Columbus

About Columbus

Columbus ( kə-LUM-bəs) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a population of 905,748 at the 2020 census, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., second-most populous city in the Midwest (after Chicago), and third-most populous U.S. state capital (after Phoenix, Arizona, and Austin, Texas). The Columbus metropolitan area, with an estimated 2.23 million residents, is the largest metropolitan area entirely in Ohio and 32nd-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. Columbus is the county seat of Franklin County; it also extends into Delaware and Fairfield counties.

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. 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 century as a center for insurance, education, and technology. In the 2020s, the city had become a major center for high technology and advanced manufacturing, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, and semiconductor device fabrication. Its universities include Ohio State University, the flagship campus of the University System of Ohio, and Pontifical College Josephinum, the only pontifical seminary in North America. The city is further home to research and development organizations Battelle Memorial Institute and Chemical Abstracts Service.

Named in honor of the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, the city is known for its Italian-American influence. Several Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the Columbus area: 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 professional sports teams include the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) and Columbus Crew (MLS).

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Columbus weather: 7-day forecast

Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).

Live webcams in Columbus

Webcams: Windy.com

Living in Columbus

Median household income

$66,082

Median home value

$252,900

Median rent

$1,295/mo

Median age

33.2

Map of Columbus

Tap any street on the map to see it in Street View below. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Columbus Street View

Drag the image to look around and tap the arrows on the ground to move. If it says there is no imagery, tap a nearby street on the map above.

Columbus, OH population

Columbus had 905,748 residents in the 2020 Census.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.

Columbus at a glance

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.

Towns near Columbus

• Grandview Heights3.0 mi W
• Bexley3.1 mi SE
• Marble Cliff4.0 mi W
• Valleyview4.9 mi W
• Upper Arlington5.3 mi NW
• Whitehall5.5 mi E
• Gahanna6.5 mi NE
• Minerva Park6.6 mi N
• Riverlea6.8 mi N
• Worthington7.8 mi N
• Urbancrest7.9 mi SW
• Huber Ridge8.0 mi NE

Straight-line distance between town centers.

Frequently asked questions about Columbus