The City of Columbus

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Existing residents of Columbus Ohio have much to say about the quality of life and opportunities available in Central Ohio… just ask us about Columbus Ohio homes for sale! Located in the heart of Ohio, the state's capital, Columbus was built on the high eastern banks of where the Olentangy and Scioto Rivers converge. At one time, Columbus was a small outpost on the outermost edge of European expansion to the west. Today, Columbus is America’s 15 largest city with over 700,000 residents covering over 210 square miles and finding itself at the heart of international trade, education, entertainment, and recreation. The founding of Columbus is the result of political consensus building.

After the state’s capital alternated between Zanesville and Chillicothe for some time, the politicians of Ohio compromised and decided to create a new state capital that would be convenient for all of the growing state’s citizenry and could best serve all the citizens. Ground for the new capital was broken in 1812, and the city was named after Christopher Columbus.

At the heart of any city are its young people. Columbus resident support their children and are proud of their schools. As such, they work to support the goals that lead to its improvement. While it might be easy to dismiss an urban school district such as Columbus Public Schools, to paint the district with such a broad brush is to miss the success and opportunities a district with so many resources can offer its students. These resources include schools for immersion in the math and sciences, languages, performing arts, or cultural studies, as well as, a city-wide pre-kindergarten program and city-wide autism program. Columbus Schools offer year round enrollment, after school programs, and athletics. Additional programs are structured around Montessori education, college prep, and career tech. They also work with The Ohio State University, Columbus State Community College, Ohio Dominican University, DeVry, and a number of other colleges throughout central-Ohio in support of Ohio’s Post Secondary Enrollment Options.

Because every day over 56,000 students attend one of its 130 schools, visiting the Ohio Department of Education’s Report Card and examining the scores for the Columbus School District will give residents a more accurate view of the schools success. Click here to view the latest Public School District Report Card for the Columbus School District. View Private Schools close to this community.

Another core strength of Columbus is its business sector. Columbus is home to some of the nations leading insurance and financial institutions such as the Huntington Bank, State Farm Insurance, and Nationwide Insurance. National retailers also call Columbus home: Big Lots, Victoria Secrets, Limited Too, Inc., Express, Lane Bryant, Abercrombie & Fitch, White Castle, and Wendys. Research institutions such as The Ohio State University, Battelle Science and Technology International, and Ross Labs help make Columbus a leading center of market, science and technological innovation.

The appeal of Columbus is a result of the large college population, a Midwestern work ethic, and the relatively low cost of living. These combine to create an educated and motivated group of young workers and an experienced corps of professional executives.

Of course, Columbus, like any large city, exists as a result of people coming together to be a part of something special. A fifteen minute drive in any direction from the Statehouse, located on the corners of Broad Street and High Street in the center of Columbus, reveals a diverse community full of unique architecture and people.

Within a few blocks around the Ohio Statehouse you will find three major historical theaters – The Palace, The Ohio Theater, and the Southern Hotel Theater. Plus three major cultural museums – The Center of Science Industry (COSI), the Columbus Art Museum, and the Thurber House

To the north, you will pass through the revitalized Arena District, home to the Columbus Blue Jackets (a franchise of the National Hockey League), several brand new downtown high-rise condominiums, restaurant districts, theaters and parks. Moving further along High Street you will pass beneath the lit arches and into the arts district of Columbus, referred to as the Short North. Here people find a neighborhood of hundred-year-old homes tucked behind contemporary art studios, antique shops, specialty clothing stores, restaurants, bars, and the 130-year-old North Market. The North Market is home to dozens of local butchers, bakers, fishmongers, greengrocers and farmers.

From the old to the new: moving from the Short North up High Street, you will discover the South Campus Gateway. The new 7.5 acre living, working, and recreational Gateway complex opens the door to the south entrance of The Ohio State University and its main campus. Within the Gateway visitors find theaters, bars, condominiums, apartments and restaurants such as the 1995 Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George’s, Grill 27.

Naturally, The Ohio State University campus delivers much more, including world class research, educational facilities, the world renowned Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, The Ohio State University Buckeyes and The Best Damn Band in the Land (or TBITL, as the locals like to say). Of course, you may simply know it for its outstanding athletics program, but regardless of what you may hear about The Ohio State University, the vitality and excitement of over 50,000 students adds to Columbus’ vibrant entertainment and community life.

Returning to the center of Columbus and moving south along High Street you will cross Interstate 70/71 and into German Village. Columbus’ German Village is a district of independent restaurants and bars, 150 year old homes built by German emigrants, and the magnificent Shiller Community Park with towering trees and lush flower gardens.

