Market Information
Columbus Region Facts and Figures
- Columbus, the state capital and largest city in Ohio, is the 14th largest city in the U.S.
- Columbus is the fastest growing metro in the Midwest and was first in the Midwest to recover all jobs lost to the recession.
- Within a day’s drive from the Columbus Region, 46% of the country’s population (151 million people) and 48% of headquarters operations can be reached.
- With one of the highest concentrations of college students in the nation, the Columbus Region's 52 college and university campuses enroll 134,000 students annually.
- No single industry sector represents more than 18 percent of employment, resulting in an exceptionally stable economy.
- Economic base sectors are headquarters and business services, international business, logistics, manufacturing, and science and technology.
- The Columbus Region is home to a population of 2.2 million, and a potential workforce of 1.2 million.
- Columbus is home to 17 Fortune 1000 companies, representing a diverse group of industries, and five Fortune 500 companies, including Nationwide, AEP and Cardinal Health.
Central Ohio Logistics & Transportation Information
- Situated between New York, Chicago, Toronto and Atlanta, Columbus is within a 10-hour truck drive of 46% of the U.S. population, 46% of the US manufacturing capacity, and 48% of US headquarters operations, according to data from One Columbus.
- Companies can reach 151 million people and 42,100 headquarters in a day.
- In total, the Central Ohio logistics industry employs more than 83,600 people at nearly 4,500 logistics-related establishments, according to One Columbus.
- Crossed by eight major interstates and highways, the Columbus Region has easy access to a majority of the country.
- The Columbus Region is home to multimodal logistics hub the North American International Freight Center, a top 10 Foreign Trade Zone and Rickenbacker International Airport, a cargo-dedicated airport offering U.S. importers and exporters connections to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
- Located 10 miles south of Columbus, Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) is one of the world’s only cargo-dedicated airports. Rickenbacker is a high-speed international, multimodal logistics hub with an unparalleled location and access to customers throughout North America. Premier freight forwarders, consolidators, Customs brokers, and third-party logistics providers support its tremendous base of air, road and rail transport companies.
- The region’s foreign trade zone, FTZ 138, is ranked in the Top 10 in the nation for warehousing and distribution for the past eight years. FTZ 138 encompasses all of the Columbus Region and is legally considered outside of customs territory. That means goods may be brought into the site without formal customs entry.
- On the railway side, Central Ohio is served by one regional and two national rail carriers – Ohio Central, Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation. Combined intermodal facilities handle 800,000 container lifts annually, according to One Columbus.
- Coast-to-coast service provided by Norfolk Southern and CSX, two of the nation’s largest rail providers, allow double-stacked freight trains to east coast ports via the Heartland and Gateway corridors, and four intermodal terminals that handle 800,000 container lifts annually provide access to world markets and seaports.
- Central Ohio also is a workforce pipeline for the logistics industry. The region has several colleges and universities that graduate thousands of students each year, including Ohio State and its Fisher College of Business, which are both ranked in the top 10 for supply chain/logistics programs nationally, according to U.S. News & World Report.
- John Glenn Columbus International Airport has over 160 daily flights to more than 40 destinations.
Local Resources
- One Columbus: Serves as the economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus Region, working in partnership with state and local partners to generate opportunity and build capacity for economic growth while promoting the region to growing companies worldwide.
- Columbus Chamber of Commerce: Acts as the voice of the business community in Columbus through strategic business solutions, connections, government relations, and talent and workforce.
- JobsOhio: - Ohio is leading the nation in economic resurgence. Businesses from across the country and around the globe call Ohio home. Learn more about why Ohio is the place to build your legacy.
- Columbus Zoning: - City of Columbus online zoning map for properties.
- Columbus REALTORS®: - Founded in 1908, Columbus REALTORS® is a professional trade association comprised of over 9,400 real estate professionals engaged in residential sales and leasing, commercial sales and leasing, property management, appraisal, consultation, real estate syndication, land development, and more.
