Gahanna is a city in Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The population was 32,636 at the 2000 census.

Geography

---

Gahanna is located at (40.026713, -82.869131).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.1 km² (12.4 mi²), all land.

Demographics

---

As of the census of 2000, there were 32,632 people, 11,990 households, and 8,932 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,016.2/km² (2,632.8/mi²). There were 12,390 housing units at an average density of 385.8/km² (999.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.46% White, 8.14% African American, 0.20% Native American, 3.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.

There were 11,990 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $66,031, and the median income for a family was $74,260. Males had a median income of $51,391 versus $35,922 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,040. About 2.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

The City of Gahanna is in the Gahanna-Jefferson Local Public School District. The school colors are blue and gold. Gahanna has seven elementary schools, three Jr. High/Middle schools, and only one high school Lincoln High School (Gahanna).

History

---

Gahanna or Gehenna, is derived from the Greek geenna or the Hebrew hinnom, the Valley of Hinnom is a deep narrow glen south of Jerusalem, where the Jews offered their children to the god Molech (2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 7:31, 19:2-5), as seen in Jeremiah this practice was strongly condemned by the prophets. Later it became a refuge for all putrefying material which included, but was not limited to, bodies of “criminals” not permitted a proper burial, raw human waste, or any other matter which defiled the city. Fires were kept burning there in attempts to keep the stench down due to it’s necessary close proximity to Jerusalem; and thus became a symbol of the place of everlasting punishment, especially with its accounts of eternal burning fire to which Christ referred to when he...