95-583: German Village is a historic neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio , just south of the city's downtown . It was settled in the early-to-mid-19th century by a large number of German immigrants , who at one time comprised as much as a third of the city's entire population. It became a city historic district in 1960 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, becoming the list's largest privately funded preservation district, and in 2007,
190-703: A 197-foot (60 m) steeple in 1893. German-American George J. Karb became mayor of the city, twice, at the end of the 19th century and again in the early 20th century. During the early 20th century, the south end saw newcomers from eastern Europe aside from German immigrants, resulting in brother neighborhoods such as the Hungarian Village . The local schools the German immigrants constructed and managed were so superior that English-speaking residents of Columbus chose to attend them, such as one that once stood at Fulton Street east of S. Fourth Street. The area
285-549: A 5,200-square-foot (480 m) home that sold in August 2007 for $ 1.5 million. Another home, which was purchased for $ 1.4 million in 2006, boasts an underground tunnel linking the main house with the garage, which also serves as an art and wine cellar. German Village has a commercial strip mainly centered along S. Third Street, with mostly locally owned restaurants such as Katzinger's Delicatessen, Schmidt's Sausage Haus , and Schmidt's Fudge Haus. The Schmidt's establishments have been
380-736: A graduate of Yale University , treasurer of Hoster Columbus Associated Breweries, and founder of the Columbus Envelope Company. Another son of George was Carl J. Hoster, graduate of Cornell University , who was President of the Hoster Columbus Associated Breweries as well as the Director of the Hayden Clinton National Bank and Columbus Driving Park Association, President of the U.S. Brewer's Association, 32nd degree of
475-610: A large glacier that covered most of Ohio during the Wisconsin Ice Age . However, there are sizable differences in elevation through the area, with the high point of Franklin County being 1,132 ft (345 m) above sea level near New Albany , and the low point being 670 ft (200 m) where the Scioto River leaves the county near Lockbourne . Several ravines near the rivers and creeks also add variety to
570-435: A male householder with no spouse present, and 33.7% had a female householder with no spouse present. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26, and the average family size was 3.03. 21.0% of the city's population were under the age of 18, 67.5% were 18 to 64, and 11.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age
665-475: A number of prominent cybersecurity researchers called on the city to drop the lawsuit. On Saturday November 19 2024 about a dozen men dressed in black and masked carried red swastika flags in Columbus making racist slurs and using pepper speech. The group identified themselves as "Hate Club". Oren Segal, ADL vice-president, said that this might related to the hate group Blood Tribe "Blood Tribe views itself as
760-495: A part of German Village for 120 years, opened by George F. Schmidt. The restaurant is still run by the family, and was featured on Man vs. Food in 2008. Thurman Café —home to the "Thurmanator" eating challenge—was opened in German Village in 1942 by Nick Suclescy. The café and its Thurmanator challenge was featured on Man vs. Food in 2008. Katzinger's Delicatessen is another family owned restaurant that opened in 1984 and
855-474: A population density of 4,109.64 people per square mile (1,586.74/km ). There were 415,456 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 57.4% White , 29.2% Black or African American , 0.2% Native American or Alaska Native, and 5.9% Asian . Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 6.3% of the population. There were 392,041 households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.8% were married couples living together, 25.1% had
950-605: A population of 2.139 million in 2020, making it the largest metropolitan area entirely in Ohio and 32nd-largest metro area in the U.S. Columbus originated as numerous Native American settlements on the banks of the Scioto River . Franklinton , now a city neighborhood, was the first European settlement, laid out in 1797. The city was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, and laid out to become
1045-570: A state lawmaker and local resident admired the explorer enough to persuade other lawmakers to name the settlement Columbus. Since the late 20th century, historians have criticized Columbus for initiating the European conquest of America and for abuse, enslavement, and subjugation of natives. Efforts to remove symbols related to the explorer in the city date to the 1990s. Amid the George Floyd protests in 2020, several petitions pushed for
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#17327733899121140-540: A wide diversity of neighborhoods with different characters, and is thus sometimes known as a "city of neighborhoods." Some of the most prominent neighborhoods include the Arena District , the Brewery District , Clintonville , Franklinton , German Village , The Short North and Victorian Village . The city's climate is humid continental ( Köppen climate classification Dfa ) transitional with
