By 1793 enough settlers had arrived to organize the area as a township. Even as the population of Cincinnati exploded in the ensuing decades, the population of Anderson remained quite small, never rose above 10,000. That all changed when the Beechmont Levy was completed in 1950. That route, plus the I-275 circle freeway has changed everything. Today there are over 45,000 residents of this community, making it one of the most populous townships in the State of Ohio!

Type of Housing Because the housing stock is generally much newer than in older communities near downtown Cincinnati, many rashly conclude that there are no architectural touchstones such as those found in Hyde Park, East Walnut Hills, or Pleasant Ridge. While most homes here are classified as ‘Traditional Suburban’, they are definitely not cookie cutter homes. Anderson Township is a fascinating display of architecture following consumer preferences. A tour through Anderson reveals an interesting transformation of building styles from the 1960’s through to the 1990’s.

For instance, beginning in the 1960’s, new homes in Anderson were distinct from most homes within Cincinnati in that they had a finished lower level intended as a family room. Advances in construction techniques allowed builders to ensure basements could be kept dry that precipitated this development. The Family Room came to be an essential room demanded by all future home buyers!

In the 1970’s, home buyers came to appreciate the family room to such a degree they wanted to 'elevate' it to the first floor. This led to an expansion of the footprint of homes which now had to accommodate this additional space. You can always tell a home built in this period because these homes typically have a powder room between the kitchen and family room. Home buyers felt they needed a buffer between the family room and kitchen.

It was in the 1980’s that consumers began to appreciate the open floor plan that is so popular today. Once again, the famiy room was a central player in changing home design. Home buyers no longer wanted a buffer between the family room and kitchen. Homes built during this period typically have the kitchen open directly to the family room. Home buyers remain interested in this layout.

An emerging trend in the 1990’s was repurposing the first floor as a single floor living arrangement for parents. These designs called for a master suite on the first floor. This is a significant change in consumer preferences. For the first time in 30 years, it wasn't the family room that was dicating building styles.

To accommodate this first floor master suite, the family room was moved to the second floor. Home buyers who preferred this arrangement often point to the desire to not see toys scattered about the first floor - as well as the privacy that a first floor suite afforded. These homes sometimes have smaller living rooms and/or dining rooms as the master suite muscled it's way into the floor plan. However, this style of constuction has hit a brick wall of sorts beginning with the housing crisis of 2008. Consumer preferences seem to be moving towards homes with a smaller square footage.

Socio-Economic Information (from 2000 census)
        • Median Household Income: $71,000
        • Total Households: 15,630
        • Total Housing Units: 16,050
        • Single Family Homes: 90%
        • Multi-Family: 10%
        • Owner Occupied: 85.5% (Median Value: $157,900)
        • Renter Occupied: 12% (Median Rent: $730)

Schools
The Forest Hills School District of Anderson Township include nine schools. These are:
        • Ayer Elementary 
        • Maddux Elementary
        • Mercer Elementary
        • Sherwood Elementary
        • Summit Elementary
        • Wilson Elementary
        • Nagel - (7th through 8th grades)
        • Anderson High School
        • Turpin High School
Information on all the above schools can be found at Forest Hills School District

The Forest Hills School District was recognized in 2005 as having an EXCELLENT rating on the State Report Card for 5 consecutive years. While being given this award, it was noted that only 47 of the State's 614 school districts have achieved a rating of EXCELLENT for five straight years.

There are also many excellent schools run by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. These include:
        • Immaculate Heart of Mary Elementary
        • Guardian Angels Elementary
        • McNicholas High School

Also to be considered is the Sands Montessori School

Major employers of Anderson Township include:
        • Mercy Hospital 
        • Senco Products
        • Evans Landscaping
        • Beechmont Automotive Group
        • Beech Acres
        • Forest Hills School District

Anderson Township is a FUN place to live. Residents are active in promoting Anderson and in constant improvements in lifestyle. For instance, the community is currently implementing the Anderson Walkways and Bike Trail. This is how the residents envisioned this plan.

"The 1993 Anderson Township Transportation Plan and the 1986 Sidewalk Plan identified the needs for walkways, bikeways, and trails to facilitate non-vehicular movement and provide ready access to locations such as schools, the post office, parks, retail centers, the library, recreational facilities, health centers, and public transportation."

Perhaps the center of activity in Anderson Township is the Anderson Center - which houses many offices and even offers itself as an entertainment venue.

Anderson Township is a great place to live!

..