Named for the famed explorer, the city of Columbus is the capital of Ohio. It serves as the seat for Franklin County, although it extends into Delaware and Fairfield counties as well. Columbus is regarded as an emerging global city with a diverse economy, and recently ranked 8th in the Money Magazine 10 Best Big Cities list. Columbus is the home of Ohio State University, the largest university in the U.S. In addition to government and education, Columbus is recognized as a major distribution, commercial, and cultural center.

The Northwest Territory was once inhabited by numerous Native American tribes, who fought against U.S. attempts to expand onto their land. The Northwest Indian War came to an end in 1794, with the Battle of Fallen Timbers and the signing of the Treaty of Greenville. The first permanent U.S. settlement in the area was founded by Lucas Sullivant, a surveyor from Virginia, and was named Franklinton in honor of Benjamin Franklin.