20 Fun Facts About Columbus OH

Columbus, Ohio is more than just the capital city of the Buckeye State. Here are 20 interesting and fun facts about Columbus that make it a unique place to live and visit:

1. Columbus has over 90 neighborhoods and historic districts, each with its own distinct personality and charm. German Village, Short North Arts District, and Victorian Village are some of the most popular areas.
2. Over 11 million people visit Columbus each year to attend conferences, sporting events, and explore the city. It’s the 14th largest city in the U.S. with a population of about 920,000.
3. The first Wendy’s restaurant opened in downtown Columbus in 1969. Founder Dave Thomas named it after his daughter Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas.
4. The Ohio State University campus in Columbus is one of the largest in the U.S. with over 60,000 students. Ohio Stadium seats over 100,000 Buckeye football fans.
5. Columbus has over 200 parks ranging from community parks to gardening centers. The Scioto Mile features 33 acres of riverfront parks downtown along the Scioto River.
6. COMfest (Community Festival) is a free annual music and arts festival held in Columbus since 1972. It’s one of the largest festivals in the Midwest attracting over 300,000 people.
7. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has over 11,000 animal residents representing over 600 species. It offers tons of fun extras like zip lining, climbing walls and paddle boating.
8. Columbus is home to the second largest fashion incubator in the world, The Joseph, providing resources to emerging fashion designers and brands.
9. North America’s largest LGTBQ Pride Parade takes place each June in Columbus with over 500,000 participants. The city has a very diverse and progressive population.
10. A recreated Santa Maria ship is docked on the Scioto River to represent the ship Christopher Columbus captained on his 1492 voyage.
11. COSI, the Center of Science and Industry hands-on science museum in Columbus, offers adventurous activities like riding a high-wire unicycle 30 feet above the atrium floor.
12. Columbus has the largest single-screen movie theater in the world. The Grandview Heights Grandview Theatre opened in 1928 and still shows current movies.
13. The Columbus Foundation is ranked 7th largest community foundation in America. It has provided millions in grants benefitting central Ohio.
14. Actor Richard Basehart, artist Roy Lichtenstein, chef Guy Fieri, astronaut John Glenn, and fashion designer Nanette Lepore were all born in Columbus.
15. Columbus was voted America’s most intelligent city according to the Intelligent Community Forum due to its universities, tech workforce and research facilities.
16. The Columbus Blue Jackets NHL hockey team made their debut in 2000 as an expansion team. Games feature lots of pre-game activities and a live cannon shooting when they score.
17. Easton Town Center is a popular shopping, dining, and entertainment complex with nearly 300 stores and restaurants in a beautiful outdoor setting.
18. Columbus has one of the largest collections of Jack Nicklaus memorabilia at the new Jack Nicklaus Museum located on the OSU campus.
19. Nearly 850,000 people attend the annual Ohio State Fair in Columbus which is one of the largest state fairs in America.
20. Fortune, Forbes, and BusinessWeek magazines have all ranked Columbus as a top U.S. city for business and careers. Columbus is business friendly!