The Buckeye State is home to plenty of outstanding communities. But which ones are the best?
Ohio Magazine recently announced honorees for its annual Best Hometowns awards. The five winners — which will be featured in the November/December issue of the magazine — are:
Ashland
Barnesville
Green
Mount Vernon
Yellow Springs
"To determine the honorees, Ohio Magazine solicited nominations and conducted site visits across the state in the spring and summer," according to the magazine. "The editors evaluated the nominees in six categories — community spirit, education, entertainment, health and safety, business environment and culture and heritage — to help finalize our selections."
Green officials are pleased to earn the recognition.
“Being named one of Ohio’s Best Hometowns is a proud moment for Green,” Mayor Rocco Yeargin said in a prepared statement. “This honor reflects the hard work, vision, and community spirit that make our city a great place to live, work, and visit. It’s recognition of what our residents know well — Green is a vibrant, welcoming community with a bright future.”
Here's a little bit more about each town:
Ashland
Ashland — the county seat of Ashland County — has a population of about 18,000. Situated along Interstate 71 between Cleveland and Columbus, it's home to Ashland University, a Charles River Laboratories research facility and The Campbell's Co. plant.
Barnesville
Barnesville is located in Belmont County. The community — located between Cambridge and Wheeling, West Virginia south of Interstate 70 — has a population of about 3,900. Barnesville is home to the Dickinson Cattle Co., Barnesville Pumpkin Festival and the Olney Friends School.
Green
Green, a community of about 27,000 people in southern Summit County, is situated along Interstate 77 between Akron and Canton. The city is home to the Akron-Canton Regional Airport and the MAPS Air Museum.
Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, located in Knox County, has a population of about 17,000 people. The city is home to Mount Vernon Nazarene University and the Woodward Opera House, considered the oldest freestanding opera house in the country. It's also a starting — or ending — point for the 14-mile Kokosing Gap Trail.
Yellow Springs
Yellow Springs, located in Greene County outside of Dayton, has a population of about 3,700 people. The village is home to Antioch College and popular comedian Dave Chappelle, who has opened the YS Firehouse comedy club in the community.
For more details, including a list of previous Ohio Magazine Best Hometowns winners, go to: www.ohiomagazine.com/ohio-life/best-hometowns.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio Magazine hands out annual Best Hometowns awards for 2025-26
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