Census Data for Columbus
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Columbus a population of 899,908 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Columbus a population of 787,033 people.
The city of Columbus is located in Franklin County. The 2010 Census gave Franklin County; a population of 1,163,414 people. This means that Columbus had 67.6% of the county's total population, making it Franklin's most populous community.
At the same time, Ohio had a population of 11,536,504 people, meaning that Columbus had 6.82% of the total population of Ohio - making it the state's most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Columbus has a total area of 223.1 square miles [577.8 km²]. Of this total, 217.2 square miles [562.5 km²] is land, with the balance (2.66%) being water (5.94 square miles [15.4 km²]).
Franklin County has a land area of 532 square miles [1,378.4 km²]. At 217.2 square miles [562.5 km²], Columbus has 40.81% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Columbus, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Columbus reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Columbus might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 39° 59' 5" (or 39.98°)
- Lon: -82° 59' 6" (or -82.99°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Columbus had 370,965 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 787,033 people, this averages 2.12 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Columbus had a land area of 217.2 square miles [562.5 km²]. This translates to 1,662 Housing Units per square mile [641 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Columbus had 327,175 Housing Units, a population of 711,470 people and a land area of 210.3 square miles [544.6 km²]. This gives a density of 2.17 people per Housing Unit and 1,539 Housing Units per square mile [594 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Columbus and you need to be careful when comparing between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Franklin County ...
The community of Columbus is primarily located in Franklin County<4> and is the County Seat for Franklin County. A portion of Columbus extends into Delaware County and Fairfield County.
The county had a population of 1,163,414 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 787,033 people, Columbus represented 67.6% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Columbus has a population density of 3,527 people per square mile [1,362 people/km²], Franklin County averages 2,186 people per square mile [844 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Franklin County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Columbus, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Columbus. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Columbus or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Columbus, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Columbus.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 39.984799° (or 39°59'5" N)
- Lon: -82.985044° (or -82°59'6" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 39.989783° (or 39°59'23" N)
- Lon: -82.991460° (or -82°59'29" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 2,552 feet to the southeast<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#1086101) to Columbus. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Columbus. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 39.985909° (or 39°59'9" N)
- Lon: -82.985029° (or -82°59'6" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 404.7 feet to the south<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Columbus. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Columbus.
Miscellaneous Information for Columbus ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Franklin County or the city of Columbus:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 39 (Ohio)
- County Code: 049 (Franklin County)
- Place Code: 18000 (Columbus)
- State & County Code: 39/049 (Ohio / Franklin County)
- State & Place Code: 39/18000 (Ohio / Columbus)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Columbus is located in Census Region #2 (the Midwest Region) and Division #3 (the East North-Central Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Columbus.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Columbus: www.ci.columbus.oh.us/
The official website for Franklin County: www.co.franklin.oh.us/
The official website for State of Ohio: https://ohio.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Ohio's counties, including Franklin, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 224 degrees and a distance of 2,552 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 179 degrees and a distance of 404.7 feet. |