#1 Opportunity City
BY FORBES MAGAZINE
2.2 Million
FAST-GROWING POPULATION
50+
Colleges & Universities
17
Fortune 1,000 Company headquarters
Top 10 Metro
For Young Professionals (25-34)
Top 30
Most fun places to live in the U.S.
Get to know Columbus.
Food, friends, fashion, and fun. Experience everything that vibrant Columbus, Ohio, has to offer you and your family.
Neighborhoods
Columbus, Ohio’s, diverse and fun-filled neighborhoods are just a short drive (or walk!) from its downtown hub of activity. Settle into the historic charm and brick streets of German Village. Explore the industrial emerging arts epicenter of Franklinton. Embrace the Short North Arts District with boutique shopping, outstanding nightlife and distinctive dining. Or head out to family-friendly suburbs for the best of all worlds. There’s a place for everyone in Columbus.
Arts & Culture
Museums and galleries, historic theaters and outdoor pavilions, arenas and cabarets, festivals and parades. Whatever your pleasure, Columbus has it. The art scene is bursting with creativity from independent artists, professional troupes, and artists-in- residence, while the city draws major players in performing arts and music. It’s no wonder we’ve been named one of the “30 Most Fun Places to Live in the U.S.” by U.S. News & World Report and one of “17 Must-Visit Destinations in 2017” by Expedia.
Sports & Recreation
Whether you like to play sports, watch sports, or both, Columbus has it all. Hit the links at one of the golf courses where golf pro, Jack Nicklaus, learned to play. Take a trail ride through one of our many Metroparks, including the newly renovated Scioto Mile. Catch a game in any season with major local sports teams, including NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, the MLS’ Columbus Crew SC, the Columbus Clippers (Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians), and college- favorite, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Food & Drink
The Columbus restaurant scene is buzzing with creativity, variety, and one-of-a-kind experiences. You’ll find everything from classic diner fare to fine dining, local breweries to globally- minded cafes. With farms, heritage livestock, and artisan producers just minutes away, Columbus chefs have easy access to the best local ingredients to craft their menus. Make a reservation at one of Cameron Mitchell’s signature restaurants and save room for dessert at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, both with locations throughout the city.
Attractions
There are so many things to do in Columbus. And when you live here, you get to experience them all. Grab pastries and coffee at the North Market, or go gallery hopping in the Short North Arts District. Get wild at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s Adventure Cove, or get hands-on at COSI, a top-rated science center. Experience the Chihuly glass artwork collection at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, or snag some outdoor shopping at Easton Town Center, home of the LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Visit the one-of-a-kind National Veterans Memorial and Museum or let loose at Eldorado Scioto Downs or Hollywood Casino Columbus. You decide.
Education Hub
Columbus’ workforce is highly educated, diverse, and young, with one of the nation’s highest concentrations of millennials. The city is home to leading universities, top-ranked liberal arts colleges, and community and technical schools, including The Ohio State University, Columbus State Community College, and The Columbus College of Art and Design to name a few. What’s more, Columbus also has top- ranked public, private, and online K-12 education options including 12 STEM schools to offer brighter futures for Ohio’s youth.
Shopping
Columbus is a fashion capital. With more designers per capita than most of the United States, the city is on the edge of fashion-forward culture. The city is proud to house home offices and flagship stores for Express, Abercrombie & Fitch, Eloquii, Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW), Victoria’s Secret, and more. With great fashion, of course, comes great shopping—which Columbus has plenty of! Stop by hidden-gem shops and boutiques like Homage or Ladybird or make a day of it at our high-end shopping centers and designer outlets near Easton and Polaris.
Top-Ranked Healthcare
Award-winning Columbus-based healthcare systems have invested $3 billion in recent expansion efforts to better serve communities in central Ohio and beyond. Nationwide Children’s Hospital consistently ranks in the top 10 of America’s best children’s hospitals for clinical care and advanced research. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is a powerhouse that continues to lead the way in research in virtually every medical specialty. And the OhioHealth network of hospitals provides a community- centered, faith-based, nonprofit option for outstanding patient care.
LGBTQ Friendly
Home to one of the largest Pride parades in the Midwest attracting more than 700,000 people annually, Columbus is an open-minded city where people are free to be themselves and follow their passions. This smart, welcoming community consistently scores a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, demonstrating inclusiveness in municipal laws, policies, and services. You’ll find boutiques, bars, restaurants, and neighborhoods throughout every corner of Columbus where LGBTQ citizens, families, and allies fly Pride flags with confidence.
Newark
With a bustling downtown rich in history, culture and the arts, there’s something for everyone in Newark. Don’t miss The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art and Technology, central Ohio’s best destination for hands-on history, art, science and glassblowing. Visit an architectural wonder of America at Newark Earthworks, the largest set of geometric earthen enclosures in the world. Take in nature’s beauty at Dawes Arboretum, a 2,000 acre paradise home to over 5,300 types of plants.