Granville; a Grand Piece of History to Call Home

 For all of those who have visited Granville and walked through the quaint downtown area, it truly makes an imprint on you, as it is such a remarkably charming place. It could be straight from a story book, where everyone walking through town knows your name, waves and says "hello", not a frown to be seen as you walk past Whit's ice cream or the Library. Even with Dennison neighboring the downtown stretch, it doesn't have the college "party" atmosphere that would describe communities surrounding The Ohio State University Campus in Columbus. With 31% of residents attending Denison, the rest of the community is made up of residents such as: young families, distinguished older generations, and certainly independent households.  It is an active town with a quiet environment meant to soothe over your soul. A favorite diner of my families is Brew's as we frequently have our "friday pizza nights" at this restaurant/bar, with its plentiful menu, I can assure you that there is a meal for everyone, even the pickiest of eaters.

In 1797, Granville was surveyed as part of the U.S Military District, which were the lands that were given to those who fought in the Revolutionary War. The Welsh were the first to truly settle, and claim ownership, of the land and to this day you can go by the Welsh Hills Cemetery and Philipps Cemetery where those original settlers have been buried. A group of settlers then moved in from Granville, Massachusetts and Connecticut; they would be the ones that founded and established the Village of Granville. The plans of the village were to resemble a New England town with a main town square that has churches at the corners, giving it an intimate space for the community that surrounded it; a place to feel safe and protected.

"Granville was the home to five schools in the early 1830's. Two of them, the Granville Female Seminary and the Granville Literary and Theological Institution (it later became Denison University), were both located in the area west of the Village green with Denison located on college hill above the Village center." (The Village of Granville, http://www.granville.oh.us/history_of_granville/)

The rich sense of history gives a more "homey" feeling to the village and would give anyone living here a sense of pride to be a part of the deep American heritage rooted here. Perhaps an even more fascinating piece of Granville are the various landmarks seen around the area, mainly throughout Newark, in the form of Mounds believed to be built by the Hopewell people from prehistoric times. The "Alligator" Mound is vicariously known by it's shape, however instead of it being true to it's name, Archaeologists believe it represents a panther or an opossum. On a warm, sunny day these historical sites can make for a great adventure for just about anyone who loves the outdoors and learning something new each day!

Granville has a high percentage of white-collar workers, with about 94% of the workforce employed in well-established, white-collar jobs- keeping them above the national average. The breakdown of employment is about 17% of citizens working in administrative support, 16% hold teaching positions,  and almost 11% hold management jobs. An outstanding number of artists and designer, or those working in media, reside here; more than 90% of other U.S communities. A note for anyone considering moving here, "Granville has a high rate of owner-occupied single family homes, which tends to reflect stability in the local community. Finally, Granville’s overall crime rate is lower than average for the country." (neighborhoodscout.com)

For these reasons, and for the pure fact that once you enter the Granville community it captures your heart and wonder, my family has made this beautiful, unique village their home; deciding to raise their children, build their business, and make their memories in this one of a kind location. If this is the place you decide to call home, you truly know that although you may be settling down, you definitely have not settled for less than the greatest.