New Albany, Ohio
New Albany is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio, located 15 miles (24 km) northeast of the state capital of Columbus. Most of the city is located in Franklin County and a small portion extends into adjacent Licking County. New Albany had a population of 10,825 at the 2020 census.[4] Founded in 1837, it is a growing suburb in the Columbus metropolitan area.
For the unincorporated community in Mahoning County, see New Albany, Mahoning County, Ohio.Arts and culture[edit]
The New Albany community has shown strong support for the performing arts. Located in the city are the New Albany Symphony Orchestra[33] and the New Albany Ballet Company.[34] In 2002, the New Albany Community Foundation approached the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) to see if CML would build a library branch in New Albany if the Foundation would donate the book collections and computers. After a fundraising campaign, the library was built in the Market Square area.[35]
Inspired by the success of the library, the Village of New Albany, Plain Township, and the New Albany-Plain Local School District partnered together in the development of the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, named after the late wife of John G. McCoy and mother of John B. McCoy.[36] The 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m2) brick building (located contiguous to the downtown learning campus containing the district schools) contains a 786-seat auditorium with balcony seating, a rehearsal studio, a dance studio, a scene shop, and classrooms dedicated to the performing arts. Land for the $15 million facility was donated by The New Albany Company.[37]
Each May since 1976, New Albany residents celebrate New Albany Founders Day with a parade, festival, rides, vendors and street performers.[38][39]
Taste of New Albany is an annual culinary event (each August since 2002)[40] that draws thousands to Market Square in downtown New Albany to sample (for an entry fee) food from dozens of restaurants. The proceeds from this event benefit the New Albany Chamber of Commerce.[41]
The New Albany Walking Classic[42] is a 10K walking event held annually in early September in New Albany since 2005. It draws thousands of walkers from the Ohio area and beyond, and had over 2,600 finishers in the 2009 race.[43] The event was named the country's best walking event in 2008 by Walk magazine,[44][45] and is now the country's largest walk-only race.[46][47] Building on the success of the walking event, community members and civic leaders created the nonprofit Healthy New Albany and opened the Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany.[48]
The New Albany Classic is a USEF/FEI-sanctioned equestrian event[49] held each September since 1998 on the estate of Les Wexner and his wife Abigail, founder of the event. The event raises money for the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence.[50] The related Family Day has many activities, including a concert, amusement rides, and displays of animals from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
Teen band New Hollow is based in New Albany; the members of the band met in New Albany schools.
Government[edit]
New Albany is a part of Ohio's 3rd congressional district, currently represented by congresswoman Joyce Beatty as well as a part of Ohio's 12th congressional district represented by congressman Troy Balderson.