (−2.8) | 36.4 (2.4) | 47.2 (8.4) | 56.5 (13.6) | 60.8 (16.0) | 59.0 (15.0) | 51.6 (10.9) | 39.7 (4.3) | 29.7 (−1.3) | 23.5 (−4.7) | 39.1 (3.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −35 (−37) | −26 (−32) | −12 (−24) | 10 (−12) | 22 (−6) | 32 (0) | 40 (4) | 36 (2) | 24 (−4) | 14 (−10) | −12 (−24) | −24 (−31) | −35 (−37) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.35 (85) | 2.72 (69) | 3.84 (98) | 4.36 (111) | 4.34 (110) | 4.92 (125) | 4.55 (116) | 3.31 (84) | 3.20 (81) | 3.26 (83) | 3.21 (82) | 3.29 (84) | 44.35 (1,126) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.6 (22) | 5.3 (13) | 2.8 (7.1) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.4 (1.0) | 3.0 (7.6) | 20.2 (51) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 13.5 | 11.3 | 11.9 | 12.1 | 13.4 | 11.7 | 11.1 | 9.6 | 8.7 | 10.2 | 10.3 | 13.4 | 137.2 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 5.5 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 14.9 |
| Source:NOAA[15][16] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 406 | — | |
| 1860 | 812 | 100.0% | |
| 1870 | 953 | 17.4% | |
| 1880 | 1,357 | 42.4% | |
| 1890 | 1,470 | 8.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,701 | 15.7% | |
| 1910 | 2,559 | 50.4% | |
| 1920 | 3,157 | 23.4% | |
| 1930 | 3,901 | 23.6% | |
| 1940 | 4,049 | 3.8% | |
| 1950 | 4,233 | 4.5% | |
| 1960 | 4,514 | 6.6% | |
| 1970 | 4,921 | 9.0% | |
| 1980 | 5,179 | 5.2% | |
| 1990 | 5,117 | −1.2% | |
| 2000 | 4,689 | −8.4% | |
| 2010 | 4,731 | 0.9% | |
| 2020 | 4,435 | −6.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[17] | |||
As of thecensus[18] of 2010, there were 4,731 people, 1,838 households, and 1,164 families living in the village. Thepopulation density was 2,426.2 inhabitants per square mile (936.8/km2). There were 2,000 housing units at an average density of 1,025.6 per square mile (396.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.9%White, 0.5%African American, 0.2%Native American, 0.1%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 0.1% fromother races, and 1.1% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.6% of the population.
There were 1,838 households, of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% weremarried couples living together, 17.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.7% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.12.
The median age in the village was 33.8 years. 28.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
As of thecensus[3] of 2000, there were 4,689 people, 1,836 households, and 1,233 families living in the village. The population density was 2,017.1 inhabitants per square mile (778.8/km2). There were 1,976 housing units at an average density of 850.0 per square mile (328.2/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 98.76%White, 0.17%African American, 0.23%Native American, 0.13%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.13% fromother races, and 0.53% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.38% of the population.
There were 1,836 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% weremarried couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,406, and the median income for a family was $33,514. Males had a median income of $28,155 versus $21,039 for females. Theper capita income for the village was $14,127. About 16.4% of families and 17.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2024, the mayor of New Lexington is Trent Thompson.[19] The Village Administrator is Eric Emmert. Janie DePinto serves as the council president.
New Lexington City School District operates New Lexington Elementary, Junction City Elementary, New Lexington Middle School, andNew Lexington High School.[20]
New Lexington has a public library, a branch of the Perry County District Library.[21]
Municipalities and communities ofPerry County, Ohio,United States | ||
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| Villages |  | |
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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| National | |
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