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Columbus Facts
Population: 711,470
Elevation: 800 feet
Area: 210.3 square miles
Location: Columbus is centrally located at the intersection of I-70 from the west, I-71 from the north, I-670 from the east and I-71 from the south. Conveniently located 111 miles NE of Cincinnati and 45 miles east of Springfield.
Nearest city with population over 1,000,000: Chicago, IL, 346.6 miles
Time Zone: Eastern Time Zone, Daylight Savings Time observed.
Local Seasons: Columbus enjoys four distinct, colorful seasons of moderate weather. Spring brings colorful wildflowers and lush greenery throughout the city's parks. Summer is warm and humid, with July's average high temperatures peaking around 85 degrees. Evenings are cooler, dropping from even the hottest days into the low 60's. Fall brings a dazzling display of color, perfect for a fall foliage tour. Sunny days with highs of 66 degrees are the norm for October and by November; the nights are cooling down to 33. Ski resorts in the region thrive on an annual 28 inches of snow, and cross-country skiing is popular in the city's snow-covered parks.
How to get there:
By Air
Port Columbus International Airport
4600 International Gateway, Columbus 43219
614-239-4000 is 10 mi east of downtown Columbus.
Port Columbus International Airport is served by most national and some regional carriers.
By Car
Columbus is in the center of Ohio, at the intersection of I-70 and I-71.
By Bus
Greyhound (800-231-2222) provides service to Columbus from all U.S. destinations.
How to get around
Downtown is fairly compact and easily walkable. Some government buildings are connected to each other and to nearby buildings through underground walkways.
By Car
Two major interstates, east-west I-70 and north-south I-71, intersect near downtown. I-670 connects the airport to downtown, and I-270 loops around the outer boundaries of the city. I-70, I-71, and I-670 heading downtown are congested in the morning; in the evening they're clogged heading out of downtown. The Short North area and High Street are also very busy. Traffic usually flows smoothly in outlying suburbs (you do need a car in these areas because bus service is infrequent).
By Bus
The Central Ohio Transit Authority (614-228-1776) operates buses within Columbus.
National Holidays
New Year's Day: Jan. 1
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day: 3rd Mon. in Jan.
President's Day: 3rd Mon. in Feb.
Memorial Day: last Mon. in May
Independence Day: July 4
Thanksgiving Day: 4th Thurs. in Nov.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Dec. 24 and 25
New Year's Eve: Dec. 31
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