Columbus, Ohio has come a long way since its early days as a refugee route. From the 1750s, when the Ohio Company sent George Washington to survey the area, to the present day, Columbus has experienced an incredible transformation. The city has grown in size and population, and has become an important center of culture and commerce. In this article, we'll explore how Columbus Ohio became such a thriving metropolis. The area was often caught between warring factions, including American Indian and European interests.
In the 1740s, merchants from Pennsylvania invaded the territory until the French forcibly evicted them. After the American Revolution, the Military District of Virginia became part of Ohio County as a territory of Virginia. East Coast settlers moved in, but instead of finding an empty border, they encountered people from the nations of Miami, Delaware, Wyandot, Shawnee, and Mingo, as well as European traders. The tribes resisted the expansion of the fledgling United States, causing years of bitter conflict. The decisive Battle of Fallen Timbers led to the Treaty of Greenville, which finally opened the way for new settlements.
In 1797, a young surveyor from Virginia named Lucas Sullivant had founded a permanent settlement on the western bank of the forks of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. As an admirer of Benjamin Franklin, Sullivant decided to call his border town Franklinton. The location was attractive because of its proximity to navigable rivers, but Sullivant was initially frustrated when, in 1798, a great flood devastated the new settlement. After the Revolution, the United States Congress reserved land comprising parts of Franklin and adjacent counties to be settled by Canadians and Nova Scotians who were sympathetic to the colonial cause. This refugee zone was 42 miles (68 km) long and 3 to 4.5 miles (4.8 to 7.2 km) wide and was claimed by 67 eligible men.
Columbus had no direct river or trail connections to other Ohio cities, causing slow initial growth. The national highway reached Columbus from Baltimore in 1831, complementing the city's new link to the Ohio and Erie canals, facilitating a population boom. A wave of European immigrants led to the creation of two ethnic enclaves on the outskirts of the city. A large Irish population settled in the north along Naghten Street (now Nationwide Boulevard), while the Germans took advantage of the cheap land in the south and created a community that came to be known as Das Alte Südende (The Old South End).The German population of Columbus built numerous breweries, Trinity Lutheran Seminary and Capital University. The Columbus streetcar strike of 1910 took place in downtown Columbus; although it was ultimately unsuccessful it turned into a violent riot. Scioto Mile began to develop along the riverbank with Miranova Corporate Center and The Condominiums at North Bank Park.
Columbus is home to many performing arts institutions such as Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Opera Columbus, BalletMet Columbus, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, CATCO, Columbus Children's Theater, Shadowbox Live and Columbus Jazz Orchestra. AmeriFlora '92 was celebrated in the city in 1992 as part of Quincentennial of Christopher Columbus' first voyage. On March 25th 1913 The Great Flood of 1913 in Columbus devastated Franklinton neighborhood leaving more than ninety dead and thousands homeless. A protest was also held during dedication of replica Santa María which was held in late 1991 one day before Hispanic Heritage Day and in time for Jubilee. Until founding Amtrak in 1971 Penn Central operated Cincinnati Limited to Cincinnati southwest (in previous years train continued New York City east); Ohio State Limited between Cincinnati Cleveland with Union Station important intermediate stop (train passed unnamed 1967 197); Spirit St Louis Chicago. Clay mound used bricks most city's initial brick buildings many later used Ohio House Representatives located land once contained Refugee Route. We know this because archaeologists have found artifacts that could only have been made in one place often thousands miles from Ohio. Rickenbacker International Airport southern Franklin County major cargo facility used Ohio Air National Guard. Columbus Youth Ballet Academy founded 1980s dancer artistic director Shir Lee Wu discovery Martha Graham. In effort make things right federal government gave families land Ohio Territory. On first weekend June bars North Market District host Park Street Festival attracts thousands visitors massive party bars street. Alternative arts culture politics oriented newspapers include ALIVE (formerly independent Columbus Alive newspaper now owned Columbus Dispatch) Columbus Free Press Columbus Underground (digitally only).Numerous restaurant chains based Columbus area such Charleys Philly Steaks Bibibop Asian Grill Steak Escape White Castle Cameron Mitchell Restaurants Bob Evans Restaurants Max & Erma's Damon's Grill Donatos Pizza Wendy's.Construction Ohio House Representatives began 1839 10-acre (4 ha) plot donated four important Columbus landowners. In 21st century Columbus increasingly revitalized thanks park projects new developments efforts beautify individual neighborhoods. After Ohio achieved statehood 1803 internal political struggles prominent Ohio leaders led state capital move Chillicothe Zanesville back again.
