Communities
Located in the geographic center of the state, Columbus is comprised of seven diverse counties easily accessible within a 30-minute drive. In the Columbus area, it's possible to live in the thriving metropolitan area or the serene environment of small town America and still be close to major education, cultural and entertainment venues. Columbus has a number of distinctive neighborhoods within the metro area. The Short North, situated just north of downtown, is rich with art galleries, fine dining, pubs, and specialty shops. Victorian homes located nearby combine to comprise an area called Victorian Village. To the south of downtown, German Village is known for its quaint 19th century brick cottages and German heritage restaurants and shops. Franklinton, sometimes known as "the Bottoms," is the neighborhood immediately west of downtown. It gets its colorful nickname due to the fact that much of the land lies below the level of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers.
In addition to the metropolitan area, Columbus comprises many smaller cities mostly within the Interstate 270 interstate belt.
North Side Communities:
Dublin, New Albany, Westerville and Worthington
East Side Communities:
Bexley, Blacklick, Gahanna, Pataskala, Pickerington and Reynoldsburg
South Side Communities:
Canal Winchester, Circleville, Grove City, Groveport, Lithopolis and Obetz