So you’re moving 70 miles up I-70, from Dayton to Columbus. What can you expect upon your arrival in the heart of Ohio? Take in the following tidbits, and you’ll know all you need to know about your new hometown.

Capital city

You may know that Ohio state government is headquartered in Columbus. But it may surprise you to learn that with more than 900,000 residents, Columbus is Ohio’s most populous city, larger than Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the second-largest city in the Midwest, trailing only Chicago.

History lesson

Columbus’ first settlements were established by Native Americans on the banks of the Scioto River. Europeans settled in 1797. In 1812, the city was founded and designed as the state capital. It’s named after Italian explorer Christopher Columbus.

Arches

Columbus earned the nickname “The Arch City” from the dozens of wooden arches that spanned High Street near the turn of the 20th century. These illuminated the street and later delivered power to electric streetcars. The city tore down the arches, but reconstructed them out of metal in 2002 in the Short North neighborhood.

Go Buckeyes

Once you make this move, it will be time to change your college sports allegiance from the Dayton Flyers to the Ohio State Buckeyes, who play in Columbus. They’ve won national championships in more than a dozen sports and have produced 108 Olympic medalists.

But there’s more to OSU than athletics. The school has produced five Nobel Prize laureates and nine Rhodes Scholars. Like the city it calls home, Ohio State is huge. It admits nearly 50,000 undergraduate students and 15,000 graduate students.

Economy

Columbus has withstood economic downturns over the years due to its diversified economy. State government and the university provide tens of thousands of jobs. Plus, six Fortune 500 companies are headquartered here: Alliance Data, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., American Electric Power, L Brands, Huntington Bancshares and Cardinal Health. The original Wendy’s restaurant was located in downtown Columbus.

Sports trivia

Football fans know that the Hall of Fame is located down the road in Canton, but lost to history is the fact that the American Professional Football Association moved its HQ from Canton to Columbus in 1921. Offices remained there, in the New Hayden Building, until 1941, by which time the organization was known as the National Football League.

A long way from Dayton

How far is Columbus from Dayton, Ohio? In one sense, it’s only 70 miles, a little over an hour on the bus. But in so many ways, Columbus is a world away.

Once you’re ready to make the move from Dayton to Columbus, hire Ohio’s top-rated movers: American Way Van & Storage. Call 937-898-7294 or go online to get your free moving quote.

Are you thinking about moving from Florida to Georgia? Check out these tips from our friends at American Moving & Storage!