Columbus, the capital of the state of Ohio, on the Scioto River, 116 miles NE. of Cincinnati and 138 miles SSW. of Cleveland. Copyright 1889 in U.S. Its site is level, its streets are by J. B. Lippincott broad, and in the centre of the city Company. is a public square of 10 acres, in which stands the state capitol, a fine stone structure 304 feet long by 184 feet wide. Among other noted edifices are the city-hall, containing a public library and city offices; a court-house erected at a cost of 400,000; United States government and Board of Trade buildings; a large state penitentiary; a hospital for the insane, with a farm of 300 acres, and accommodation for 900 patients, erected at a cost of 1,520,980; and institutions for the blind, the deaf and dumb, &c. Here also are located the Ohio State University, with its grounds of 320 acres, and the Capital University (Lutheran), both liberally endowed; and in the public schools over 15,000 pupils are registered. Fourteen lines of railway radiate from the Union Dépôt in this city in all directions, which, added to the natural advantage of its proximity to the great coal and iron fields of the state, tend to a rapid development of its manufacturing industries. The annual product of its manufactures reaches a value of more than $15,000,000, giving employment to over 13,000 operatives. Columbus was founded in 1812. Pop. (1870) 31,274; (1880) 51,647; (1890) 88,150.
Columbus is also the name of some twenty other places in the United States, the most important being: (1) Capital of Muscogee county, Georgia, situated on the Chattahoochee River at the junction of several lines of railroad, 100 miles SSW. of Atlanta. It has a large trade in cotton, and extensive manufactures of cotton, woollen, and iron goods. Pop. (1880) 10,123; (1890) 17,703—with suburbs, 31,000.—(2) Capital of Bartholomew county, Indiana, 41 miles S. by E. of Indianapolis, with which it is connected by railway. Pop. about 7000.—(3) Capital of Lowndes county, Mississippi, on the Tombigbee River, and on a branch railroad about 150 miles NE. of Jackson. Pop. about 5000.—(4) Capital of Colorado county, Texas, on the Colorado River, about 95 miles SSE. of Austin by rail. Pop. about 2500.