Columbus, IN

With a population of around 40,000 people, Columbus should be just another midsize Midwestern town, but thanks to an innovative city plan that includes an incredible variety of intriguing architectural sites and public works of art, Columbus is anything but ordinary. In 2008 National Geographic Traveler ranked the city 11th out of 109 of the best historic destinations worldwide. It is not just Columbus' city and county government buildings that are architecturally significant buildings; the fire stations, schools, churches, and even the jail are all visually compelling. The city's proximity to Indianapolis, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; and Cincinnati, Ohio has also helped Columbus develop a prosperous economy. Columbus is a great place for families, with a plethora of museums and family-friendly activities.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Manufacturing makes up the largest portion of the available jobs in Columbus, followed by the retail trade, health care, and social assistance. Because manufacturing is such a big part of the area's economy, loss of these jobs in an economic downturn could have a significant impact on the quality of life in the Columbus.

Cummins Inc., a diesel engine manufacturer, is headquartered in Columbus and is the city's largest employer. Other manufacturing plants include NTN Driveshaft, Emcon Technologies, and Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Columbus includes several distinct neighborhoods:

• Forest Park: This neighborhood to the west of downtown Columbus has relatively high home prices. It is one of the most wealthy and educated neighborhoods in Columbus.
• Parkside: This area extends north of downtown and includes the Columbus Municipal Airport. Mostly manufacturing workers live in this quiet and affordable neighborhood.
• Everroad Park: This eclectic community east of downtown Columbus has a lively neighborhood feel and a good mix of cultures.
• East Columbus: The east side of Columbus is one of the most affordable areas of the city. It is also a quiet, pedestrian-friendly area.

FOR VISITORS

In Columbus, most buildings are works of art designed by renowned architects and incorporated into the eclectic mix of styles featured throughout the town. This small town contains a number of fascinating buildings:

• AT&T/SBC Switching Center: Brightly colored "organ pipes" front this 1978 building, which is covered with a skin of reflective glass. The building was designed by Paul Kennon of the Caudill Rowlett Scott architecture firm.
• Bartholomew County Courthouse: This 1874 Second Empire-style building was designed by Isaac Hodgson and has had few exterior modifications since then.
• Bartholomew County Jail: The four-story, domed jail building was designed by Don M. Hisaka to blend in with the Columbus City Hall and the Bartholomew County Courthouse. The dome is wire mesh that covers an outdoor exercise area.
• Bartholomew County Public Library: Famed architect I.M. Pei requested that Lafayette Street, the site of his 1969 library design project, be closed off to form an open plaza. A later expansion of the building was approved by Pei himself.
• Columbus City Hall: Built in 1981, this triangular building features cantilevered arms that embrace the building's entrance; it was designed by Edward Charles Bassett of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill.
• Cummins Midrange Engine Plant: Even factory buildings in Columbus are visually appealing, as evidenced by this 1973 building designed by Roche Dinkeloo and Associates. The plant is designed so that all employees have an outside view, and the parking lot is on the roof.
• Fire Station No. 1: This 1941 Art Nouveau building is one of a few different architecturally significant fire stations in Columbus. It was designed by Leighton Bowers.
• First Christian Church: Designed by Eliel Saarinen in 1940-42, this geometric structure was one of the first churches in the country to feature contemporary architecture.
• W.D. Richards Elementary: This 1965 building, with its distinctive sloping roofs, was designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes.

SHOPPING

The shopping centers of Columbus are as varied as its architecture, from giant outdoor malls to intimate downtown boutiques:

• Fair Oaks Mall: Anchored by Elder-Beerman and JCPenney, this indoor mall offers plenty of national chain shops and specialty stores.
• Downtown Columbus: Specialty stores in downtown offer unique gifts.

BEST BETS

• Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum: Exhibits highlight air innovations from 1942 to 1970 and encompass World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam.
• Bartholomew County Historical Society Museum: The restored Italianate home houses changing exhibits that trace the history of the area.
• Cummins Corporate Headquarters Museum: Dedicated to engines, the museum displays an "exploded" engine along with several Indy 500 race cars.
• Columbus Center for Visual Communications: Photography, illustrations, and printed posters are displayed along with other kinds of visual art at this center, which is part of Ivy Tech State College.
• Kidscommons Children's Museum: This museum and activity center boasts a climbing wall, bubble room, and the ExploraHouse, an exhibit that allows children to slide down a giant toilet, crawl under floorboards, and otherwise explore the inner workings of a home.