Columbus was created as the capital city of Ohio due to its central location in 1812.  The Borough of Columbus was established in 1816, and the City of Columbus was officially chartered in 1834 with a population of 3500.

Sister City History

Columbus established its first sister city connection in 1955 with Genoa, Italy, the common link being Christopher Columbus, the city’s namesake and Genoa’s most famous son.  Since then, Columbus has established seven other sister city relationships.

Economy

The economy of Columbus is a service-based economy.  The largest industries in the city include education, insurance, retail (as the national headquarters of Limited Brands, Inc.), research and development, and government (as the capital city of Ohio).

Education

Columbus is a major center of higher education and learning, with numerous universities and technical institutes.  The city is home to the Ohio State University, the largest university in the United States; Capital University; Columbus State University; Columbus College of Art and Design; Otterbein College; and Columbus State Community College, among other institutions.

Culture

Columbus is home to many diverse populations.  It is also a great supporter of the arts, with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra; the Contemporary American Theater Company; the Columbus Jazz Orchestra; and the Columbus Museum of Art, among others.  Columbus is home also to the hockey team Columbus Blue Jackets, the professional soccer team (and 2008 MLS champions) Columbus Crew, and the Triple-A baseball team Columbus Clippers.