1235-548: Is a consistent Columbus Dispatch best city restaurant. Lindey's was runner-up for the same award that year and was voted one of Columbus's top 10 restaurants for 18 years straight. It has appeared previously in The New York Times , The Washington Post , USA Today , and Gourmet magazine. In 2010, Max & Erma's was runner up for Best Casual Restaurant and Best Soups, Pistacia Vera runner-up for Best Desserts, and Roosters won Best Wings. The neighborhood
1330-1544: Is a governmental organization appointed by the Mayor of Columbus, Ohio to "preserve, protect and enhance the unique architectural and historical features of the German Village Historic District." The commission has the power to approve architectural designs and exterior alterations. The commission was formed in 1960 pursuant to ordinances #976-60 and #1221-60. Commissioners Position Anthony Hartke Chairman, Recommended by German Village Society Ned Thiell Vice Chair, Recommended by German Village Society Charissa Durst Architect Racheal Schultz Designee of Mayor Robin Strohm Designee of Council Karen McCoy N/A AJ Minerva N/A References [ edit ] ^ "German Village Commission" , City of Columbus, Retrieved 29 sept 2009. ^ "German Village Commission" . www.columbus.gov . Retrieved 2024-05-29 . External links [ edit ] Official website v t e German Village Shops, restaurants, and cafes The Book Loft Hausfrau Haven Katzinger's Delicatessen Pistacia Vera Schmidt's Sausage Haus Thurman Cafe [REDACTED] Historic buildings Engine House No. 5 Saint Mary of
1425-743: Is home to one of the world's largest producers of stained glass, the Franklin Art Glass Studios Inc., as well as several art galleries including the Archive Gallery, Hawk Galleries, Keny Gallery, and Kight Studio 551. Shops catering to European-imported retail include Caterina Ltd. German Village is houses a few unique shops including the 32-room The Book Loft of German Village , a pre-Civil War-era style bookstore; Hausfrau Haven–a wine and gift shop; and several art galleries. There are also some import shops, which once included Caterina's Ltd., selling European housewares, but
1520-672: Is known for their deli sandwiches. German Village was the home of the first restaurant in the Max & Erma's chain. In 1972, the restaurant was opened by Barry Zacks. The name was adopted from the original tavern, started in 1958 by Max and Erma Visocnik, which the new owners converted into the popular theme restaurant. The location closed in 2017 due to financial difficulties. Many of the neighborhood's restaurants won 2010 ThisWeek Community Papers awards, including Skillet which won "Best New Restaurant", and Thurman Café for "Best Burgers". Barcelona, noted for its Spanish cuisine, won for Best Patio and
1615-568: Is known today as Capital University , still under the leadership of the Lutheran Church and now located in nearby Bexley . The German immigrants brought with them a vibrant athletic and artistic heritage, which was reflected in their social establishments. The Columbus Maennerchor, a singing group, was established in 1848, and as early as 1852, won a ribbon for their talent at the North American Sangerfest. In 1866,
1710-488: Is land and 5.94 square miles (15.38 km ) is water. Columbus currently has the largest land area of any Ohio city; this is due to Jim Rhodes 's tactic to annex suburbs while serving as mayor. As surrounding communities grew or were constructed, they came to require access to waterlines, which was under the sole control of the municipal water system. Rhodes told these communities that if they wanted water, they would have to submit to assimilation into Columbus. Columbus has
1805-680: Is mostly a residential neighborhood of sturdy, red-brick homes with wrought iron fences along tree-lined, brick-paved streets. The German Village Guest House has been recognized as one of the best in the Midwest by the New York Post , The Plain Dealer , and the St. Louis Post Dispatch , and positively reviewed by The Washington Post and The Tennessean . It was rated as the "Best Columbus Hotel 2010" by City Search. In 2007, German Village
1900-410: Is named. Further decline occurred later due to the closing of the local breweries during Prohibition . After the war, the south end was zoned for manufacturing, leading to the erosion of the area's residential feel. In World War II, the streetcar tracks and wrought-iron fences were confiscated for the war effort. By the 1950s, the area had become a slum and the city decided to demolish one-third of
1995-596: Is now permanently closed. In 2011, German Village was named as one of America's Great Places in the Neighborhoods category by the American Planning Association . Their description reads, "Unpretentious, renovated houses and cottages stand shoulder to shoulder. Small, meticulously maintained front yards front tree-lined streets with brick sidewalks and cultivated village planters. Small businesses and storefronts with eye-catching displays and
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#17327733899122090-484: Is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest (after Chicago ), and the third-most populous U.S. state capital (after Phoenix, Arizona and Austin, Texas ). Columbus is the county seat of Franklin County ; it also extends into Delaware and Fairfield counties. It is the core city of the Columbus metropolitan area , which encompasses ten counties in central Ohio. It had
