Getting to Know Hilliard, OH

Home of the Early Television Museum, Hilliard is a Franklin County suburb located northwest of Columbus in Norwich Township. The city has a population of 36,534 people. Locals say their Early Television Museum is the only museum of its kind in the U.S. Additionally, Hilliard is also home to the second-largest First Responders Park in the nation, which includes Heritage Rail Trail at the fire department off Northwest Parkway. It features the only flag pole that isn’t in a museum that came from the World Trade Center. Originally called Hilliard’s Station, the town started forming near the railroad route of the Indiana and Piqua Railroad station, which divided the former farmland. Hilliard’s Station was considered an ideal shipping point for agricultural products heading to market and supplies needed by farmers in the area. The first land area was laid out by John Hilliard in 1853.

The old railroad station and the Main Street remained the town center until the mid 20th century. A post office was established in Hilliard’s Station in 1854, and soon the word “Station” was removed from the town name. On July 13, 1869, Hilliard became incorporated as a village with a population of around 280 residents. In 1886, the first railroad station was established on the north side of the line, west of Main Street. It remained there until all railroad services ceased in 1962. Today, that original train station still stands restored and preserved in Hilliard’s historical Weaver Park. On Dec. 12, 1960, Hilliard gained the status as a city official when the population reached 5,633. However, when the I-270 outer belt was completed in the early 1970s, Hilliard saw the second wave of massive growth. Things to do in Hilliard and places to visit include Ten Pin Alley, Roger A. Reynolds Municipal Park, Heritage Golf Club and Hilliard Ohio Historical Society.