2024 City Population Estimates

Posted on May 15, 2025 by admin

The US Census has released 2024 city population estimates. These estimates are for all incorporated places.

First, let’s look at the top 25 largest Ohio cities on July 1, 2024.
Purple cities moved up in the ranking since 2020 and red moved down.

Rank	City	2020	2023	2024
1	Columbus	905,939	920,569	933,263
2	Cleveland	372,626	364,276	365,379
3	Cincinnati	309,561	312,703	314,915
4	Toledo	270,877	265,798	265,638
5	Akron	190,408	189,142	189,664
6	Dayton	137,677	135,936	136,346
7	Parma	81,121	79,310	79,,350
8	Canton	70,743	69,230	69,211
9	Lorain	65,218	65,413	65,751
10	Hamilton	63,393	63,516	63,953
11	Youngstown	60,047	59,195	59,123
12	Springfield	58,644	58,041	58,138
13	Kettering	57,860	57,035	57,028
14	Elyria	52,668	53,181	53,604
15	Middletown	50,986	51,882	52,291
16	Newark	49,970	51,162	51,424
17	Cuyahoga Falls	51,116	50,865	50,979
18	Lakewood	50,940	49,564	49,517
19	Dublin	49,315	49,292	49,456
20	Euclid	49,689	48,439	48,421
21	Beavercreek	46,562	47,327	48,012
22	Mansfield	47,530	47,676	47,593
23	Mentor	47,442	47,000	47,113
24	Delaware	41,327	45,364	46,521
25	Strongsville	46,487	45,719	45,768

Columbus gained 12,694 residents July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024. This was the 14th highest numeric change of all US cities at or above 20,000 in population. In doing so, it became Ohio’s all-time largest city by population in history, surpassing Cleveland’s historic high of 914,80 in 1950.

Now let’s look at all incorporated places within the Columbus Metro Area, their rank on July 1, 2024, and their total population change July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024.
Blue places moved up in the rankings since 2020, while red moved down.
1. Columbus: 933,263 +12,694
2. Newark: 51,424 +262
3. Dublin: 49,456 +164
4. Delaware: 46,521 +1,157
5. Grove City: 44,019 +875
6. Reynoldsburg: 42,897 +1,386
7. Lancaster: 41,671 +191
8. Hilliard: 38,832 +1,202
9. Westerville: 38,612 +119
10. Upper Arlington: 36,140 +96
11. Gahanna: 35,544 +86
12. Marysville: 29,276 +821
13. Pickerington: 25,814 +546
14. Whitehall: 19,940 +41
15. Pataskala: 18,493 +113
16. Worthington: 14,649 +31
17. Powell: 14,613 +50
18. Circleville: 14,433 +210
19. Bexley: 12,793 -97
20. New Albany: 11,604 +179
21. Heath: 10,822 +70
22. London: 10,743 +193
23. Canal Winchester: 10,060 +213
24. Sunbury: +1,324
25. Grandview Heights: 9,184 +275
26. Obetz: 7,306 +287
27. Logan: 7,142 -33
28. Granville: 6,308 +23
29. Groveport: 5,867 +11
30. Johnstown: 5,356 +31
31. West Jefferson: 4,943 +454
32. Ashville: 4,758 +77
33. New Lexington: 4,463 +7
34. Plain City: 4,374 +23
35. South Bloomfield: 3,747 +241
36. Mount Gilead: 3,543 +18
37. Commercial Point: 3,221 +51
38. Baltimore: 3,089 +35
39. Lithopolis: 2,859 +143
40. Buckeye Lake: 2,575 +12
41. Richwood: 2,575 +78
42. Hebron: 2,406 +15
43. Crooksville: 2,401 -1
44. Cardington: 2,203 +102
45. Utica: 2,131 +12
46. Mount Sterling: 2,070 +35
47. Minerva Park: 1,961 +3
48. Roseville: 1,744 +0
49. Bremen: 1,520 +9
50. Somerset: 1,483 +9
51. Hanover: 1,351 +35
52. Ashley: 1,350 +25
53. Ostrander: 1,227 +25
54. Thornville: 1,093 +2
55. Galena: 1,021 +9
56. Williamsport: 1,016 +17
57. Urbancrest: 1,013 +4
58. Millersport: 993 +15
59. Pleasantville: 954 +8
60. Shawnee Hills: 939 +18
61. Milford Center: 932 +26
62. New Holland: 831 +13
63. Junction City: 723 +3
64. Amanda: 678 +1
65. Marble Cliff: 663 +30
66. Valleyview: 653 -1
67. New Straitsville: 649 +1
68. Thurston: 610 +3
69. Riverlea: 580 -1
70. Stoutsville: 580 +3
71. Buchtel: 519 +3
72. Laurelville: 505 -5
73. Shawnee: 503 +1
74. Carroll: 501 +0
75. Alexandria: 497 +2
76. Corning: 484 +1
77. Kirkersville: 479 +2
78. Edison: 443 +2
79. Hartford: 413 +2
80. Sugar Grove: 408 +0
81. St. Louisville: 365 +1
82. Murray City: 335 -4
83. South Solon: 330 +2
84. Harrisburg: 314 +3
85. Rushville: 305 +1
86. Magnetic Springs: 302 +9
87. Marengo: 281 +1
88. Midway: 273 +2
89. Tarlton: 266 +5
90. Fulton: 251 +3
91. Unionville Center: 235 -3
92. Lockbourne: 232 +0
93. Gratiot: 217 +1
94. Chesterville: 200 +5
95. Darbyville: 189 +2
96. West Rushville: 164 -2
97. Glenford: 163 -2
98. Hemlock: 147 +0
99. Sparta: 123 +0
100. Brice: 101 +9

