Fairfield County, Ohio Business Directory & Community Resources
View a map of Fairfield County
View the 2025 U.S. Census demographic profile for Fairfield County
Fairfield County — County Seat: Lancaster
2026 Population Estimate: 171,798 | Official Website: https://www.co.fairfield.oh.us/
Fairfield County is a growing central Ohio county southeast of Columbus with the city of Lancaster as its county seat — also known as the Glass City for its historic glass-making industry and birthplace of General William Tecumseh Sherman and his brother Senator John Sherman (of Sherman Antitrust Act fame). The county has seen significant growth as suburban Columbus development expands southward and eastward, with communities like Canal Winchester experiencing rapid residential expansion. Major employers include AK Steel (Fairfield Works), Anchor Hocking (iconic glass manufacturer in Lancaster, producer of some of the most recognized American glassware for over 100 years), and Fairfield Medical Center. The county is home to Hocking Hills State Park — Ohio's most visited state park — as well as Buckeye Lake State Park. The Sherman House Museum in Lancaster celebrates its famous native sons.
▸ Key Industries & Major Employers
Advanced manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, and retail.
Major employers include OhioHealth Berger Hospital, Anchor Hocking (glass manufacturing, headquartered in Lancaster), American Electric Power (operations center), Hocking College, and a growing distribution and logistics sector driven by proximity to Columbus.
▸ Notable Economic Development Initiatives
Fairfield County Economic Development and the JobsOhio partner One Columbus coordinate industrial recruitment. Anchor Hocking, one of America's oldest glass manufacturers, received economic development support for facility upgrades in 2023-2024. A 2024 brownfield remediation grant targeted former glass-manufacturing sites near Lancaster. Hocking College's workforce programs feed local manufacturers.
▸ Infrastructure & Investment Highlights
US-33 and SR-37 are primary corridors. Proximity to I-70 and Columbus-area logistics networks makes Fairfield County attractive for distribution. The county is investing in industrial park infrastructure, including a new road and utility extension serving a certified shovel-ready site east of Lancaster.
