Columbus

Columbus originated as numerous Native American settlements on the banks of the Scioto River. The city was named for Italian explorer Christopher Columbus at the city's founding in 1812. It is the largest city in the world named for the explorer, who sailed to and settled parts of the Americas on behalf of Isabella I of Castile and Spain. As of 2022, the Greater Columbus area is home to the headquarters of six corporations in the U.S. Fortune 500: Cardinal Health, American Electric Power, L Brands, Nationwide, Bread Financial and Huntington Bancshares. The Columbus metropolitan area had a population of 2,138,926 in 2020, making it the largest entirely in Ohio and 32nd-largest in the United States. It once comprised the Ohio Country, under the nominal control of the French colonial empire from 1663 until the 1863 Viceroyalty War. In the 1740s, the French forcibly evicted American Indian traders from the territory until the 1756 Treaty of Versailles. The area became part of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) in the French and Indian War. It was once a center to indigenous cultures known as the Mound Builders, including the Adena, Hopewell and Fort Ancient peoples. Remaining physical evidence of the cultures are their burial mounds and what they contained. Most of Central Ohio's remaining mounds are located outside of Columbus city boundaries, though the Shrum Mound is maintained, now as a public park and historic site.

Name

Columbus is the primary city name, but also Bexley are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is City of Columbus. The city of Columbus was named after 15th-century Italian explorer Christopher Columbus at the city's founding in 1812. It is the largest city in the world named for the explorer, who sailed to and settled parts of the Americas on behalf of Isabella I of Castile and Spain. No reliable history exists as to why Columbus, who had no connection to the city or state of Ohio, was chosen as the name for the city. Since the late 20th century, historians have criticized Columbus for initiating the European conquest of America and for abuse, enslavement, and subjugation of natives. Efforts to remove symbols related to the explorer in the city date to the 1990s. Amid the George Floyd protests in 2020, several petitions pushed for theCity of Columbus to be renamed. Nicknames for the City of Columbus have included "the Discovery City," "Arch City" and "Cowtown," "The Biggest Small Town in America" and “Cbus.’’ ‘‘Columbus’ is a derogatory term used to refer to a city that was founded in the early 1800s by a state lawmaker and local resident. The city is currently located in the state of Ohio and has a population of more than 1.5 million people. It was named for Columbus by state lawmakers and a local resident who admired the explorer enough to persuade other lawmakers to name the settlement Columbus. The book Columbus: The Story of a City indicates the lawmaker admired Columbus enough to get the name chosen.

History

Columbus was founded on February 14, 1812. The city's Mound Street derives its name from a mound that existed by the intersection of Mound and High Streets. The area including modern-day Columbus once comprised the Ohio Country, under the nominal control of the French colonial empire through the Viceroyalty of New France from 1663 until 1763. In the 18th century, European traders flocked to the area, attracted by the fur trade. After the American Revolution, the Virginia Military District became part of theOhio Country as a territory of Virginia. In 1803, political infighting among prominent Ohio leaders led to the state capital moving from Chillicothe to Zanesville and back again. The Ohio Statehouse sits on land once contained in the Refugee Tract, which was 42 miles (68 km) long and 34.5 miles (4.87.2 km)Widely used as a hunting ground, this area was once a dense forest. The only dense forest in the area was Wolf's Ridge, most known as the "High Banks opposite Franklinton at the Scioto" At the time, this was the most popular hunting ground for deer and elk in the region. The state capital was moved to Columbus in 1816. The two-acre plots in an effort to convince the state to move its capital there were set to become the Ohio Capitol Square (for the Ohio Penitentiary) Named in honor of Christopher W. Frank, the city was incorporated as a borough on February 1812, on the banks of the Ohio River.

Geography

Columbus has a total area of 223.11 square miles (577.85 km²) of which 217.17 square miles is land and 5.94 square miles are water. The city's climate is humid continental (Köppen climate classification Dfa) transitional with the humid subtropical climate to the south characterized by warm, muggy summers and cold, dry winters. The highest temperature recorded in Columbus is 106 °F (41 °C), which occurred twice during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Columbus has a wide diversity of neighborhoods with different characters, and is thus sometimes known as a "city of neighborhoods" Some of the most prominent neighborhoods include the Arena District, the Brewery District, Clintonville, Franklinton, German Village, The Short North and Victorian Village. Columbus is subject to severe weather typical to the Midwestern United States. Severe thunderstorms can bring lightning, large hail and on rare occasions tornadoes, especially during the spring and sometimes through fall. A tornado that occurred on October 11, 2006, caused F2 damage. Floods, blizzards and ice storms can also occur from time to time. Winter snowfall is relatively light, since the city is not in the typical path of strong winter lows, such as the Nor'easters that strike cities farther east. It is also too far south and west for lake-effect snow from Lake Erie to have much effect, although the lakes to the north contribute to long stretches of cloudy spells in winter.