90% of Columbus metro places were either steady or saw outright growth 2023-2024. These numbers are much improved from the Covid era where many places were seeing population declines, especially the larger cities and suburbs.

Columbus’ growth represented 73% of Franklin County’s total growth 2023-2024 and 84.1% of the county’s growth 2020-2024. Additionally, Columbus alone repesented 41.8% of the metro’s growth 2023-2024 and 31.6% of the metro’s growth 2020-2024.

To see the original estimates from 2023, visit 2023 Population Estimates of Columbus Area Places

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Winter 2024-2025 Review

Posted on May 13, 2025 by admin

Winter 2024-2025 was the 4th season in a row in which snowfall was well below normal. Only a single winter in the past 10- 2017-2018- has had above normal snowfall, and only just. Two others- 2018-2019 and 2020-2021- had near normal snowfall, though still slightly below the 30-year average, and the other 7 have been significantly below normal. Average winter snowfall for the past decade has been just 17.8″, more than 10″ below the 1991-2020 average. Additionally, the 2024-2025 season lacked a 6″ snowfall, either daily or in any single event. There has been no 6″ snowfall since February 22, 2015, the second longest such period since records began.
The December-February period was colder than normal, and it was the coldest heart of winter since 2014-2015. This was thanks largely to January, which also featured the majority of the season’s snowfall.

December-February
Traditional winter numbers, 1991-2020 departures from normal where relevant, and overall winter rankings.
Rankings are accurate as of the time of the post.
Average High: 38.1 (-1.7) 44th Coldest
Average Low: 23.6 (-0.9) 45th Coldest
Mean: 30.8 (-1.4) Tied for 39th Coldest
Coldest High: 11 on January 20th
Coldest Low: -3 on January 22nd
Coldest Mean: 5.5 on January 21st
# of 32 or Below Highs: 29 (+3.2) 21st Most
# of 32 or Below Lows: 72 (+3.2) 17th Most
Warmest High: 65 on February 3rd
Warmest Low: 51 on December 28th
Warmest Mean: 57 on December 28th
Precipitation: 8.11″ (-0.43″) 59th Wettest
Snowfall: 14.6″ (-13.6″) 46th Least Snowy
Average Daily Snow Depth: 0.6″ (-0.2″) Tied for 7th Lowest
Maximum Snow Depth: 5″ on January 6th and 11th.
Largest Snowstorm: 4.4″ on January 5th-6th.
1″+ Snowfall Events: 7 Tied for 8th Fewest
# of Measurable Precipitation Days: 37 (-2.1) Tied for 13th Fewest
# of Measurable Snowfall Days: 15 (-6.4) Tied for 11th Fewest
Highest Average Daily Wind Speed in MPH: 19.2 on December 5th
Highest Wind Gust in MPH: 55 on December 5th
# of Clear Days: 4 4.44%
# of Partly Cloudy Days: 39 43.33%
# of Cloudy Days: 47 52.23%

