Search results
Columbus (/ kəˈlʌmbəs /, kə-LUM-bəs) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, [ 10 ] it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest (after only Chicago), and the third-most populous U.S. state capital, after only Phoenix, Arizona ...
- Overview
- History
- The contemporary city
Columbus, city, Franklin, Fairfield, and Delaware counties, capital (1816) of Ohio, U.S., and seat (1824) of Franklin county. It is situated in the central part of the state on the relatively flat Ohio till plain, at the junction of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. Columbus is at the centre of a metropolitan complex that includes Dublin (northwest)...
Columbus was planned in 1812 as a political centre by the Ohio legislature and was named for Christopher Columbus. The state government moved to the city in 1816 from Chillicothe, and Columbus later absorbed the nearby earlier settlement of Franklinton (founded 1797). The city experienced significant growth after a feeder branch of the Ohio and Erie Canal was opened to it in 1831 and the Cumberland (National) Road from Maryland reached it in 1836. The first railroad arrived in 1850, further stimulating development.
Britannica Quiz
U.S. State Capitals Quiz
During the American Civil War, Columbus became a major staging area for Union forces, and Camp Chase, one of the North’s largest facilities for Confederate prisoners of war, was built on the city’s west side. The local economy continued to boom after the war. Columbus became one of the country’s major manufacturers of horse-drawn vehicles. By 1900, when the population exceeded 125,000, the city had emerged as an important transportation and commercial centre. Following damaging floods in 1913, the Scioto River was widened and levees, retaining walls, and bridges constructed, which allowed riverfront development.
In the early 21st century the fastest-growing sectors of the local economy were education and health, transportation and utilities, and professional and business services. High-technology industries and manufacturing (automobiles, motorcycles, communications equipment, steel and steel products, and nutritional supplements) were also important. The city’s favourable geographic position was enhanced by the presence of main-line railroads, an extensive highway network, and an international airport. Nearly half of the U.S. population was located within a 500-mile (about 800-km) radius of Columbus.
The main campus of the Ohio State University (1870), which has one of the largest enrollments of any American university, occupies a large site north of downtown. Other institutions of higher learning include Franklin University (1902), Capital University (1830), Ohio Dominican College (1911), Otterbein University (1847), Pontifical College Josephinum (1888), Columbus College of Art and Design (1879), Columbus State Community College (1963), and state schools for the hearing and visually impaired. Notable research organizations are Battelle Memorial Institute (1929; technology), the Orton Ceramic Foundation, and the Chemical Abstracts Service. The federal government operates a large military supply centre and other facilities. Many of the state’s institutions and offices and the state fairgrounds are in the city. The Ohio Statehouse (a limestone structure in Doric style, completed in 1861) has a monument by sculptor Levi Tucker Scofield.
Exclusive academic rate for students! Save 67% on Britannica Premium.
Learn More
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Jun 9, 2024 · From touring the iconic Columbus Museum of Art, to watching the Columbus Clippers play at Huntington Park, here are the best things to do in Columbus, Ohio. You can get around the city via public transport, but it’s always more convenient to have your own car while exploring US cities.
- German Village. Columbus is known for German Village, a historic neighborhood built by German settlers in the 1800s. German Village stands out for its brick houses, shops, sidewalks, and streets, taking you back in time as you stroll through.
- Ohio Statehouse. Columbus is famous for being home to the Ohio Statehouse. The Ohio Statehouse is the state capitol building and one of the oldest state buildings in the United States.
- Geraldine Fredritz Mock. Geraldine Fredritz Mock is known for being the first female pilot to fly unaccompanied around the world in 1964. The single-engine plane was named ‘The Spirit of Columbus.’
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Columbus is famous for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The Zoo has gained worldwide recognition and has been rated the number one zoo in America several times.
- Visit the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is one of the top things to do in Columbus for kids because of its expansive collection of animals, educational programs, and changing exhibits.
- Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. You can explore a paradise of flora and fauna at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
- Get Inspired at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) has been a Columbus institution for decades, inspiring adults and children about the wonders of science in our world.
- Tap into Global Cultures at the North Market. A stroll through Columbus' North Market downtown is a fun way to immerse yourself in local culture. The market has dozens of local vendors selling everything from homemade bread and fresh flowers to an array of small eateries serving up Italian, Indian, Vietnamese, Pizza, German, Sushi, BBQ, and Nepalese food options on two floors.
Mar 24, 2023 · Hike in a Metro Park. Tap into Your Inner Artist at the Columbus Museum of Art. Take in a Show at a Restored Theater. Build a Terrarium at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Map of Things to Do in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus, OH - Climate Chart. Walk along the Scioto Mile. Path along the Scioto Mile.
Fun shopping. This is a huge shopping complex in Easton, Ohio. All kinds of restaurants and shops and art installation and little mini parks throughout the complex. It is fun to walk around and also listen to little bands that are set up here and there as well as he miniature toy train displays.
People also ask
Where is Columbus Ohio located?
Is Columbus a city?
What is Columbus Ohio known for?
How big is Columbus Ohio?