2185-546: Is the northernmost section of the German Village. Over the years the Germania Club has made it its mission to retain, promote and disseminate all that is good about German culture. A major component of this mission is the practice and performance of German song. Their choruses participate and support public events throughout Ohio during the year in appreciation for the community's support. The Germania Club celebrated its 147th anniversary in 2013 with an Oktoberfes. In 1890,
2280-604: The Das Alte Südende (The Old South End). Columbus's German population constructed numerous breweries, Trinity Lutheran Seminary and Capital University . With a population of 3,500, Columbus was officially chartered as a city on March 3, 1834. On that day, the legislature carried out a special act , which granted legislative authority to the city council and judicial authority to the mayor. Elections were held in April of that year, with voters choosing John Brooks as
2375-544: The American Civil War , thus gaining the universal respect of the local citizens. By 1865, one-third of Columbus's population was German and the community was flourishing. They built up the local neighborhood, including many businesses, such as Hessenauer Jewelers and Lazarus Department Stores , schools, and churches, such as the Ohio-historic St. Mary's Catholic Church , built in 1865 and adorned with
2470-744: The Anti-Saloon League in neighboring Westerville . In the steel industry , a forward-thinking man named Samuel P. Bush presided over the Buckeye Steel Castings Company. Columbus was also a popular location for labor organizations. In 1886, Samuel Gompers founded the American Federation of Labor in Druid's Hall on South Fourth Street, and in 1890, the United Mine Workers of America
2565-527: The Great Flood of 1913 devastated the neighborhood of Franklinton, leaving over 90 people dead and thousands of West Side residents homeless. To prevent flooding, the Army Corps of Engineers recommended widening the Scioto River through downtown, constructing new bridges and building a retaining wall along its banks. With the strength of the post- World War I economy, a construction boom occurred in
2660-480: The Midwestern United States . Severe thunderstorms can bring lightning , large hail and on rare occasions tornadoes , especially during the spring and sometimes through fall. A tornado that occurred on October 11, 2006, caused F2 damage. Floods, blizzards and ice storms can also occur from time to time. In the 2020 United States census, there were 905,748 people living in the city, for
2755-634: The National Football League . Nearly a decade later, in 1931, at a convention in the city, the Jehovah's Witnesses took that name by which they are known today. The effects of the Great Depression were less severe in Columbus, as the city's diversified economy helped it fare better than its Rust Belt neighbors. World War II brought many new jobs and another population surge. This time, most new arrivals were migrants from
2850-499: The Ohio State Buckeyes football team played their first-ever home game in the south end, at a location just west of present-day Schiller Park between Jaeger, Ebner, and Whittier (then called Schiller) Streets. Columbus, Ohio Columbus ( / k ə ˈ l ʌ m b ə s / , kə- LUM -bəs ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio . With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it
2945-797: The Ohio State University – was founded in 1870 on the former estate of William and Hannah Neil. By the end of the 19th century, Columbus was home to several major manufacturing businesses. The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company was a major supplier of coal mining equipment. The city became known as the "Buggy Capital of the World," thanks to the two dozen buggy factories – notably the Columbus Buggy Company , founded in 1875 by C.D. Firestone. The Columbus Consolidated Brewing Company also rose to prominence during this time and might have achieved even greater success were it not for
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3040-481: The Ohio State University , one of the largest universities in the United States . The Greater Columbus area is further home to the headquarters of six Fortune 500 companies, namely Cardinal Health , American Electric Power , Bath & Body Works, Inc. , Nationwide , Bread Financial and Huntington Bancshares . The city of Columbus was named after 15th-century Italian explorer Christopher Columbus at
3135-673: The Scottish Rite , and great-great uncle of former U.S. President George W. Bush . Hoster Street in the German Village stretches six blocks between Lazelle and S. Front Streets. In 1831, the German Evangelical Lutheran Seminary secured 14 acres (57,000 m) in the south end, founded by William Schmidt, a graduate of the University of Halle in Germany. The school would go on to become what
3230-493: The dozens of wooden arches that spanned High Street at the turn of the 20th century. The arches illuminated the thoroughfare and eventually became the means by which electric power was provided to the new streetcars . The city tore down the arches and replaced them with cluster lights in 1914 but reconstructed them from metal in the Short North neighborhood in 2002 for their unique historical interest. On March 25, 1913,