Entire Cold Season: October-April
Average High: 52.7 9th Warmest
Average Low: 34.1 18th Warmest
Mean: 43.4 9th Warmest
Precipitation: 18.66″ 56th Wettest
Snowfall: 14.8″ 29th Least Snowy
Average Snow Depth: 0.3″ Tied for 4th Lowest
Largest Snowstorm: 4.4″ on January 5th-6th
# of 32 or Below Highs: 30 Tied for 21st Fewest
# of 32 or Below Lows: 96 Tied for 17th Fewest
# of Measurable Precipitation Days: 74 Tied for 9th Fewest
# of Measurable Snowfall Days: 17 Tied for 8th Fewest
Highest Average Daily Wind Speed in MPH: 19.2 on December 5th
Highest Wind Gust in MPH: 59 on April 29th
# of Clear Days: 34 16.04%
# of Partly Cloudy Days: 90 42.45%
# of Cloudy Days: 88 41.51%

High Temperature Records Set
11/1/2024- A record warm high of 78 was set for the date, breaking the old record of 77 set in 2022.
11/5/2024- A record warm high of 79 was set for the date, breaking the old record of 77 set in 2022.
2/3/2025- A record warm high of 65 was set for the date, breaking the old record of 63 set in 1890.
3/14/2025- A record warm high of 79 was set for the date, breaking the old record of 78 set in 1990.

Low Temperature Records Set
10/30/2024- A record warm low of 59 degrees was tied for the date, matching the previous record set in 2004.
11/5/2024- A record warm low of 62 was tied for the date, matching the old record set in 2022.
3/29/2025- A record warm low of 63 was set for the date, breaking the old record of 59 set in 1977.

Precipitation Records Set
None set.

Snowfall Records Set
10/15/2024- A record 0.1″ of snowfall occurred for the date. It was the first recorded instance of measurable snowfall for the date.

Forecast for what would be Columbus’ largest snowfall of the season.

Highest Daily Precipitation by Month
October 2024: 0.12″ on the 15th
November 2024: 0.97″ on the 14th
December 2024: 1.03″ on the 29th
January 2025: 0.24″ on the 18th
February 2025: 1.15″ on the 16th
March 2025: 0.65″ on the 30th
April 2025: 1.88″ on the 3rd

Highest Daily Snowfall By Month
October 2024: 0.1″ on the 15th
November 2024: 0.1″ on the 21st
December 2024: 0.3″ on the 11th
January 2025: 2.4″ on the 6th
February 2025: 1.9″ on the 16th
March 2025: Trace on multiple days.
April 2025: Trace on the 6th and 7th

Deepest Snow Depth By Month
October 2024: 0″ on all days.
November 2024: Trace on the 29th
December 2024: Trace on the 12th and 13th
January 2025: 5″ on the 6th and 11th
February 2025: 2″ on the 17th and 18th
March 2025: Trace on the 17th
April 2025: 0″ on all days.

Highest Wind Gust by Month in MPH
October 2024: 46 on the 13th
November 2024: 43 on the 20th
December 2024: 55 on the 5th
January 2025: 38 on the 16th
February 2025: 43 on the 28th
March 2025: 53 on the 30th
April 2025: 59 on the 29th

Clear Days by Month
October 2024: 18 58.06%
November 2024: 3 10.0%
December 2024: 0 0.0%
January 2025: 3 9.68%
February 2025: 1 3.57%
March 2025: 4 12.9%
April 2025: 5 16.67%

Partly Cloudy Days by Month
October 2024: 12 38.71%
November 2024: 11 36.67%
December 2024: 12 38.71%
January 2025: 13 41.94%
February 2025: 14 50.0%
March 2025: 17 54.84%
April 2025: 11 36.66%

Cloudy Days by Month
October 2024: 1 3.23%
November 2024: 16 53.33%
December 2024: 19 61.29%
January 2025: 15 48.39%
February 2025: 13 46.43%
March 2025: 10 32.26%
April 2025: 14 46.67%

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Strange Columbus- Earthquake of May, 1897

Posted on May 10, 2025 by admin

The earthquake of May, 1897 struck on the 31st at around 1PM. It had an epicenter near Pearisburg, Virginia, right on the West Virgina state line. The earthquake was estimated to have had a magnitude of 5.8-6.0, with a Modified Mercalli Scale (MMI) maximum rating of VIII. All of Ohio felt this earthquake, though southern and eastern sections felt it most strongly. Shaking strength was estimated to be in the MMI range of III-V across much of the state.

A MMI of V occurred at Cincinnati during the earthquake of May, 1897. A V is described as the following:
Felt by all, frightens some. Pictures and lighting sway, a few objects fall from shelves or are overturned. A few instances of cracked plaster or windows.
The Times-Star in Cincinnati made the following report the following day:
Felt “here and in the suburbs…. The printers ran out of the Times-Star office. The occupants of other buildings were alarmed, and at Coney Island, Chester Park, the Zoo gardens, and elsewhere there was consternation among the holiday crowds. At the Lagoon, on the Kentucky side, there was a panic among several thousand people on the grounds. The waters in the Lagoon were so rough that the life-saving crew went to the relief of those out on the electric pleasure boats.”

