Chillicothe: One of Ohio's Best Hometowns
By Marvin Jones
Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Magazine and the Columbus Dispatch are helping to get the word out to the rest of the state (and the nation, for that matter) that this is a great place to live, work and play. It’s publicity that’s worth millions of dollars.
Chosen as one of Ohio’s “Best Hometowns”, Chillicothe was included in Ohio Magazine’s selections from five regions around the state. It’s the second year for the selections by the editors. Publisher Richard Osborne wrote that Chillicothe "is the perfect blend of modern progress and historic charm."
Cited as factors in the selection were the thriving downtown, the growth in businesses on North Bridge Street, the new school construction, the increase in enrollment at the Ohio University regional campus and the expansion of Adena Health System.
Last Sunday, the Dispatch began what will be a 12-part series entitled “Chillicothe: America’s bellwether” in the nation’s politics. “Smack in the mainstream” was the Page 1A headline on the first installment that cited the numerous campaign visits to the city by past presidents and contenders, including the current President George Bush, John Kerry and former President Bill Clinton.
The story noted that the results of recent presidential elections in Chillicothe closely mirrored the results in all of Ohio, thus the reason for spotlighting Chillicothe on the 4th day of every month leading up to the Nov. 4, 2008 presidential election. “As the data seem to suggest, you have (in Chillicothe) a lot of persuadable voters ready to listen to both sides of what should be an aggressive campaign,” said David Wilhelm, an Athens native who now runs a venture capital firm and who led Clinton’s national campaign in 1992.
The Dispatch said the series will chronicle “their worries, hopes and preferences in a time of war and economic uncertainty.”
Copies of the magazine are for sale at the Welcome Center at 45 E. Main St.
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Chillicothe: One of Ohio's Best Hometowns