3325-571: The high-tech manufacturing sector, with Intel announcing plans to construct a $ 20 billion factory and Honda expanding its presence along with LG Energy Solutions with a $ 4.4 billion battery manufactory facility in Fayette County . The COVID-19 pandemic muted activity in Columbus, especially in its downtown core, from 2020 to 2022. By late 2022, foot traffic in Downtown Columbus began to exceed pre-pandemic rates; one of
3420-563: The humid subtropical ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ) to the south characterized by warm, muggy summers and cold, dry winters. Columbus is within USDA hardiness zone 6b, bordering on 7a. Winter snowfall is relatively light, since the city is not in the typical path of strong winter lows, such as the Nor'easters that strike cities farther east. It is also too far south and west for lake-effect snow from Lake Erie to have much effect, although
3515-568: The "extraordinarily depressed rural areas" of Appalachia , who would soon account for more than a third of Columbus's growing population. In 1948, the Town and Country Shopping Center opened in suburban Whitehall , and it is now regarded as one of the first modern shopping centers in the United States. The construction of the Interstate Highway System signaled the arrival of rapid suburb development in central Ohio. To protect
3610-603: The 1800s. The 23-acre park's main entrance, along City Park Avenue, greets visitors with the Huntington Gardens, sponsored by Huntington National Bank and maintained by volunteers, and the Schiller statue . The statue was presented to the park by local residents in 1891. It is a second casting of the statue in Munich , Germany, designed and executed by Max von Widnmann and unveiled on May 9, 1863. The Columbus statue
3705-771: The 1920s, resulting in a new civic center , the Ohio Theatre , the American Insurance Union Citadel and to the north, a massive new Ohio Stadium . Although the American Professional Football Association was founded in Canton in 1920, its head offices moved to Columbus in 1921 to the New Hayden Building and remained in the city until 1941. In 1922, the association's name was changed to
3800-527: The 1930s. One of their notable performances was their 1927 production of Friedrich von Schiller's Die Räuber . Another social group was the Schiller Club, founded in 1900. The Columbus Turn Verein was a social and athletic (tumbling) association that dated back to 1866, and was a main organization from which the German immigrants drew mutual support. In the late 19th century the Turners merged with
3895-556: The 19th century, the area was found largely along both sides of S. Front Street from Livingston Avenue to Sycamore Street. Notable breweries during this period included the Bavarian Brewery, started in 1849 by George Schlegel, which ultimately became the Shlegel Bavarian Brewery in 1860 when Bavarian Nicholas Schlee immigrated and took over. Schlee was president of the company that eventually constructed
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3990-744: The City Council between 1846 and 1854 while establishing the city's first wollen mill in 1852. In 1864, he established the Louis Hoster & Sons Brewery , which became the Hoster Columbus Associated Breweries in 1904. He would also serve on the Board of Education and was a Unionist Democrat. Later members of Louis Hoster's brewing dynasty included his son Louis Philip Hoster, president of the Columbus Structural Steel Company, and Herman Hoster, son of Louis's son George,
4085-485: The German Village. As German immigrants arrived, McGowan sold tracts of land to them. By 1814, a settlement had grown up, originally called "Das Alte Südende" (the Old South End), and German immigrants contributed to building the first statehouse. By 1830, massive German immigration to the city had occurred. The most influential German newspaper in 1843 was Der Westbote . Many immigrants from Germany would serve in
4180-589: The Germania Gesang Verein, which hosted a Maennerchor and a Damenchor. Another merger enlarged the Germania in the late 1920s. The Germania merged with the Kicker's Soccer Club, which for many years was a very active part of the organization. The club also now includes a Fahrrad Verein (Bicycle Club), which goes on weekend outings to bike trails throughout Central Ohio. The club's official name is now
4275-558: The Germania Gesang und Sport Verein (singing and sports club). The Germania Club itself was located in a residence on Kossuth Street, but outgrew its first facility. In 1927 it purchased the present location at 543 South Front Street from the estate of Nicolaus Schlee, one of the prestigious brewmasters of the neighborhood. The society is now located in the neighborhood known as the Brewery District of Columbus, which
4370-769: The Great Southern Hotel downtown. Schlee also owned the Lyceum Theater and served as vice president of the Central Bank. Conrad Born opened the Capital Brewery in 1859 and was also president of the Century Discount Company. The industry flourished during the early 20th century. One of the last major brewers of the city before Prohibition was August Wagner, who immigrated from Bavaria in the late 19th century and worked as
