The district is Columbus' most densely populated area and contains more than 650 businesses, human service agencies, churches, and schools.

[1] University District businesses include boutiques, mixed retail, several tattoo studios, the Gateway Film Center, and a diverse range of restaurants and bars.

The University District comprises many diverse neighborhoods, each with its own unique housing stock and cultural identity.

This is often referred to as the off-campus neighborhood, and, in the past ten years, it has gone through considerable redevelopment and revitalization as a result of the work of Campus Partners.

Old North has several parks, such as Tuttle, Glen Echo, Maynard & Summit, Iuka Ravine, and Indianola Middle School, as well as multiple churches, restaurants, and other small businesses.

[1] The University Area Commission (UAC) as an administrative unit was created in 1972 by an act of the Columbus City Council.

The UAC oversees development in what the city refers to as "the university area", bounded in the west by the Olentangy River, in the north by Glen Echo Ravine, in the east by the Conrail line, and in the south by 5th avenue.

The Ohio State University itself expands north and west over the Olentangy River for several miles and into Upper Arlington.