Prairie Township, Franklin County, Ohio

Prairie Township, Franklin County, Ohio
Township
Seal
Motto(s):  "Building FUN, Healthy Community!"
Location of Prairie Township in Franklin County
Coordinates: 39°57′5″N83°9′15″W / 39.95139°N 83.15417°W / 39.95139; -83.15417
Country	United States
State	Ohio
County	Franklin
Area
• Total	19.1 sq mi (49.5 km2)
• Land	19.0 sq mi (49.2 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation [1]	919 ft (280 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	17,415
• Density	910/sq mi (350/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code	39-64570 [3]
GNIS feature ID	1086113 [1]
Website	www.prairietownship.org

Prairie Township is one of the seventeen townships of Franklin County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 17,415. Prairie Township is on the far west side of Franklin County touching the east side of Madison County.

Geography

Located in the western part of the county, the township consists of several parts:

• Most of the original township, in the west
• A moderately-sized piece, in the northeast
• A small piece, in the southwest corner
• Several small islands, in the far northeast

These various parts have the following borders:

• The city of Columbus surrounds the small islands and lies to the east of the main original piece, to the north, south, and west of the northeastern piece, and to the north and west of the southeastern piece
• To the east, the moderately-sized piece in the northeast borders Franklin Township.
• The small southeastern piece borders Jackson Township to the east.
• The main original piece borders:
  • Brown Township - north
  • Norwich Township - northeast
  • Pleasant Township - south
  • Jefferson Township, Madison County - west

Most of eastern Prairie Township is occupied by the city of Columbus, the county seat of Franklin County. Several populated places are located in the unincorporated areas of the township:

• The unincorporated community of Galloway, in the south
• The former village, now unincorporated community, of New Rome, in the east
• Part of the census-designated place of Lake Darby, in the northwest
• The census-designated place of Lincoln Village, in the northeast

Name and history

Statewide, the only other Prairie Township is located in Holmes County.

Prairie Township was organized in 1819. ^[4]

Government

Prairie Township Administrative Center

The township is governed by a three-member board of trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1. Prairie Township adopted a limited home rule form of government (ORC Section 504) in 2002. Two are elected in the year after the presidential election and one is elected in the year before it. There is also an elected township fiscal officer, ^[5] who serves a four-year term beginning on April 1 of the year after the election, which is held in November of the year before the presidential election. Vacancies in the fiscal officership or on the board of trustees are filled by the remaining trustees.

Education

Some areas of this township are in the Hilliard City School District. ^[6]

Other areas of this township are in the South-Western City School District (Franklin County, Ohio). ^[7]

Public libraries

The Westland Area Library of the Southwest Public Libraries is located in the Township.

Parks and recreation

Prairie Township features six neighborhood parks and a 111-acre sports complex (currently under construction).

The Community Center opened in June 2015 and has an indoor swimming pool, indoor walking track, fitness area and gymnasium.

The Recreation Department hosts annual events including the Pumpkin Swim, Trick or Treat Trail, Holiday Tree Lighting, Touch A Truck, and Discover the Greater Prairie.

References

1. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
2. "Prairie township, Franklin County, Ohio - Census Bureau Profile". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. Kilbourn, John (1833). The Ohio Gazetteer, or, a Topographical Dictionary. Scott and Wright. pp.  381 . Retrieved December 12, 2013.
5. §503.24, §505.01, and §507.01 of the Ohio Revised Code. Accessed 4/30/2009.
6. "Facts & Figures" (Archive). Hilliard City School District. Retrieved on June 14, 2014.
7. en:South-Western_City_School_District_(Franklin_County,_Ohio), oldid 804436156 ^{[ circular reference ]}

External links

• Prairie Township official website
• County website