Columbus, Ohio

Columbus is something special. It's a big city (15th largest in the country), but with the friendly warmth of a small town. In addition to being home to one of the finest universities in the nation, its attractions range from a rich visual and performing arts scene to a renowned zoo, exciting sports, fine restaurants, and enough specialty shops, outlets, and malls to satisfy even the most avid shoppers. Add to this a special-events calendar that rivals that of any other city its size, and you'll never lack things to do in Columbus.

The city is easy to navigate. It's a 15-minute drive from Moritz to the Columbus airport, and an expansive, free-for-students bus system also makes every corner of Columbus accessible.

Several urban districts provide unique opportunities to shop, dine, and explore. Just south of downtown is the German Village, the nation's largest privately restored historic neighborhood. Want to catch a Columbus Blue Jackets professional hockey game and then grab dinner? The Arena District is your place. Stop by the Short North arts district if you enjoy perusing galleries and shops. Want to meet other young professionals? Grandview is a popular choice.

Columbus welcomes Ohio State students with open arms, and Moritz students often explain how easy it is to call Columbus "home" after just a few months. Many of our students come to Columbus for law school, but now can't imagine living anywhere else.

Population and Size

Columbus is the largest city in Ohio and the 15th largest city in the United States. The metropolitan area has 1.7 million people.

Cultural Diversity

The 2000 U.S. Census revealed the racial breakdown of Columbus as 67.9 percent white, 24.5 percent African-American, 3.4 percent Asian, and 2.5 percent Hispanic. People from nearly 100 different countries call Columbus home.

Location

Columbus is located in Central Ohio and is conveniently located at the intersection of interstates 70 and 71, within a one-day drive or a one-hour flight of 60 percent of the population of the United States and Canada.

Climate

Columbus has four distinct seasons. The average temperatures for the seasons are: Spring (March-May) 50.9 F; Summer (June-August) 71.6 F; Fall (September-November) 53.9 F; and Winter (December-February) 29.3 F. Average annual rainfall is 37.8 inches. The average annual snowfall is 28 inches per year.

Economy

The Columbus area is home to more than 700 law firms and five Fortune 500 companies. It is among the more economically stable metropolitan areas in the United States and is one of just a handful of cities in the northeastern quadrant of the country whose economy and population both grew steadily through the last three decades of the 20th Century.

Transportation

Columbus is centrally located conveniently at the intersection of interstates 70 and 71. Once in the city, the Central Ohio Transit Authority offers regular bus service throughout the city.

Headquartered in Columbus

Many nationally recognized companies began in the Columbus area, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Bob Evans Farms, Inc., CompuServe, Express, Huntington Bancshares, Limited Brands, the Longaberger Company, Nationwide Insurance, Red Roof Inns, Wendy's International, and Worthington Industries.

10 Columbus Attractions Law Students Shouldn't Miss

• Huntington Park, the new home of the Columbus Clippers AAA baseball team opened in 2009 and has already been named "ballpark of the year."
• Columbus Zoo and Aquarium welcomes more than 2.5 million visitors a year. The zoo opened a new water park in 2008 and a Polar Frontier exhibit in 2010.
• German Village, located just south of downtown Columbus, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Brick-paved streets, mature trees, and red brick homes fill this area along with fine restaurants, unique pubs, and specialty shops.
• A Columbus Crew game at the Columbus Crew Stadium, which was the first soccer-specific MLS stadium in the United States.
• The North Market is an amazing public market, opened in 1876, that features an eclectic group of butchers, bakers, and candy makers and is a great place to shop, eat, mingle, and people watch. One million people visit each year.
• Wexner Center for the Arts, located at The Ohio State University, has a packed schedule of impressive exhibitions, performances, films, and educational programs.
• The Short North Arts District includes a large collection of art galleries, restaurants, and pubs. On the first Saturday of each month, stop by for a "Gallery Hop," when most of the businesses stay open late.
• A Columbus Blue Jackets game at Nationwide Arena. This stadium has been ranked as the No. 1 stadium experience in all of professional sports by ESPN Magazine.
• The Franklin Park Conservatory features horticulture from a wide variety of climate zones and focuses on combining fine arts with horticulture.
• Easton Town Center, features retail shopping, entertainment, and a wide selection of restaurants and nightclubs.

On the Web*

• Columbus Chamber
• Columbus Dispatch
• Columbus-Chamber.org
• Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Greater Columbus Arts Council
• Weather Information

* links will open in a new window