A Diverse Population
Merion Village has an important story to tell in the history of Columbus. Located in the city’s Near South Side, the Merion Village area has enjoyed an interesting past. Early British and Nova Scotian settlers came to the area in the early 1800s, when as compensation for their help in the Revolutionary war, Congress deeded 50,080 acres of land east of the Scioto River.

During the mid-19th century, the neighborhood saw an influx of German immigrants as well as Irish, Italian and Hungarian immigrants, and later people from Appalachia and the southern U.S., as South Columbus grew into an industrial hub.

Dubbed "Steelton," the area of Parson’ s Avenue south of Reeb-Hosack had a substantial building boom between 1910-30, quickly developing into a manufacturing center and home to two large steel plants. Street car lines were quickly established to supply Steelton with workers.

Locating within Merion Village were institutions that traditionally represent community stability such as churches, schools, a hospital and businesses that employed residents.