4465-778: The Hilltop neighborhood of west Columbus. Over 2,000 Confederate soldiers remain buried at the site, making it one of the North's largest Confederate cemeteries. North of Columbus, along the Delaware Road, the Regular Army established Camp Thomas , where the 18th U.S. Infantry organized and trained. By virtue of the Morrill Act of 1862 , the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College – which eventually became
4560-482: The area is known as a residential gay village . While there are no gay establishments within German Village, the neighboring Brewery District and Merion Village have several. German Village is bound by Pearl Street on the west; East Livingston Avenue on the north; Lathrop Street, Brust Street, Grant Avenue, Jaeger Street, and Blackberry Alley on the east; and Nursery Lane on the south. Schiller Park , named after Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805),
4655-406: The area, attracted by the fur trade . The area was often caught between warring factions, including American Indian and European interests. In the 1740s, Pennsylvania traders overran the territory until the French forcibly evicted them. Fighting for control of the territory in the French and Indian War (1754–1763) became part of the international Seven Years' War (1756–1763). During this period,
4750-420: The aroma of culinary delights draw in passing pedestrians. German Village has remained true to its mid-19th century history, architecture, and character despite periods of disinvestment, decline, and near ruin.". A prosperous industry for the German immigrants was the brewing industry. Today, the Brewery District , part of the greater German Village neighborhood, still partially resembles its notable past. During
4845-464: The brewmaster at the City Brewery before becoming president and general manager of the Gambrinus Brewing Company. By 1919, he had purchased all of the stock for the company to become the sole owner, and in 1938 he changed the name to August Wagner Breweries, Inc. He was known to parade around on a horse costumed as Gambrinus , the patron saint of beer. A statue of Gambrinus is located at 605 S. Front Street. Twenty-nine breweries have existed in and around
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#17327733899124940-488: The city added 164,000 jobs, which ranked second in the United States. In February and March 2020, Columbus reported its first official cases of COVID-19 and declared a state of emergency, with all nonessential businesses closed statewide. There were 69,244 cases of the disease across the city, as of March 11, 2021 . Later in 2020, protests over the murder of George Floyd took place in the city from May 28 into August. Columbus and its metro area have experienced growth in
5035-409: The city to be renamed. Nicknames for the city have included "the Discovery City", " Arch City ", "Cap City", " Cowtown ", "The Biggest Small Town in America" and "Cbus." Between 1000 B.C. and 1700 A.D., the Columbus metropolitan area was a center to indigenous cultures known as the Mound Builders , including the Adena , Hopewell and Fort Ancient peoples. Remaining physical evidence of
5130-409: The city's founding in 1812. It is the largest city in the world named for the explorer, who sailed to and settled parts of the Americas on behalf of Isabella I of Castile and Spain. Although no reliable history exists as to why Columbus, who had no connection to the city or state of Ohio before the city's founding, was chosen as the name for the city, the book Columbus: The Story of a City indicates
5225-429: The city's initial brick buildings; many were subsequently used in the Ohio Statehouse . The city's Ohio History Center maintains a collection of artifacts from these cultures. The area including present-day Columbus once comprised the Ohio Country , under the nominal control of the French colonial empire through the Viceroyalty of New France from 1663 until 1763. In the 18th century, European traders flocked to
5320-454: The city's most popular events. Frank Fetch Park was named after him. Concerned citizens managed to save its historic architecture from demolition in the 1960s by lobbying for a local commission, the German Village Commission , to have power over external changes made to buildings and by getting the area listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. As of 2009, the German Village Society has over 1,000 preservationists who maintain
5415-414: The city's new link to the Ohio and Erie Canal , both of which facilitated a population boom. A wave of European immigrants led to the creation of two ethnic enclaves on the city's outskirts. A large Irish population settled in the north along Naghten Street (presently Nationwide Boulevard), while the Germans took advantage of the cheap land to the south, creating a community that came to be known as
5510-404: The city's tax base from this suburbanization, Columbus adopted a policy of linking sewer and water hookups to annexation to the city. By the early 1990s, Columbus had grown to become Ohio's largest city in land area and in population. Efforts to revitalize downtown Columbus have had some success in recent decades, though like most major American cities, some architectural heritage was lost in
