Columbus, Ohio

Lore & Background

Columbus originated as several Native American settlements along the Scioto River. The first European settlement was Franklinton, now a city neighborhood, in 1797. Columbus was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers and was named after Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. It was planned as the state capital due to its central location and officially became the capital in 1816. The city grew steadily through the 19th century as a transportation and industrial hub via the National Road, Ohio and Erie Canal, and several railroads. Starting in the 1950s, Columbus experienced rapid suburban growth, becoming Ohio's largest city by area and population by the early 1990s. Columbus diversified economically in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as a center for finance, insurance, education, and technology.

In Their Own Story

The November air off the Scioto River carries that particular Ohio chill — not the bone-deep cold of the upper Midwest, but a damp, grey weight that settles on your shoulders as you cross the bridge toward North Bank. The arena's glass face is already glowing, a low amber hum against the overcast sky, and the parking lot is filling with the slow, purposeful shuffle of people who have been doing this every Thursday and Saturday for years. Inside, the ice is still fresh, the Zamboni's groaning echo fading into the rafters. A kid in a too-big Blue Jackets jersey presses his face to the glass, breath fogging it, while his father leans against the wall with a thermos of coffee, watching the warmup players carve figure-eights. The puck hits the boards with a sound like a knuckle cracking. Somewhere in the lower bowl, a drum circle is starting up, and the whole arena shudders just slightly, like a held breath finally released. This is not a spectacle from outside. This is home, and it has been home since 2000.

Reader's Guide

In the 2020s, the city became a major center for high technology, innovation, and advanced manufacturing, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, and semiconductor device fabrication. The metropolitan area is home to the Battelle Memorial Institute, the world's largest private research and development foundation; Chemical Abstracts Service, the world's largest clearinghouse of chemical information; and the Ohio State University, the flagship of the University System of Ohio and one of the largest universities in the United States. The Greater Columbus area is further home to the headquarters of Fortune 500 companies Cardinal Health, Nationwide, American Electric Power, Huntington Bancshares and Vertiv. It hosts cultural institutions such as the Columbus Museum of Art, COSI, Franklin Park Conservatory and Ohio Theatre. The city's major league professional sports teams include the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL), Columbus Aviators (UFL), and Columbus Crew (MLS).

Did You Know?

• Columbus was named after 15th-century Italian explorer Christopher Columbus.
• The city's iconic 22-foot tall statue of Christopher Columbus was removed from the south side of City Hall in 2021.
• Nicknames for the city include 'the Discovery City', 'Arch City', 'Cap City', 'Cowtown', 'The Biggest Small Town in America' and 'Cbus'.
• The Ohio Statehouse sits on land once contained in the Refugee Tract, set aside for Canadians and Nova Scotians who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution.