Where is Columbus, Ohio

Columbus is located in the central part of the Ohio, United States. It is the largest city in the Ohio.

Columbus City Location Map

Where is Columbus
About Map: Map showing location of Columbus in the south-west of the Ohio.

About Columbus City

Columbus is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio, With an estimate population of 898,553 in 2019 data, it is the 14th-most populous city in the UNited States. It is the county seat of Franklin County. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city in the United States of America. It covers and area of 225.08 sq mi (582.94 km2).

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Columbus, Ohio Quick Facts

FactDetails
CityColumbus
CountyFranklin County
StateOhio
State CapitalColumbus
US RegionMidwest
Latitude39.9612° N
Longitude82.9988° W
Elevation902 ft (275 m)
Land Area220.38 sq mi
Water Area3.17 sq mi
Total Area223.55 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)905,748
Population Density4,110 per sq mi
ZIP Codes43085, 43201, 43202, 43203, 43204, 43205, 43206, 43207, 43209, 43210, 43211, 43212, 43213, 43214, 43215, 43217, 43219, 43220, 43221, 43222, 43223, 43224, 43227, 43228, 43229, 43230, 43231, 43232, 43235, 43240
Area Code614, 380
Time Zone StandardEastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5)
Time Zone DaylightEastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4)
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code39-18000
Congressional DistrictOhio 3rd Congressional District

Location and Surroundings

Columbus is located in Franklin County in central Ohio and serves as the state capital. It lies roughly midway between Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh, making it a major transportation and economic hub. The city is known for government, education, technology, healthcare, and business services.

Nearby Cities to Columbus, Ohio

  • Bexley, Ohio - 5 mi East
  • Upper Arlington, Ohio - 5 mi Northwest
  • Worthington, Ohio - 10 mi North
  • Gahanna, Ohio - 9 mi Northeast
  • Hilliard, Ohio - 12 mi West
  • Reynoldsburg, Ohio - 11 mi East
  • Dublin, Ohio - 15 mi Northwest
  • Westerville, Ohio - 14 mi Northeast
  • Grove City, Ohio - 9 mi South
  • Lancaster, Ohio - 33 mi Southeast

Columbus, Ohio Climate and Weather Overview

MonthAvg High (°F)Avg Low (°F)Avg Rainfall (in)
January37222.7
April63423.8
July85664.2
October66452.6
Annual634440.0
Climate AttributeDetails
Climate Classification (Köppen)Hot-Summer Humid Continental (Dfa)
Annual Rainfall40.0 inches
Annual Sunshine Days178 days
Hurricane/Tornado RiskLow hurricane risk, moderate tornado risk
Snowfall28 inches annually

Driving Distances from Columbus, Ohio

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
ClevelandOhio1432 hr 15 min
CincinnatiOhio1071 hr 45 min
DaytonOhio721 hr 15 min
ToledoOhio1452 hr 15 min
AkronOhio1252 hr
AthensOhio751 hr 25 min
PittsburghPennsylvania1853 hr
IndianapolisIndiana1752 hr 50 min
DetroitMichigan2003 hr 15 min
LouisvilleKentucky2053 hr 15 min

Transportation and Connectivity in Columbus, Ohio

CategoryDetails
Airport NameJohn Glenn Columbus International Airport
IATA CodeCMH
PortNo Major Port
Major HighwaysI-70, I-71, I-270, US 23, US 33
Train/Amtrak ServiceNo Amtrak service within the city
Local Bus/Transit ServiceCentral Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)
  • Interstate 70 - Major east-west corridor linking Columbus with Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.
  • Interstate 71 - Connects Columbus with Cleveland and Cincinnati.
  • Interstate 270 - Beltway surrounding the Columbus metropolitan area.
  • U.S. Route 23 - Important north-south route through central Ohio.
  • U.S. Route 33 - Connects Columbus with southeastern Ohio and Indiana.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Columbus, Ohio

Landmark NameType
Ohio StatehouseGovernment Landmark
Franklin Park ConservatoryBotanical Garden
Columbus Zoo and AquariumZoo
German VillageHistoric District
COSIScience Museum
North MarketPublic Market
Ohio StadiumSports Venue
Nationwide ArenaSports Venue
Columbus Museum of ArtMuseum
Scioto MileRiverfront Park

Waterbodies in Columbus, Ohio

Scioto River, Olentangy River, Big Walnut Creek, Alum Creek, Hoover Reservoir, Griggs Reservoir, O'Shaughnessy Reservoir, Big Darby Creek, Scioto Audubon Wetlands, Blacklick Creek

Golf Courses in Columbus, Ohio

Champions Golf Course, Raymond Memorial Golf Course, Airport Golf Course, Mentel Memorial Golf Course, Turnberry Golf Course, York Golf Club, The Ohio State University Golf Club, New Albany Links Golf Club, Pinnacle Golf Club, Heritage Golf Club

Economy and Major Employers in Columbus, Ohio

SectorMajor Employer or IndustryNotes
GovernmentState of OhioState government is a major employer.
Higher EducationThe Ohio State UniversityOne of the largest universities in the nation.
HealthcareOhioHealth and Nationwide Children's HospitalMajor healthcare providers.
FinanceJPMorgan Chase and Financial ServicesLarge financial services presence.
TechnologyTechnology and Data CentersRapidly growing innovation sector.
RetailL Brands and Retail OperationsImportant corporate and retail presence.
LogisticsDistribution and WarehousingBenefits from central location.
ManufacturingAdvanced ManufacturingGrowing industrial investment.

Colleges and Universities in Columbus, Ohio

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
The Ohio State UniversityPublicUniversityResearch, medicine, engineering, and athletics
Capital UniversityPrivateUniversityLiberal arts and law programs
Franklin UniversityPrivateUniversityAdult and professional education
Columbus State Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeTransfer and workforce education
Ohio Dominican UniversityPrivateUniversityLiberal arts education
Otterbein UniversityPrivateUniversityArts, sciences, and business programs

Columbus, Ohio - Key Historical Facts

  • Columbus was founded in 1812 and was selected as Ohio's capital because of its central location within the state.
  • The city officially became Ohio's capital in 1816, replacing Chillicothe.
  • The construction of canals and railroads helped Columbus grow into a major transportation center.
  • The Ohio State University was established in 1870 and became one of the city's most influential institutions.
  • Columbus experienced significant growth during the twentieth century through government, education, and business development.
  • Today Columbus is one of the fastest-growing major cities in the Midwest and serves as Ohio's political and economic center.

Sources

Written and fact-checked by | Last Updated: January 11, 2025, 11:50 PM ET