5605-527: The city. The Scioto Mile began development along the riverfront, an area that already had the Miranova Corporate Center and The Condominiums at North Bank Park . The 2010 United States foreclosure crisis forced the city to purchase numerous foreclosed, vacant properties to renovate or demolish them – at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. In February 2011, Columbus had 6,117 vacant properties, according to city officials. Since 2010, Columbus has been growing in population and economy; from 2010 to 2017,
5700-432: The colonial cause and had their land and possessions seized by the British government. The Refugee Tract , consisting of 103,000 acres (42,000 ha), was 42 miles (68 km) long and 3–4.5 miles (4.8–7.2 km) wide, and was claimed by 67 eligible men. The Ohio Statehouse sits on land once contained in the Refugee Tract. After Ohio achieved statehood in 1803, political infighting among prominent Ohio leaders led to
5795-402: The cultures are their burial mounds and what they contained. Most of Central Ohio's remaining mounds are located outside of Columbus city boundaries, though the Shrum Mound is maintained, now as part of a public park and historic site. The city's Mound Street derives its name from a mound that existed by the intersection of Mound and High Streets . The mound's clay was used in bricks for most of
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#17327733899125890-436: The early 1990s. Growth has continued in the 21st century, with redevelopment occurring in numerous city neighborhoods, including Downtown . The city has a diverse economy without reliance on any one sector. The metropolitan area is home to the Battelle Memorial Institute , the world's largest private research and development foundation; Chemical Abstracts Service , the world's largest clearinghouse of chemical information; and
5985-476: The first popularly elected mayor. Columbus annexed the then-separate city of Franklinton in 1837. In 1850, the Columbus and Xenia Railroad became the first railroad into the city, followed by the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad in 1851. The two railroads built a joint Union Station on the east side of High Street just north of Naghten (then called North Public Lane). Rail traffic into Columbus increased: by 1875, eight railroads served Columbus, and
6080-479: The fledgling United States, leading to years of bitter conflict. The decisive Battle of Fallen Timbers resulted in the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, which finally opened the way for new settlements. By 1797, a young surveyor from Virginia named Lucas Sullivant had founded a permanent settlement on the west bank of the forks of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. An admirer of Benjamin Franklin , Sullivant chose to name his frontier village " Franklinton ." The location
6175-441: The flooding rivers, and an outbreak of cholera in 1833. It led Columbus to create the Board of Health, now part of the Columbus Public Health department. The outbreak, which remained in the city from July to September 1833, killed 100 people. Columbus was without direct river or trail connections to other Ohio cities, leading to slow initial growth. The National Road reached Columbus from Baltimore in 1831, which complemented
6270-484: The group won the silver pokal at a festival held in Louisville. In the late 19th century, another singing group called the Columbus Liederkranz was formed by the Germans, but was forced to cease during World War I because of heavy anti-German pressure. Many of its members joined the Maennerchor, which survived. In the 1860s and 1870s the Maennerchor formed a drama division called the "Dramatischen Sektion." They would produce operas, dramas, and comedies until disbanding in
6365-437: The historic quality of the buildings and neighborhood, and German Village is considered one of the most desirable areas to live in the city. More than 1,600 buildings have been restored since 1960 and it is credited as one of the world's premiere restoration districts. By the 1980s, the restoration was nearly complete. Today, it is the largest privately funded historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. The area
6460-415: The lakes to the north contribute to long stretches of cloudy spells in winter. The highest temperature recorded in Columbus is 106 °F (41 °C), which occurred twice during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s: once on July 21, 1934, and again on July 14, 1936. The lowest recorded temperature was −22 °F (−30 °C), occurring on January 19, 1994 . Columbus is subject to severe weather typical to
6555-454: The landscape. Tributaries to Alum Creek and the Olentangy River cut through shale, while tributaries to the Scioto River cut through limestone. The numerous rivers and streams beside low-lying areas in Central Ohio contribute to a history of flooding in the region; the most significant was the Great Flood of 1913 in Columbus, Ohio . The city has a total area of 223.11 square miles (577.85 km ), of which 217.17 square miles (562.47 km )
6650-443: The main white supremacist group in Ohio, so … (the) ‘Hate Club’ march appears to have been an intentional effort to antagonize them." The confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers is just northwest of Downtown Columbus . Several smaller tributaries course through the Columbus metropolitan area , including Alum Creek , Big Walnut Creek and Darby Creek . Columbus is considered to have relatively flat topography thanks to
