Columbus is the capital and the largest city of the American state of Ohio. Named for the famed explorer Christopher Columbus, the city was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, and assumed the functions of state capital in 1816. The city has a diverse economy based on education, insurance, healthcare, and technology. Acknowledged as the 8th best large city to inhabit in the US by Money Magazine, it is also recognized as an emerging global city.[3][4] Citizens of Columbus are usually referred to as Columbusites.[5]

In 2005 Columbus was ranked as the United States 15th largest city, with 730,657 residents, and is the country's 32nd largest metropolitan area. Located near the geographic center of the state, Columbus is the county seat of Franklin County, although parts of the city also extend into Delaware and Fairfield counties.

The name Columbus is often used to refer to the Columbus Metropolitan Area, which includes many other municipalities. According to the US Census, the metropolitan area has a population of 1,708,625, while the Combined Statistical Area (which also includes Marion and Chillicothe) has 1,936,351 people.