The storied history and modern agricultural draw of Mount Healthy
Settled in 1817, Mount Healthy – originally called Mount Pleasant – was a major travel stop between Cincinnati and Fort Hamilton in the first half of the 19th century. Cincinnati's cholera epidemic of 1849 had city residents fleeing to less populated areas, and Mount Pleasant became a sanctuary. After the epidemic passed, the community was renamed Mount Healthy and slowly but surely continued to develop. Today, it maintains a rural appeal, offering residents diverse outdoor recreation. Urban agriculture is also becoming a huge draw for the area, with locals diving into self-sustaining practices. "The green lifestyle is a rapidly growing part of the neighborhood," says Karen Arnett, Chair of the Mount Healthy Renaissance Project. "Residents like tending to a garden, keeping bees or having a chicken coop; they even extract syrup from the maple trees."
Quiet streets, vintage architecture and natural green views
Mount Healthy is a world of quiet neighborhood streets, with residents walking their dogs on the sidewalks in the early morning and tending to their gardens. The community is flush with mature trees, sprawling yards and bright pops of flora, with the outskirts closer to the forest line offering residential privacy. Architecture is diverse, with Victorian and Craftsman styles near downtown dating back to the early 20th century. Moving away from the center of the community, acreage becomes more abundant, with sprawling ranch-style homes and classic split-levels available. Single-family homes in Mount Healthy sell between $120,000 and $300,000. Price primarily depends on acreage, square footage and how much renovation a property has undergone.
From City Park to Winton Lake, locals have many outdoor options
Residents can find diverse outdoor recreation around the area, starting at the heart of the community with City Park. The park features a public pool, playground, sports fields and a paved walking track. City Park is also home to an amphitheater where musicians take the stage each Friday for the Mount Healthy Summer Concert Series. Beech Creek Golf Course, which has been open to the public since 1995, offers a 9-hole course designed by Joe and Tom Macke. Nearby Winton Woods, a county-operated green space with over 2,500 acres, has miles of hiking trails surrounding Winton Lake. Locals come to jog or bike the trails, paddleboard and fish at the lake, or go horseback riding.
Local public schools and getting a head start on college
The Mount Healthy City Schools District serves the community, and parents can apply to enroll their children in a district of their choice with Ohio's school choice program. Kids can start at Mount Healthy North Elementary or Mount Healthy South Elementary schools before heading to Mount Healthy Junior High School. All three get a C-minus rating from Niche. At C-rated Mount Healthy High School, students can earn dual high school and college credits through Ohio's College Credit Plus program. Enrolling and successfully obtaining credits from the CCP program qualify these students for a broader range of scholarships.
Local shops, restaurants and produce stands in downtown Mount Healthy
Historic brick buildings line Hamilton Avenue in the heart of Mount Healthy, housing specialty shops and locally owned restaurants. Locals pop into Little Dutch Bakery for breakfast pastries, browse the handcrafted trinkets at Hilltop Glass Creations and order classic diner meals at Brotherton's Family Restaurant. The Fibonacci's Mount Healthy Farmers Market, held at Fibonacci Brewing Company every Sunday from May to September, invites vendors to sell locally sourced produce, handmade goods and seasonal plants. While Mount Healthy has a Kroger on its south side, most residents will head to the neighboring community of Groesbeck for shopping, which has large commercial areas with stores such as Target and Walmart.
Annual events and finding community through agriculture
There are several annual events in Mount Healthy, from the fireworks displays during the Fourth of July at City Park to the Christmas lighting and parade downtown. The popularity of urban agriculture has formed its own social wave in the community. "Because the area's soil is so rich, backyard and community gardens have really kicked off," Arnett says. "People get together every spring for plant swaps."
Quick access to Cincinnati on major roadways
The community is bordered by State Route 126, also called Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway, and intersected by Route 127. Both connect to Interstates 275 and 75, and residents can get to Cincinnati in 25 to 30 minutes, depending on the traffic flow for the 11-mile drive. The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is roughly 30 miles southwest along I-275, serving several commercial airlines with nonstop destinations.