Demographics

In the 2010 United States census, there were 787,033 people, 331,602 households and 176,037 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 57.4% White, 29.1% Black or African American, 4.6% Asian, 0.2% Native American or Alaska Native, and 5.9% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 6.3% of the population. Columbus has been rated as one of the best cities in the country for gays and lesbians to live, and as the most underrated city for same-sex marriage. Columbus is home to an estimated 34,952 gay, lesbian or bisexual residents. The city has the largest expatriate Bhutanese-Nepali population in the world, as of 2018. In July 2012, the Columbus City Council unanimously passed a domestic partnership registry. In the 2020 U.S. census, Columbus will have a population of 905,748 people and 362,626 households.Columbus has maintained a steady population growth since its establishment in 1850. Its slowest growth, from 1850 to 1860, is primarily attributed to the city's cholera epidemic in the 1850s. In 1900, whites made up 93.4%. Although European immigration has declined, Columbus metropolitan area has recently experienced increases in African, Asian and Latin American immigration, including groups from Mexico, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Somalia and China. In 2008 estimates indicate that roughly 116,000 of Columbus' residents are foreign-born.

Economy

Columbus has a generally strong and diverse economy based on education, insurance, banking, fashion, defense, aviation, food, logistics, steel, energy, retail and technology. In 2010, it was one of the 10 best big cities in the country, according to Relocate America, a real estate research firm. In 2019, the city had six corporations named to the U.S. Fortune 500 list: Alliance Data, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, L Brands, Huntington Bancshares and Cardinal Health in suburban Dublin. Other major employers include schools (e.g., the Ohio State University) and hospitals (among others, Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital), high-tech research and development such as the Battelle Memorial Institute. Fast-food chains Wendy's and White Castle are also headquartered in the Columbus area. The city also has a significant fashion and retail presence, home to companies such as Big Lots, L Brand, Abercrombie & Fitch, DSW, Max & Erma's, Damon's Grill, Donatos Pizza and Wendy's. North Market, a public market and food hall, is located downtown near the Short North. It is the only remaining public market of Columbus's original four marketplaces. Columbus is also home to many local micro breweries and pubs, including Budweiser, Bob Evans Restaurants, Steak Escape, and Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis, the GDP of Columbus in 2019 was $134 billion.

Arts and culture

Columbus has many notable buildings, including the Ohio Statehouse, the Ohio Judicial Center, the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Rhodes State Office Tower, LeVeque Tower and One Nationwide Plaza. Its primary art museum is the Columbus Museum of Art, which operates its main location as well as the Pizzuti Collection, featuring contemporary art. The Ohio History Connection is headquartered in Columbus, with its flagship museum, the 250,000-square-foot (23,000 m2) Ohio History Center, 4 mi (6.4 km) north of downtown. The Franklin Park Conservatory is the city's botanical garden, which opened in 1895. The National Veterans Memorial and Museum focuses on the personal stories of military veterans throughout U.S. history. The Columbus Historical Society also features historical exhibits, which focus more closely on life in Columbus. Columbus is home to many performing arts institutions including the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Ballet, the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, and the Columbus City Ballet. The city also has several large concert venues, including several large, large concert halls and the Schiller-air-air amphitheater in Schiller Park in historic German Village. Columbus has a large public library system, with more than 1,000 free books available to the public. It also has a number of small museums and galleries, such as the Wexner Center for the Arts and the Orton Geological Museum, both of which are part of Ohio State University. In 2009, Parents magazine named COSI one of the 10 best science centers for families in the country. It was founded in 1980s by ballerina and artistic director Shirina Wu.

