25 Key Facts About Columbus, Ohio

The capital of the Buckeye State, Columbus, boasts vibrant festivals, passionate sports enthusiasts, and stunning green spaces. Discover more intriguing details about this dynamic city.

1. Columbus is a hub for many.

Nearly half of Americans reside within 600 miles of Columbus. Cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City are just a short drive away.

2. Columbus didn’t always hold the title of Ohio’s capital.

At the time Ohio became a state in 1803, Columbus did not exist. Chillicothe, a small town along the Scioto River, served as the first state capital. The capital briefly shifted to Zanesville in 1810 before returning to Chillicothe three years later.

3. Columbus was designated the capital before it officially became a city.

In 1810, Ohio’s legislature decided to establish a new, permanent capital. They stipulated that the chosen location must be within 40 miles of the state’s geographic center. Four Franklinton businessmen donated 20 acres of land, and on February 14, 1812, this site was chosen for the capital. Columbus was officially incorporated in 1816.

4. Columbus is the birthplace of some remarkable individuals.

Notable figures from Columbus include R.L. Stine, the author of the popular Goosebumps series, and renowned chef Guy Fieri. Born as Ferry, he changed his name in 1995 to honor his grandparents’ surname, Fieri.

5. Wendy’s was founded in Columbus ...

Columbus has been a breeding ground for fast food giants. The first-ever Wendy’s opened its doors on East Broad Street in November 1969. Currently, the chain operates its headquarters in Dublin, Ohio, a Columbus suburb.

6. ... And White Castle’s headquarters now calls Columbus home.

The burger chain White Castle originated in Wichita, Kansas, in 1921 but relocated its base to Columbus in 1933.

7. Columbus was nearly given a different name.

On February 20, 1812, the Ohio legislature chose the name Columbus for the yet-to-be-completed capital. They had also considered a far less imaginative option: Ohio City.

8. Over the years, Columbus has been known by several nicknames.

Columbus has been called many names, such as Cowtown and Cbus. The nickname Arch City, from the 1890s, originated from the arches built over major streets to power the city’s electric streetcars.

9. The city boasts some unique quirks.

The Ohio History Center houses a real two-headed calf, preserved and displayed. This rare creature, born in 1915, was donated in the 1970s.

10. Abraham Lincoln discovered his presidential victory while in Columbus.

In 1861, Abraham Lincoln was at the Ohio Statehouse visiting then-Governor William Dennison Jr. when he received news of his Electoral College victory and presidential election.

11. A well-known Columbus landmark has a somewhat dark history.

Founded in 1876, the North Market was initially situated at the city’s public cemetery on Spruce Street. It has since relocated to a multi-level building. Popular among locals and tourists alike, the market features over 30 vendors offering Midwestern and international cuisine, fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and beer.

12. The Columbus Blue Jackets’ name honors the city’s Civil War contributions.

Following the NHL’s decision to grant Columbus a franchise on June 25, 1997, a region-wide contest was held to name the team. From over 14,000 submissions, Columbus Blue Jackets was chosen. The name reflects Columbus’s production of blue Union uniforms during the Civil War and Ohio’s significant contribution of soldiers to the Union army.

13. The Ohio State University was once involved in a humorous scandal.

At The Ohio State University (officially including “The” in its name), football is a major event, as are the homecoming celebrations. In 1926, Rosalind Morrison was elected homecoming queen, but irregularities surfaced: Only 10,000 voters were eligible, yet Morrison received 12,000 votes. As a result, the crown went to the runner-up, Ms. Maudine Ormsby, a cow nominated by the College of Agriculture. Maudine participated in the parade but skipped the dance.

14. The first woman to complete a solo flight around the world hailed from Columbus.

OSU alumna and Columbus local Geraldine “Jerrie” Mock became the first woman to fly solo around the globe. She piloted a single-engine Cessna dubbed the "Spirit of Columbus," departing from Port Columbus International Airport on March 19, 1964. Twenty-nine days later, 5,000 fans cheered her victorious return.

15. Columbus residents celebrate the Doo Dah Parade.

Each July (typically on the Fourth), Columbusites come together to embrace “satire, liberty, and lunacy” at the yearly Doo Dah Parade. This quirky event welcomes nearly everyone, featuring drummers in Easter Island headgear, Rocky Horror enthusiasts, and cars adorned with mustaches.

16. Columbus was once home to the world’s oldest captive gorilla.

Colo, a resident of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, held the title of the world’s oldest captive gorilla. Born on December 22, 1956, she was also the first gorilla bred in captivity. Her parents, Millie and Mac, were wild-caught apes from Cameroon brought to Columbus in 1951. Initially named Cuddles, she was later called Colo, a blend of Columbus and Ohio. She passed away in 2017.

17. Columbus boasts a stunning rose-filled park.

If you visit Columbus in the warmer months, don’t miss the Park of Roses. This vibrant 13-acre garden in Whetstone Park features over 11,000 rose bushes across 350 varieties, some of which trace back to the early 20th century.

18. Columbus shares an unexpected link with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

A bronze statue of action hero and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger stands downtown, commemorating his ties to Ohio’s capital. In 1970, Schwarzenegger won a Columbus weightlifting competition against more renowned athletes and told organizer Jim Lorimer, “When I retire from bodybuilding, I’ll return, and we’ll host a major bodybuilding event here every year.” Together, they established the Mr. Olympia contest (1975–1980), and in 1989, Schwarzenegger founded the Arnold Sports Festival, now one of the world’s largest fitness expos, held annually in Columbus.

19. The first junior high school in the U.S. was established in Columbus.

In the early 20th century, Ohio elementary schools covered kindergarten through 10th grade, with only 7 percent of Columbus students earning high school diplomas. To boost graduation rates, administrators opened the nation’s first junior high school, Indianola Junior High School, in 1909, catering to seventh through ninth graders.

20. Columbus is home to a “cornhenge.”

In the suburb of Dublin, 109 concrete ears of corn stand as a tribute to Ohio’s farming heritage. Created by artist Michael Cochran in 1994, these sculptures are arranged in rows in a field, each standing 6 feet, 3 inches tall. Officially titled Field of Corn (with Osage Oranges), the installation is affectionately known as Cornhenge.

21. College football is a major attraction in Columbus.

The OSU Buckeyes compete at the iconic Ohio Stadium, which seats 104,944 fans clad in scarlet. It ranks as the fourth-largest on-campus college football venue in the U.S. Since 1949, its average home-game attendance has consistently ranked among the top four nationally.

22. Ohio is the birthplace of seven U.S. presidents.

Out of the 45 U.S. presidents, seven were born in Ohio: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, and Warren G. Harding. William Henry Harrison, born in Virginia, is also frequently included as an Ohio president because he lived there. The Ohio Statehouse’s hearing rooms are named in honor of these leaders.

23. A Columbus airport bears the name of astronaut John Glenn.

Many astronauts hail from Ohio, including John Glenn, a proud Buckeye State native. Columbus’s John Glenn International Airport honors the first American to orbit Earth, who also served Ohio as a U.S. senator.

24. Columbus is home to a vibrant LGBTQ+ community.

A 2015 Gallup estimate revealed that 4.3 percent of residents in the Columbus metro area identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. The Columbus Pride Parade, established in 1981, is now one of the Midwest’s largest, drawing approximately 500,000 attendees and spectators annually.

25. Columbus features a topiary park inspired by art.

Neo-Impressionist artist Georges Seurat captured a scene of French picnickers in his iconic work A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte—1884, the first painting to showcase his innovative pointillism technique. Columbus honors Seurat’s masterpiece in Topiary Park, where shrubs are sculpted into the forms of every figure from the painting.