Columbus is located in Franklin County and is the county seat. Two important rivers flow through the city--the Olentangy River and the Scioto River.

The first settlers in the Columbus region settled on the west side of the Scioto in 1797 and named their town Franklinton. In 1821, the land directly opposite the town, on the east bank of the river, was selected as the site of the state capital. In the same year, the state legislature adopted the name Columbus for the city, after Christopher Columbus. In 1834, Columbus received a city charter and in 1871 annexed the greater part of Franklinton.

Columbus' top three employers are the retail trade industry; finance, insurance and real estate; and professional education services. It is also the home of Ohio State University.The Columbus BlueJackets have made a name here as the city's NHL team and the city's AFL team is the Columbus Destroyers. Both teams compete at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus.

Outdoor recreation can be found at Buckeye State Park and Buckeye Lake about 20 miles east and Hoover Reservoir and Alum Creek Lake just north of town. Golfers have 4 public 18-hole and 2 9-hole courses to choose from.