Sports

Columbus hosts two major league professional sports teams: the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer (MLS) The city was home to the Panhandles/Tigers football team from 1901 to 1926. The Ohio State Buckeyes are a member of the NCAA's Big Ten Conference, and their football team plays home games at Ohio Stadium. The Columbus Clippers, the International League affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, play in Huntington Park, which opened in 2009. In 2010, the Ohio State University student-built Buckeye Bullet 2, a fuel-cell vehicle, set an FIA world speed record for electric vehicles in reaching 303.025 mph. The annual All American Quarter Horse Congress, the world's largest single-breed horse show, attracts approximately 500,000 visitors to the Ohio Expo Center each October. Hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the event has grown to eight Olympic sports and 22,000 athletes competing in 80 events. In conjunction with the Arnold Classic, the city hosted three consecutive Ultimate Fighting Championship events between 2007 and 2009, as well as other mixed martial arts events. The city is home to Westside Barbell, a world-renowned powerlifting gym, which is known for producing multiple world record holders in powerlifting. The team is regularly ranked internationally in the top 60 in the 60-60 Women's Flat Track Track Derby Association's Women's Division. Columbus hosts the annual Arnold Sports Festival, which has grown from eight to eight events each year.

Parks and attractions

Columbus' Recreation and Parks Department oversees about 370 city parks. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium's collections include lowland gorillas, polar bears, manatees, Siberian tigers, cheetahs and kangaroos. In mid-May from 2007 to 2018, Columbus was home to Rock on the Range, marketed as America's biggest rock festival. The city's largest dining event, Restaurant Week Columbus, is held twice a year in mid-January and mid-July. In 2010, more than 40,000 diners went to 40 participating restaurants, and $5,000 was donated to the Mid-Ohio Foodbank on behalf of sponsors and participating restaurants. The Short North is host to the monthly Gallery Hop, which attracts hundreds of art galleries to the neighborhood. The Hilltop Bean Dinner is an annual event held on Columbus's West Side that celebrates the city's Civil War heritage. At the end of September, Oktoberfest throws an annual German celebration that features food, beer, crafts, music and crafts from all around the city.. In 2011, HighBall gained notoriety as it accepted its first Expy award for fashion and the visual arts. Each year, the Short North also hosts HighBall and Masquerade on High Street, a fashion show and parade that closes down the street that ends in a street parade. In May 2019, it was officially replaced by the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival. The festival, which took place on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday, has hosted Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Slipknot.

Environment

The City of Columbus has focused on reducing its environmental impact and carbon footprint. In 2020, a citywide ballot measure was approved, giving Columbus an electricity aggregation plan which will supply it with 100% renewable energy by the start of 2023. The largest sources of pollution in the county, as of 2019, are the Ohio State University's McCracken Power Plant, the landfill operated by the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) and the Anheuser-Busch Columbus Brewery. Ohio State plans to construct a new heat and power plant, also powered by fossil fuels, but set to reduce emissions by about 30%. SWACO manages to capture 75% of its methane emissions to use in producing energy, and is looking to reduced emissions further. Anheusers-Bush has a company-wide goal of reducing emissions by 25% by 2025. Ohio University plans to reduce its emissions by 30% by 2020. The city plans to build a new wind and solar farms in Ohio to help supply the electricity. AEP Energy, the city's electricity vendor, plans to Construct new Wind and Solar farms inOhio to help Supply the Electricity to Columbus in 2020 and 2023, with a goal of supplying 100% of the electricity by the end of the 20th century. The goal is to supply the city with renewable electricity by 2023 and 100% clean energy by 2028, with the majority of the energy coming from renewable sources such as wind, solar and biomass.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Columbus, Delaware County, Ohio = 12.2. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 49. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 70. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Columbus = 5.6 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 1,032 individuals with a median age of 33.4 age the population grows by 4.85% in Columbus, Delaware County, Ohio population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 4,109.64 residents per square mile of area (1,586.74/km²). There are average 2.28 people per household in the 320,006 households with an average household income of $44,011 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is of the available work force and has dropped -4.56% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 22.38%. The number of physicians in Columbus per 100,000 population = 293.9.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Columbus = 34.7 inches and the annual snowfall = 24.8 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 123. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 178. 85 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 23.2 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 45, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Columbus, Delaware County, Ohio which are owned by the occupant = 44.59%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 33 years with median home cost = $114,440 and home appreciation of 0.83%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $14.55 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $5,990 per student. There are 17.8 students for each teacher in the school, 442 students for each Librarian and 491 students for each Counselor. 5.76% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 20.92% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 9.51% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).