6 minute read
Medina County 2025
OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND IN
MEDINA COUNTY
Written by Brian Gallatin for the Medina County Commissioners
From its official organization in 1818 to becoming the tenth fastest growing county in Ohio, Medina County has strived for over 200 years to provide residents with abundant opportunities to live, work, and play. Medina County is fortunate to have people who treasure the history and who are proud of the communities in which they live. With a population of around 182,470 as of the last census, Medina County offers three cities, six villages, and 17 townships to call home. From historic downtowns to family-oriented suburbs to rural countryside, there is something in the county for everyone!
Do you love history? There are 29 properties and districts located on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the local historical societies have activities to participate in throughout the year. The Medina County Historical Society held a capital drive to purchase and preserve the iconic McDowell-Phillips house located at 205 S. Prospect St. in Medina. This beautiful Queen Anne Shingle-Style home was built in 1890 by R.M. McDowell. Located in the Bankers Row historic district, the house features seven fireplaces, 14 rooms, and is considered the largest house in Medina. It is a historic landmark and serves as an additional museum to house the society’s collections, as well as many significant items left by the five generations who lived there. The society also owns the John Smart House Museum located at 206 N. Elmwood Ave. in Medina. Both house-museums are open for tours at various times throughout the year.
Did you know all Medina County Veterans who possess a Veteran Identification Card are eligible to ride Medina County’s Public Transportation for free? Veteran ID cards are issued by the Medina County Recorder's Office located in the County Administration Building on the first floor.
The 273-acre Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery was opened by the Federal Government in June 2000. The cemetery is one of only 136 such cemeteries throughout the United States.
There are seven public school districts within the county and numerous private school options. The Medina County Career Center (MCCC) offers courses for high school students who want to focus on advanced career technical training and academic excellence for lifelong success. Courses are also offered to adults who want to start a new job or advance in their existing career.
We boast the Cuyahoga Community College – Brunswick University Campus and an Achievement Center, which educates those with developmental disabilities. Medina County has moved forward with the purchase of the Medina
County University Center (MCUC) from the University of Akron for $2.85 million. The property, located at 6300 Technology Ln., will support the expanding needs of the MCCC, including adult education, a new nursing and paramedic program, and workforce training.
The project also benefits the Medina County Sheriff’s Office, which will gain training space. Local leaders, including Commissioners Swedyk, Hambley, and Harrison, along with State Representative Sharon Ray and MCCC Superintendent Steven Chrisman, praised the collaboration for its long-term community impact. The initiative marks a major step in enhancing education and job training in Medina County.
Medina County Park District (MCPD) connects people with nature through education and conservation, managing more than 9,000 acres that include 23 parks and preserves, over 50 trails, two nature centers, and Ohio’s largest natural inland lake — Chippewa Lake. This year, MCPD celebrates 60 years of enhancing quality of all life through education, conservation, and the protection of natural resources. To honor this milestone, the park district has planned a series of celebratory events throughout the year, and a number of new park areas and amenities will be opening to the public.
Six libraries are conveniently located throughout the county to escape with a good book or partake in one of the numerous programs offered. A Bookmobile makes stops throughout the county, bringing books, movies, and programs to the communities.
Traveling around Medina County is easy through Medina County Public Transit (MCPT), which works to provide safe, reliable, quality public transportation services to all of Medina County. The MC Flex began as a pilot program in Wadsworth to test the viability of the service. MC Flex is a microtransit service, a relatively new public transit option that operates similarly to ride-hailing applications like Uber and Lyft. Rather than waiting for a bus operating on a set route, the on-demand service allows riders to instead book a trip that will pick them up and drop them off at their preferred destination anywhere within the designated zone. Riders can book a trip in one of three ways — by using the Rides on Demand mobile application from their smartphone, using the web-based application on their computer, or by calling the MCPT office and speaking with a dispatcher. Benefits of the MC Flex service include increased ridership, improved service capacity, reduced vehicle miles, less passenger travel time, and lower vehicle fuel usage. The service operates in Wadsworth, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Medina City, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Brunswick, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Trips can be scheduled by calling 330-723-9670 up to seven days in advance. A minimum of two hours in advance is required. Trips are booked based on availability. MC Flex fares are one-way, $1.50; qualifying reduced, $.75; or all-day pass, $4. A monthly MC Flex Pass can also be purchased for $46. Additionally, tickets can be purchased through the EZfare App to further increase the ease of payment while riding transit. Buses are equipped with EZfare Validators, allowing passengers to scan the barcode when boarding.
The newly constructed Medina County Courthouse opened in December 2022. The new courthouse consists of four floors and provides approximately 86,300 square feet of new space and approximately 21,000 square feet of renovated space. Constructed behind the current courthouses, the new courthouse includes the County Clerk, sally port, secure holding areas, Common Pleas Court, Juvenile and Probate courts, Juvenile Probation, and County Adult Probation. Renovations to the 1841 Courthouse, located on Medina’s Historic Public Square, were completed in 2023, creating a safer, more efficient courthouse with ample space to serve the citizens of Medina County for many years to come.
With easy access to three interstates, Medina County provides the ideal location for nearly 4,000 businesses. Interstates I-71, I-76, and I-271 provide easy access to the large metropolitan areas of Cleveland, Akron, and Columbus. There are two federal highways and eight state routes that intersect the county. All these aid in making the average travel time to work approximately 27 minutes. Feel like taking a trip out of town? The Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and the Akron-Canton Regional Airport are both under 40 minutes away! There are also two municipal airports. The Port of Cleveland, the third largest port on the Great Lakes, is located 45 minutes north on Lake Erie.
Whether you visit or spend a lifetime, Medina County can match your housing, shopping, spiritual, education,
and business needs. Find more information online at
medinaco.org/county-commissioners, or on Facebook at
