A few states lay claim to being the perfect representation of America. Missouri and Pennsylvania, for example, present a compelling case, what with their precise combination of urban vs. rural vs. suburban. But to find this country’s true bellwether, one need only to look to Ohio. With its 20 tantalizing electoral votes, the candidates—and the media—practically take up residence in the Buckeye State during the remaining six months of a presidential election. It’s equal parts Red and Blue, and whoever Ohioans choose often affects us all.
Ohio Statehouse
Ohio is where I was born and raised. I believe I have benefited from having grown up there, as well as from my decision to move away from there. I know one thing: people on the coasts are generally clueless about places like Ohio.
So here’s a quick primer: Ohio is different from Iowa, which is different from Idaho! Cleveland is the largest city in the largest metropolitan region in the state. However, it is not the largest city in the state (more on that complicated formula shortly). It is located in the northeastern part. Cincinnati is in the southwestern corner of the state, along the banks of the Ohio River; Kentucky is on the other side. Indiana and Pennsylvania abut Ohio to the west and east, respectively; and Michigan (to the northwest) and West Virginia (to the southeast) round out the borders.
Poor Cleveland. In movies and on TV shows, it’s shorthand for shithole. A lot of it is warranted… Cleveland is cold and industrial; kind of like a smaller Detroit or a bigger Buffalo. Recessions are particularly merciless toward places like these. People here tend to vote for Democrats, not because they are particularly liberal, but because of their belief that the Democratic Party represents them, the engines of the manufacturing sector. Cincinnati is more of a sibling to fellow river towns like Louisville or St. Louis (with a dash of Pittsburgh’s rugged terrain mixed in). Maybe because a significant part of its metropolitan area is in Kentucky, it really doesn’t think of itself as part of Ohio (just look at the Convention & Visitors Bureau Web site, a link to which is above). “Cincinnati, USA” is how it has defined itself for years. It’s a conservative place… not quite the south, but not quite the north.
Then there’s Columbus, nearly dead-center in between Cleveland, Cincinnati and everything else in the state. With all of its super-sized aspirations, and laudable achievements that really do make it rise above the other two C-cities, it is nonetheless stuck with such a generic name. This means that a comma and “Ohio” will always and forever be attached to it. Hardly the stuff of the big leagues.
Having lived in both the Cleveland and Cincinnati areas, I’ve long taken a dim view of how Columbus champions itself as Ohio’s largest city. It got to be that way by gobbling up unincorporated residential areas that ring the landlocked city. So yes, it has more people than any other place in Ohio. But Ohio’s largest metro area and media market remains greater Cleveland-Akron-Canton.
What else defines a city? Cultural institutions, for one… Columbus has them, but Cleveland is a true powerhouse on that score (ditto for medical facilities). A diverse corporate community? Columbus does remarkably well in that category, but not as well as Cincinnati. Recreational pursuits? Flat, landlocked Columbus really doesn’t compare to Cleveland or Cincinnati. So what does Columbus have going for it that the other two do not? That magic combination, which it shares with Madison, Austin, Lincoln and only a few other places in the country: the home of the huge state university; and the state’s capital. Nowhere is recession-proof, but those two things give Columbus a huge leg up.
Visitors are often surprised by how new Columbus and environs is. The rust belt it is not. Its downtown is attractive enough, and its urban neighborhoods, like the Short North and German Village, are quaint and energetic. And with acres of new housing developments, modern-looking shopping areas (including “lifestyle centers”), you can drive through and around Columbus feeling like you’re in a sunbelt city, not the Midwest. Beyond the city limits, suburbs like Dublin or New Albany have growing populations, shiny new buildings, and enviable corporate residents. For decades now, Columbus has been able to thrive while other Ohio cities falter.
As for the state house, as its known, it sits on a manicured plot of land right in the middle of downtown. I’ve never been a fan of the domeless cupola drum look of Ohio’s, and Oregon’s capitol. But once inside, well, I love it. The building was restored in the late 1990’s, and they did a fantastic job. Its lighting is soft, warm and pleasing. Many marble capitols have a cold feel to them. Ohio’s is the exact opposite. It ranks as one of my favorites. There’s a terrific gift shop on the building’s lower level. Take in the displays down there, because the Ohio Historical Center, a few miles up I-71, does not, in my view, adequately showcase all of the unique aspects of Ohio. There are lots of geological artifacts that I find boring, and not enough about Ohio’s unique role in shaping the industrial revolution, the politics and the culture of this country.
All roads lead to Columbus, so use it as a springboard to see the rest of the state, particularly if it’s campaign season, when Ohio turns into the Animal House of the Electoral College.
Tags: Columbus, Ohio, Ohio State Capitol
