LANCASTER, a town of the United States of North America, capital of Fairfield county, Ohio, is situated on both sides of the Hocking River, an affluent of the Ohio, 30 miles S.E. of Columbus. It stands in a beautiful and fertile valley, through which the Hocking and Ohio Canal passes. The town is well built, and contains several churches, while it is connected by railway and canal with the principal towns of the district. In the neighbourhood is a natural pyramid of sandstone. Lancaster was founded in 1800. Pop. (1850) 3480; (1854) about 5000.