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Columbus was founded by land speculators in the early 1800s when the state was looking for a central location for its capital. Prior to this search for a central location, the state’s capital shifted between Chillicothe and Zanesville for political reasons that eventually led state leaders to seek an altogether new permanent state capital. When Columbus was chosen, it was covered in dense forest and was not yet settled; however, it wasn’t long before the land speculators’ choice proved wise when the National Road combined with the city’s link to the Ohio and Erie Canal spurred a population boom in the 1830s. Transportation continued to play a major role in the growth and development of Columbus as railroads later made their way through the city.

During the Civil War, Columbus was home to Camp Chase, a Union Prisoner of War camp that once held up to 9,000 Confederate POWs. Today it is home to one of the largest Confederate cemeteries in the North with over 2,000 soldiers buried there.

Columbus continued to thrive as a city throughout the 20th century with a diversified economy that has helped it weather hard times like the Great Depression with relative ease. Today, Columbus is the largest city in Ohio and continues to play a dominant role in the Midwest.