Circleville

Circleville is a city and county seat in Pickaway County, Ohio, positioned along the Scioto River. The community occupies a small area and sits in gently rolling terrain in the southern part of the state.

The city was founded in 1810 with a circular street plan designed around a prehistoric Hopewell earthwork. This unusual layout influenced the development of the community for many years.

The county courthouse occupies the spot where an ancient Hopewell earthwork once stood at the center. Today, the layout of streets around it reflects the influence of that prehistoric construction on how the city was designed.

The downtown area is compact and walkable, with the courthouse serving as a useful landmark for orientation. Access to parks and the river is available, though visitor amenities are limited.

In the 1830s, residents decided to transform their unusual circular street layout into a standard grid pattern. This shift reveals how practical needs of the growing city overtook its original design.

Location: Pickaway County

Inception: 1810

Elevation above the sea: 212 m

Website: http://ci.circleville.oh.us

GPS coordinates: 39.60310,-82.93920

Latest update: December 14, 2025 21:23