Columbus is the largest city in Ohio, and the state’s third largest metropolitan area.  Named for explorer Christopher Columbus, the city was founded in 1812 and has served as the state capital since 1816.  With a population of 1.64 million people, Columbus continues its expansion, making it one of the fastest growing large cities in the nation, and the third-fastest growing major metropolitan area in the Midwest.

Columbus has a diverse economy based on defense, technology, energy, medical research, healthcare, insurance, banking, aviation, steel and chemicals, logistics, fashion, food, and hospitality.  Columbus is home to 15 Fortune 1,000 companies, six Fortune 500 companies, four nationally recognized healthcare systems, 20 colleges and universities, and provides entrepreneurial small businesses an environment for success. Employing over one million people, the Columbus Region has been ranked nationally and internationally as a strong economy due in large part to the types of jobs that are in the highest demand within the city’s marketplace.

Serving as a cultural crossroads, Columbus is home to people of all ethnicities from across the world.  The cultural diversity of Columbus is evident in the city’s neighborhoods, workplaces, and local markets.  Columbus offers amazing restaurants, incredible shopping, unique cultural districts and a vitalizing nightlife.  The Columbus Region offers 20 theater companies, 102 art galleries, and 18 museums and is home to a world-class symphony, ballet and opera. Columbus has more park space per capita than any other in the U.S.  For sports enthusiast, Columbus hosts NHL Hockey, Major League Soccer, a PGA Tour Event, a minor-league baseball team, and The Ohio State University’s Buckeyes.