Almost 90,000 people are employed downtown, and more than 33,000 students attend school at one of the many institutions of higher education located there.

[4] Development began quickly and by 1814 significant buildings included a penitentiary, the first school, the statehouse, the first newspaper, and the first church.

[7] Many other high rises and skyscrapers have been added since the LeVeque Tower, fitting a variety of uses from commercial to residential.

Assisted by federal and state funding, these were intended to clear major slums in an effort to revitalize that area for the overall welfare of the city.

In January 1952, the Department of Development for the city of Columbus began commissioning task forces in an effort for urban renewal in the blighted areas.

The efforts of these task forces are evident in numerous older communities and districts, including Market Mohawk and German Village.

The district is home to a few defining buildings, including Nationwide Arena, Huntington Park, and the LC Pavilion.

Nationwide Arena is the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, as well as a venue for a variety of other sporting and special events.

Occasionally, the Ohio State University men's and women's basketball teams will also use the facility to host special games.

[11] Huntington Park is the home of the Columbus Clippers, which is a minor league affiliate team of the Cleveland Guardians.

The district originally contained old industrial buildings, but began redevelopment in 1996 under then City Councilman Michael B. Coleman.

Columbus State Community College is a two-year associates-degree institution located in the Discovery District with an enrollment of just under 25,000 students.

The goal of this private-sector corporation, that encompasses a 37 square block area, is to improve the safety and image for the Discovery District neighborhood.

One of the main attractions of the River South District is a 7 acres (2.8 ha; 0.028 km2) green space called Columbus Commons.

Columbus Commons was built over the former site of City Center Mall in 2010 and includes within it the outdoor venue Bicentennial Pavilion.

Attractions along the Scioto Mile include Bicentennial Park and the River South Art Walk.

The Ohio Statehouse resides in the Uptown District, as well as a series of bars and restaurants to the north along Park Street.

LeVeque Tower, Columbus' first skyscraper, also resides in the Uptown District, west of the Ohio Statehouse and on the banks of the Scioto River.

[23] The buildings designs reflect a modern architecture meant to serve as a bookend for downtown before it reached the Scioto River and I-70.

The area retains numerous physical characteristics from the early twentieth century when it served as a wholesale and manufacturing focal point just north of the Columbus Union Station.

It was originally called the Columbus Barracks until 1922, when it then became Fort Hayes, named after Governor and President Rutherford B.

The Columbus Public Schools district purchased an area of 50 acres (20 ha; 0.20 km2) for $1 USD and established what is now known as the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center.

[33] According to the 2019 estimates there are a total of 18,660 people living in the 43215 zip code (which includes the downtown area as well as East Franklinton), up 46% from the 2010 census.

The building was designed in the Greek-Revival style by a group of architects, the most prominent of whom was Ohio-born Nathan B. Kelley.

The building is located on Front Street and features several murals, bronze plaques, and statues which depict the history of Ohio.

[38] The McFerson Commons, in the Arena District, is a 2.21 acres (0.89 ha; 0.0089 km2) park that was developed after the demolition of the Ohio State Penitentiary.

[40] Along with many bars and restaurants, there are several venues that attract visitors to the downtown area, such as Nationwide Arena, Greater Columbus Convention Center, and the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion.

The main form of public transportation is the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) bus system.