Columbus is the capital and largest city of the state of Ohio. It is also the seat of Franklin County. The city was named after explorer Christopher Columbus. Considered a typical American city, Columbus was for many years used as a test market for new products and services.

Places of interest

At the center of downtown Columbus is the Ohio Statehouse. It is built of native limestone in Greek Revival style. Other major buildings include a convention center and a science museum. A statue of Christopher Columbus—a gift from the citizens of Genoa, Italy, birthplace of the explorer—stands at the entrance to the city hall. A replica of one of Columbus' ships, the Santa Maria, is docked on the riverfront. The restored 19th-century Ohio Village is next to the Ohio Historical Center, while the restored 19th-century German Village is the base for the city's annual Oktoberfest. Professional sports teams include the Crew (soccer) and the Blue Jackets (hockey).

People and culture

The city has symphony and chamber orchestras as well as an opera company and several dance and theater groups. The Columbus Museum of Art includes a collection of the works of painter George Bellows, a native of the city. The boyhood home of writer and cartoonist James Thurber was restored as a center for writers. The city's zoo became known for its breeding program after the first gorilla bred in captivity was born there in 1956.

Ohio State University was founded in 1870. It is one of the country's largest state schools. Other institutions of higher learning include Capital University, located in the suburb of Bexley, and Ohio Dominican College.

Economy

The diverse economy of the city is largely based on industry, government, and educational and research institutions. Among its many industries are electronic commerce, automobiles, machinery, insurance, banking, and health care.

History

In 1812 the Ohio General Assembly chose a site on the east bank of the Scioto River to be the state capital, and the General Assembly first met there in 1816. Columbus was incorporated as a city in 1834. The city grew as a transportation center after the opening of new road and canal routes from the east and after the arrival of the railroad in 1850.

Early immigrants to Columbus were mostly English, German, and Italian. The city was a stop on the Underground Railroad, a place of safety and help for escaped slaves who were fleeing the Southern states before the American Civil War. During the war, Columbus was the site of a prisoner-of-war camp. The 2,260 soldiers who died there were buried in Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery.

A large aircraft plant and other factories brought booming growth to the city after 1940. From 1970, large parts of the downtown area were rebuilt, and commercial and industrial development extended to the fringes of the city. Population (2000 census), 711,470.