Traveling east on Broad Street from downtown takes you to the Columbus Museum of Art, past The Thurber House and to the Franklin Park Conservatory before entering the enclave of Bexley. The renowned Columbus Museum of Art houses an exceptional collection of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century European, American and modern art. This collection includes spectacular examples of Impressionism, German Expressionism, and Cubism by artists such as Monet, Matisse, Picasso, Renoir, Hopper and O'Keeffe. The museum also houses an extraordinary collection of woodcarvings by Columbus folk artist Elijah Pierce and the paintings and lithographs of Columbus native George Bellows.

Part of The Jefferson Center for Learning and the Arts, The Thurber House sits on a one-block stretch of Queen Anne-style Victorian homes housing cultural and social service nonprofit organizations. Listed on the National Register of Historic places, The Thurber House honors writer, humorist and The New Yorker cartoonist James Thurber who called Columbus home while a student at The Ohio State University. Today, it is a literary and education center and museum of Mr. Thurber’s materials. In honor of Mr. Thurber and in support of their mission, The Thurber Prize for American Humor, the nation's highest recognition of the art of humor writing, is awarded annually to American authors who carry make a significant contribution to the art of humor writing.

Further out Broad Street, you will find the grounds of the 100 year old Franklin Park Conservatory’s indoor botanical gardens, ninety acres of park space, 400 plant species, 100 butterfly species, 800 feet of model railroad track, 7,000 panes of glass, and a reflecting pond, a welcome refuge in a hectic and fast paced world. Just two miles from downtown Columbus, the Conservatory is an ideal place to wander with a camera, have a wedding or reception, and to view one of the most exquisite permanent collections of Chihuly glass in the country.

Traveling west from downtown allows for a walk along the river walk, past Columbus City Hall to a full size, museum-quality replica of the Santa Maria, the Fireman’s Memorial, and paddle boats.

Crossing over the Broad Street Bridge leads you to the new Center of Science and Industry (COSI) housed on the western bank of the river and overlooking the Columbus skyline. Inside the renovated Columbus Central High School visitors will find a seven-story, extreme screen, special exhibits such as the traveling exhibits for the Titanic and Star Wars, or visit Poseidon as he towers over a wave fountain. Of course, kids of all ages are encouraged to get their hands dirty by taking advantage of the hands-on displays.

Naturally, all of the great areas in and around the center of Columbus provide an abundance of opportunities to live, work, and play. However, as residents move away from the center of town additional opportunities present themselves. There is a plethora of shopping and entertainment options at the nationally renowned Easton Town Center or at the Polaris Fashion Mall. Residents sail, surf, boat, fish, or just hang out on one of the four major Columbus reservoirs: Alum Creek with 3,300 acres, Hoover Dam with 3,200 acres, Griggs Reservoir with 364 acres, or O'Shaughnessy Dam with 845 acres.

If you are looking for a free weekend or weekday activity, then you can visit one of the seventeen Columbus Metro Parks covering over 23,000 acres and attend one of the 100 monthly programs. Situated throughout Central Ohio, the Columbus Metro Parks protect a variety of unique biological, historical, and geological features of Columbus.

For example, the Battelle Darby Metro Park stretches 14 miles along the banks the Big and Little Darby, a Registered National Scenic River; evidence of the Ice Age can be seen cutting through the park at Glacier Ridge; Highbanks hosts a collection of Indian mounds; Slate Ridge Historical Farm is a working farm providing a living connection to Ohio history; walking along the stream at Clear Creek visitors can see evidence of beavers and footprints of bobcats; and Inniswood boasts more than 2,000 species of plants, specialty collections of hostas, daffodils, daylilies and several theme gardens including the rose, herb and woodland rock garden.

Naturally, the Columbus Metro Parks provide opportunities for boating, biking, hiking, educational programs, photography, bird watching, fishing, running, or silent meditation. Regardless, visitors to the metro parks can find something of interest for anyone, anytime of the year, to people of all ages.

This doesn’t even take into account the over 300 parks of all sizes and shapes spread throughout Columbus and managed by the city. Softball, soccer, football, tennis, basketball, volleyball, hockey, baseball, indoor, outdoor, community centers, recreation center, batting cages, community gardens, and green space all shared by residents united by a common political boundary.

However, the most important feature of Columbus, the one that sets it apart from other cities in the Midwest, is the people. Columbus, with all of its diversity, presents a tapestry of experiences that when woven together create a beautiful tapestry supporting living, working, and playing. A tapestry that comes together to support one another and grow together; it is a community with a heart.

Photos courtesy of the Columbus Chamber.