Columbus, Indiana

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Columbus, Indiana is a city in Bartholomew County, about 40 miles south of Indianapolis. With around 50,000 residents in 2020, it’s the county seat and a hub for modern architecture and public art. The city’s nickname is “Athens on the Prairie,” and it hosts Exhibit Columbus, a yearly program that celebrates design and architecture.

Founded in 1821 as Tiptona, the town was renamed Columbus and grew with the arrival of the railroad. It became a city in 1921. Columbus is known for its famous buildings designed by architects such as Eero Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. Notable sites include the Irwin Union Bank building (1954) by Saarinen and the Crump Theatre (1889). The Cummins company, a major diesel engine manufacturer, is headquartered in Columbus, helping shape the city’s economy and culture.

Geographically, Columbus sits where the Flatrock and Driftwood rivers join to form the White River. The city covers about 28.7 square miles and sits roughly 627 feet above sea level. The local government is headed by a mayor; as of 2020, the mayor was Mary Ferdon.

Education and culture are big parts of Columbus. The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation runs the public schools. Higher education options include Indiana University Columbus, Ivy Tech, Purdue Polytechnic, and an Indiana Wesleyan University education center. The area features many parks and more than 20 miles of walking and biking trails.

Transportation includes U.S. Route 31 and nearby Interstate 65, with ColumBUS providing local bus service. Columbus Municipal Airport (KBAK) lies just north of town, and the closest major airport with regular service is Indianapolis International Airport (IND), about 55 miles away.

Columbus is home to notable people like former governor and vice president Mike Pence and basketball pioneer Chuck Taylor. The city’s distinctive architecture and art have also drawn films and visitors from around the country.