Zanesville experienced an MMI of V. It was reported that the Courier Building, “experienced decided vibrations” to such an extent that “the employees on the fourth and third floors deserted their posts, greatly frightened.”

In other places, where the exact MMI is not known or estimated, there were reports of light damage and general panic.

In Pomeroy, it was reported to The Columbus Dispatch that, “This city was considerably shaken up by an earthquake at 1:30 yesterday. Buildings were badly shaken, dishes knocked from shelves and several persons on the streets were stunned, almost to insensibility.”

In Nelsonville, the Dispatch reported, “An earthquake shock was plainly discernible here at 1 o’clock yesterday. In one house, a lamp was shaken from the table. Many persons were frightenend.”

At Batavia, it was reported that, “Quite a perceptible earthquake shock was felt here yesterday, about 1 o’clock and lasing for a full minute’s duration. Windows rattled, and in a number of cases, dishes were thrown down and broken.”

In Jackson, the report was that, “At the county infirmary, situated about two miles east of this city, the earthquake shock on Monday was very violent. The terrified inmates ran screaming from the buildings. Upon examination it was found that the shock had cracked the walls in many places. Window panes were also broken.”

In Columbus, the earthquake likely registered at a III at most. Many people did not feel it at all. The Dispatch reported that a “Mr. King, in his room in the Neil House, detected the earthquake the instant of its occurrence, took note of the time, reported the facts at the office, and was laughed at good naturedly by the clerks, but when The Evening Dispatch brought his vindication they cheerfully admitted that Mr. King knew an earthquake when he felt it.”

Near the epicenter in Western Virginia, the quake damaged many buildings, felled many chimneys, and even a train was derailed due to area landslides.

The epicenter in Giles County, Virginia.

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2024 County and Metro Population Estimates

Posted on March 14, 2025 by admin

[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]

The US Census has released 2024 county and metro population estimates. The estimates generally show a further continuation of the post-pandemic recovery in the numbers. In fact, older estimates have also been revised upwards. Let’s break down the numbers.

Metro County	2020 Census	2023 Population	2024 Population
Delaware	214,123	232,732	237,966
Fairfield	158,920	165,630	167,762
Franklin	1,323,819	1,338,903	1,356,303
Hocking	28,056	27,567	27,429
Licking	178,517	183,540	184,898
Madison	43,848	44,668	45,531
Morrow	34,944	35,583	35,927
Perry	35,412	35,577	35,682
Pickaway	58,551	61,064	62,158
Union	62,790	69,765	71,721

As you can see, all counties but Hocking grew in both the 2020-2024 and 2023-2024 periods. Most of the estimates were improvements over the 2023 version, as mentioned. For example, Franklin County’s estimates population in 2023 was 1,326,063, but the 2024 version for 2023 was revised to 1,338,903, indicating growth was significantly stronger than originally estimated.

Franklin County continued its very long run of being the top county in the metro for total growth.

Here were the top 25 largest Ohio counties in 2024.
1. Franklin: 1,356,303
2. Cuyahoga: 1,240,594
3. Hamilton: 837,859
4. Summit: 538,370
5. Montgomery: 537,443
6. Lucas: 426,291
7. Butler: 399,542
8. Stark: 374,091
9. Lorain: 322,030
10. Warren: 256,059
11. Delaware: 237,966
12. Lake: 232,360
13. Mahoning: 225,786
14. Clermont: 214,123
15. Trumbull: 200,300
16. Licking: 184,898
17. Medina: 184,625
18. Greene: 172,347
19. Fairfield: 167,762
20. Portage: 163,839
21. Clark: 134,985
22. Wood: 133,077
23. Richland: 124,853
24. Wayne: 116,632
25. Miami: 111,950

Metro Area	2020	2024	Change
Akron	702,211	702,209	-2
Canton	401,594	400,551	-1,043
Cincinnati	2,249,812	2,302,815	53,003
Cleveland	2,185,745	2,171,877	-13,868
Columbus	2,138,980	2,225,377	86,397
Dayton	814,040	821,740	7,700
Toledo	606,234	601,396	-4,838
Youngstown	430,675	426,086	-4,589

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A Look Back- Winter 1995-1996 Review

Posted on February 21, 2025 by admin

I have been doing immediate, post-winter reviews since I began this website 13 years ago. While those posts are popular, I get tons of requests and searches for winters of decades past, so I thought it might be a good idea to periodically take a look back at some of them. By far, the winter of 1995-1996 has been at the top of the list from site visitors, so it makes sense to make it the inaugural winter of this series.
Winter 1995-1996 was the most severe of the 1990s, and arguably the most severe winter between 1984-1985 and 2002-2003. The winter featured much above normal snowfall and below normal temperatures that included one arctic outbreak. This winter set multiple records that still stand today, and is regarded as one of the worst winters in Columbus- and Ohio- history.

