Columbus Map

Description: This map shows neighborhoods, streets, roads, rivers, buildings, airports, railways, and parks in Columbus.

Description: This map shows streets, trails, houses, buildings, cafes, bars, restaurants, hotels, monuments, theatres, museums, parking lots, libraries, shops, churches, points of interest, and parks in Downtown Columbus.

Columbus is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a population of 938,396 according to the 2025, it is the third-most populous state capital in the United States and the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago. Columbus is the county seat of Franklin County, though parts of the city extend into Delaware and Fairfield counties. The Columbus metropolitan area is home to more than 2.1 million people, making it one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the Midwest.

The city was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers and was named after the explorer Christopher Columbus. It was established as a planned city to serve as the state capital, replacing Chillicothe, and officially assumed that role in 1816. Columbus was incorporated as a city in 1834.

Columbus has a diversified economy based on education, government, insurance, banking, healthcare, retail, and technology. Major corporations headquartered in the city and its metropolitan area include Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, American Electric Power, L Brands' successor companies Bath & Body Works and Victoria's Secret & Co., Huntington Bancshares, Cardinal Health, and the fast-food chain Wendy's, which is based in the suburb of Dublin. In 2022, Intel announced plans to build semiconductor fabrication facilities in nearby New Albany, representing one of the largest private investments in Ohio's history.

The city is home to The Ohio State University, one of the largest universities in the United States by enrollment, founded in 1870. Ohio State's main campus lies north of downtown and is a major driver of the local economy and culture. Other institutions of higher education in the area include Columbus State Community College, Capital University, Otterbein University, Ohio Dominican University, and the Columbus College of Art and Design.

Columbus has a humid continental climate, with hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Average temperatures range from below freezing in January to highs around 30 °C (mid-80s °F) in July.

Cultural institutions in the city include the Columbus Museum of Art, COSI (Center of Science and Industry), the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the Ohio Theatre, and the Wexner Center for the Arts. The Short North Arts District, located immediately north of downtown, is known for its galleries, restaurants, and monthly Gallery Hop events. German Village, a historic neighborhood south of downtown settled by German immigrants in the 19th century, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In professional sports, Columbus is represented by the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League and the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. The Crew, founded in 1996, was one of the original teams of MLS and won the MLS Cup in 2008, 2020, and 2023. Ohio State Buckeyes athletics, particularly football played at Ohio Stadium, draw large crowds and have a significant regional following. The city also hosts the Memorial Tournament, an annual PGA Tour golf event held in Dublin, and the Arnold Sports Festival, a multi-sport competition co-founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Columbus is served by John Glenn Columbus International Airport, located east of downtown, as well as Rickenbacker International Airport, a cargo-focused facility to the south. The city's public transit is operated by the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), which runs a bus network throughout the metropolitan area. Major highways serving the city include Interstates 70 and 71, which intersect downtown, and the Interstate 270 outer belt.

The city government operates under a mayor–council system. Columbus is known for its demographic profile, which has historically made it a popular test market for national retail and restaurant chains.

Main sights in Columbus

References