6745-473: The media was so bad that in 1918, German books were burned on Broad Street and at the foot of the Schiller statue . German canine breeds were taken from their owners and slaughtered before being thrown into a pit in Schiller Park, including Dachshunds . Despite the hatred, the Columbus German American community would produce one of America's finest heroes from the war, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker , for whom Rickenbacker International Airport in southern Columbus
6840-538: The neighborhood. With the Village nearing complete destruction, Frank Fetch defied the common wisdom and purchased a house on S. Wall Street, determined to rebuild the neighborhood. Fetch would create the German Village Society. In June 1960, the society hosted the first Haus und Garten Tour, which attracted visitors and the local media to eight restored homes and two gardens. Today, the tour is one of
6935-824: The north. Colonial militiamen burned down the Mingo village in 1774 during a raid. After the American Revolution, the Virginia Military District became part of the Ohio Country as a territory of Virginia. Colonists from the East Coast moved in, but rather than finding an empty frontier , they encountered people of the Miami , Delaware , Wyandot , Shawnee and Mingo nations, as well as European traders. The tribes resisted expansion by
7030-427: The population were employed, and 38.5% had a bachelor's degree or higher. German Village Commission German Village Commission Abbreviation GVC Formation 1960 Type Governmental organization Headquarters Columbus, Ohio Chairman Anthony Hartke Website German Village Commission The German Village Commission
7125-619: The process. In the 1970s, landmarks such as Union Station and the Neil House hotel were razed to construct high-rise offices and big retail space. The PNC Bank building was constructed in 1977, as well as the Nationwide Plaza buildings and other towers that sprouted during this period. The construction of the Greater Columbus Convention Center has brought major conventions and trade shows to
7220-472: The quickest downtown areas to recover in the United States. On June 23, 2023, ten people were injured in a mass shooting in the city's Short North district. In July 2024, Columbus was subject to a ransomware attack, for which the hacker group Rhysidia took credit. In August 2024, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther claimed that the files obtained by Rhysidia were "unusable" to the thieves due to being either encrypted or corrupted . Ginther's assertion
7315-633: The rail companies built a new, more elaborate station. Another cholera outbreak hit Columbus in 1849, prompting the opening of the city's Green Lawn Cemetery . On January 7, 1857, the Ohio Statehouse finally opened after 18 years of construction. Site construction continued until 1861. Before the abolition of slavery in the Southern United States in 1863, the Underground Railroad was active in Columbus and
7410-535: The region routinely suffered turmoil, massacres and battles. The 1763 Treaty of Paris ceded the Ohio Country to the British Empire . Up until the American Revolution , Central Ohio had continuously been the home of numerous indigenous villages. A Mingo village was located at the forks of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, with Shawnee villages to the south and Wyandot and Delaware villages to
7505-422: The state capital moving from Chillicothe to Zanesville and back again. Desiring to settle on a location, the state legislature considered Franklinton , Dublin , Worthington and Delaware before compromising on a plan to build a new city in the state's center, near major transportation routes, primarily rivers. As well, Franklinton landowners had donated two 10-acre (4.0 ha) plots in an effort to convince
7600-405: The state capital. The city was named for Italian explorer Christopher Columbus . The city assumed the function of state capital in 1816 and county seat in 1824. Amid steady years of growth and industrialization, the city has experienced numerous floods and recessions. Beginning in the 1950s, Columbus began to experience significant growth; it became the largest city in Ohio in land and population by
7695-545: The state to move its capital there. The two spaces were set to become Capitol Square , including for the Ohio Statehouse and the Ohio Penitentiary . Named in honor of Christopher Columbus , the city was founded on February 14, 1812, on the "High Banks opposite Franklinton at the Forks of the Scioto most known as Wolf's Ridge." At the time, this area was a dense forestland, used only as a hunting ground. The city
7790-463: The village throughout its history. While English breweries were found originally in the city, as German immigrants moved in, their brewing techniques were universally embraced and became the dominant methods for producing beer. Louis Hoster, an immigrant from Rheinpfalz, Germany , is notably credited for this transformation when he opened the City Brewery in the 1830s. He would go on to serve on
7885-421: Was 33.3. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey , for the period 2016-2020 the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $ 61,727, and the median income for a family was $ 76,383. About 18.1% of the population were living below the poverty line , including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over. About 67.2% of