December-February
These are the statistics for the heart of Winter 1995-1996, as well as departures from average based on the current 1991-2020 normals.
Average High: 36.9 (-2.9)
Average Low: 21.1 (-3.4)
Mean: 29.0 (-3.2)
Coldest High: 6 on February 3rd
Coldest Low: -3 on February 4th
Coldest Mean: 3 on February 3rd and 4th
# of 32 or Below Highs: 41
# of 32 or Below Lows: 73
Warmest High: 71 on February 27th
Warmest Low: 57 on January 4th
Warmest Mean: 64 on February 21st
Precipitation: 7.84″ (+0.70″)
Snowfall: 40.6″ (+18.4″)
Average Daily Snow Depth: 1.8″
Maximum Snow Depth: 12″ on January 8th
Largest Snowstorm: 9.8″ on January 6th-7th
1″+ Snowfall Events: 14
# of Measurable Precipitation Days: 45
# of Measurable Snowfall Days: 35
Highest Average Daily Wind Speed in MPH: 20 on January 27th
Highest Wind Gust in MPH: 51 on February 24th

Entire Cold Season: October-April
Average High: 47.1
Average Low: 29.1
Mean: 38.1
Precipitation: 24.14″
Snowfall: 54.1″
Average Snow Depth: 0.8″
Largest Snowstorm: 9.8″ on January 6th-7th
# of 32 or Below Highs: 46
# of 32 or Below Lows: 127
# of Measurable Precipitation Days: 92
# of Measurable Snowfall Days: 49
Highest Average Daily Wind Speed in MPH: 21.6 on March 25th
Highest Wind Gust in MPH: 58 on April 29th

Temperature

High Temperature Records Set
On December 14th, the high reached 65 degrees, tying the record for the date set in 1901.
On January 18th, the high reached 68 degrees, breaking the old record of 67 set in 1929.
On February 3, the high only reached 6 degrees, breaking the old low maximum of 12 set in 1902.
On February 27th, the high reached 71 degrees, tying the old record of 71 set in 1896.

Low Temperature Records Set
On November 9th, the low fell to 17 degrees, breaking the old record of 18 set in 1991.

Precipitation

Precipitation Records Set
On January 27th, 1.00″ of precipitation fell, breaking the old record of 0.97″ set in 1913.
On November 11th, 1.03″ of precipitation fell, breaking the old record of 0.84″ set in 1974. This record was later surpassed for the date when 1.14″ fell in 2022.
On December 19th, 0.68″ of precipitation fell, breaking the old record of 0.59″ set in 1982. This record was later surpassed for the date with 08.4″ in 2002 and later with 1.74″ in 2008.
On April 29th, 1.82″ of precipitation fell, breaking the old record of 1.37″ set in 1893. This record was later surpassed for the date when 1.88″ fell in 2021.

Snowfall

Snowfall Records Set
On November 21st, 1.9″ of snow fell, breaking the old record of 1.0″ set in 1911.
On December 19th, 4.3″ of snow fell, breaking the old record of 3.2″ set in 1948.
On January 7th, 8.8″ of snow fell, breaking the old record of 5.5″ set in 1979. This occurred during the Blizzard of 1996
On January 9th, 3.1″ of snow fell, breaking the old record of 2.7″ set in 1943.
On March 7th, 2.3″ of snow fell, tying the old record set in 1911. This record was later surpassed when 5.0″ fell in 2008.
On March 20th, 3.9″ of snow fell, breaking the old record of 3.0″ set in 1967.

Other

If you are interested in seeing original weather advisories for the entire 1995-1996 winter, the Winter 1995-1996 Weather Advisories provides them.

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All Columbus Data

The Ohio Capital Supersite

2024 City Population Estimates

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Winter 2024-2025 Review

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Strange Columbus- Earthquake of May, 1897

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2024 County and Metro Population Estimates

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A Look Back- Winter 1995-1996 Review

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