Columbus' nickname debate: Arch City or something else?
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Columbus streets glowed under gaslit wooden arches over a century ago — and while they're long gone, our "Arch City" title still lingers. Sort of.
Why it matters: Nicknames reflect civic pride and identity, but all these years later, our city can't seem to settle on one.
Driving the news: Reader Gregory H. emailed us a while back, inquiring about us calling Columbus the Arch City in a past newsletter.
- Gregory left the area in 1989 and says he doesn't remember hearing the moniker mentioned while living here.
- He asked: "Is it something that was prevalent many years ago and faded away that political leaders have revived in the last few years?"
What we found: Yes, more or less. The Short North's 17 modern metal arches were unveiled in 2002 as a $1.5 million project paying homage to local history.
Flashback: In 1888, Columbus installed wooden, gaslit arches across downtown to dazzle visitors and deter crime as it hosted the country's celebration of the Northwest Territory's 100th anniversary.
- They were replaced with safer, metal arches with lightbulbs in 1896 that doubled as streetlights and supported trolley car wires.
- The arches disappeared in the 1910s, replaced by cheaper lamp posts.
The intrigue: The Dispatch first suggested the nickname "Arch City" in the early 1900s, reporting it "took like wildfire" and even got a nod from inventor Thomas Edison.
Yes, but: After 2002's revival attempt, the nickname didn't catch on today — though a few businesses, such as Arch City Tavern and Arch City Development, bear the name.
- The Short North marker that once explained our arch history is gone, and many locals don't know why they're here.
The other side: Other nicknames like "Cowtown," "Discovery City" "Cap City" and "Cbus" also circulate, but none have become the city's clear identity, either. Not even Flavortown.
🤷♀️ Alissa's thought bubble: I've mostly avoided using city nicknames in our news stories because I'm not confident any are authentic or agreed on.
📬 Do you say "Arch City," or is another nickname better? Email [email protected] and tell us what you call Columbus.
Columbus officials' nickname takes
📈 Mayor Andrew Ginther's pick is "America's Opportunity City," per spokesperson Jennifer Fening.
- "He's focused on positioning Columbus for a century of growth and success that enables equitable prosperity for everyone who calls our city home," she says.
- His office didn't comment on the Arch City moniker.
😮 Short North Alliance executive director Betsy Pandora suggests "City of Possibility," because Columbus is "a place where opportunities are created, ideas take root, and you're often surprised by what you find here."
- She views the modern arches as important to the Short North's identity, calling them "visually powerful" and a "unifying marker."
🏙️ Experience Columbus spokesperson Sarah Townes likes "Cap City," and says it would be helpful if people outside Ohio understood the shorthand of "Cbus."
- It "would be rare" for a visitor to associate Columbus with "Arch City," she says.
The bottom line: "We would be happy if we could drop the 'Ohio' from Columbus and be known as THE Columbus outside of the state," Townes tells us.