7980-558: Was desirable for its proximity to the navigable rivers – but Sullivant was initially foiled when, in 1798, a large flood wiped out the new settlement. He persevered, and the village was rebuilt, though somewhat more inland. After the Revolution, land comprising parts of Franklin and adjacent counties was set aside by the United States Congress for settlement by Canadians and Nova Scotians who were sympathetic to
8075-633: Was founded at the old City Hall . In 1894, James Thurber , who would go on to an illustrious literary career in Paris and New York City, was born in the city. Today, Ohio State's theater department has a performance center named in his honor, and his childhood home, the Thurber House , is located in the Discovery District and is on the National Register of Historic Places . Columbus earned one of its nicknames, "The Arch City," because of
8170-427: Was in serious decline throughout the first half of the 20th century, partly due to anti-German sentiment during World War I . During that time, the teaching of German in public schools was banned and German textbooks were burned. German street names were changed, such as Germania Street becoming the present-day Stewart Avenue, and Schiller Park was temporarily renamed Washington Park. The anti-German sentiment fueled by
8265-497: Was incorporated as a borough on February 10, 1816. Nine people were elected to fill the municipality's various positions of mayor, treasurer and several others. Between 1816 and 1817, Jarvis W. Pike served as the first appointed mayor. Although the recent War of 1812 had brought prosperity to the area, the subsequent recession and conflicting claims to the land threatened the new town's success. Early conditions were abysmal, with frequent bouts of fevers, attributed to malaria from
8360-457: Was led, in part, by James Preston Poindexter . Poindexter arrived in Columbus in the 1830s and became a Baptist preacher and leader in the city's African-American community until the turn of the century. During the Civil War , Columbus was a major base for the volunteer Union Army . It housed 26,000 troops and held up to 9,000 Confederate prisoners of war at Camp Chase , at what is now
8455-558: Was made a Preserve America Community by the federal government. In 1980, its boundaries increased, and today it is one of the world's premier historic restorations. In 1796, Congress appropriated the Refugee Lands for Canadian province individuals who had supported the Colonial cause in the American Revolution . By 1802, an American Revolution veteran named John McGowan claimed 328 acres (1.33 km), most of what would become
8550-416: Was once a community meeting ground for German immigrants. It is now the site of recreational facilities, gardens, and an amphitheater that hosts free live performances of Shakespearean plays during the summer months courtesy of Actors' Theatre of Columbus . It is bounded by Jaeger Street and City Park, Reinhard, and Deshler Avenues. It has been the area's center for festivals and neighborhood activities since
8645-437: Was originally settled mostly residential with commercial buildings scattered throughout. To keep this highly residential feel, the German Village Society has the area rezoned from manufacturing and commercial to high-density residential. The houses have small or no front yards, emphasizing local parks and gardens. The average home price in 2021 was $ 377,450. Several homes in the neighborhood are priced at over $ 1 million, including
8740-605: Was recognized by the White House as a Preserve America Community . German tradition has long reigned in the community in the form of an annual Oktoberfest festival. It originally took place in Schiller Park and has been held at various locations within the German Village neighborhood. Due to new development in the area, it now takes place at the Ohio State Fairgrounds / Ohio Expo Center. The festival
8835-498: Was subsequently shown to be false by security researcher David Leroy Ross (who goes by the alias Connor Goodwolf), who revealed that the files were intact and contained data including names from domestic violence cases and Social Security numbers of crime victims. Columbus then sued Ross for alleged criminal acts, negligence, and civil conversion, as well as taking out a restraining order against Ross, both of which actions were later defended by City Attorney Zach Klein. In response,
8930-671: Was transported free of charge across the Atlantic. The park is also home to Umbrella Girl , dedicated to the citizens of German Village in October 1996 to replace the missing original sculpture. The neighborhood's Stewart Alternative Elementary School, was built in 1874. It is one of the oldest remaining school buildings in Columbus, built at the same time as the First and Second Avenue Schools, also still extant. The houses of German Village are settled close together on narrow plots. The area
9025-468: Was voted to be canceled in 2009, but the Schmidt (owners and operators of Schmidt's Sausage Haus) and Cox families stepped in to keep it running. A smaller Oktoberfest still goes on in the German Village itself, at the Germania Gesang und Sport Verein (Singing and Sports Club) at 543 South Front Street in the old Schlee Brewmaster's House and outdoor garden. Although German Village is an eclectic community,
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