Columbus is the U.S. state capital named for Christopher Columbus and Ohio’s seat of government.
The city was founded in 1812 at the meeting point of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. Ohio’s legislature selected the location for a new capital because it was centrally situated and connected to important transportation routes. The settlement was named Columbus in honor of the Italian explorer whose voyages were associated with European exploration of the Americas.
Columbus became Ohio’s permanent capital in 1816, replacing Chillicothe. Zanesville briefly served as the capital between 1810 and 1812, while Chillicothe served during two periods. The Ohio Statehouse, built in the Greek Revival style, stands on Capitol Square in downtown Columbus.
A common mix-up is confusing Ohio’s capital with Cleveland, the state’s largest metropolitan center, or Cincinnati, an older major city on the Ohio River. Columbus is also the largest city in Ohio by population.