Why Columbus is the most American city

Driving the news: Our Pittsburgh colleagues recently made the case that our neighbor to the east is the "most American" city.

• It's time to make Columbus' case.

Reality check: We didn't play a big role in founding the country.

• Ohio didn't become a state until 27 years later, in 1803.
• Columbus was founded about a decade later and officially became the state capital in 1816.

Yes, but: That's kind of the point — in many ways, Columbus reflects where we're headed, not where we've been.

🏈 Sure, we could base a "most American" argument on our reverence for two quintessentially American things: football and burgers.

🗳️ And all those Ohio presidents? Five of the eight worked here first, as state lawmakers or governors.

🧭 Even our namesake — once an American icon, but now more complicated — reflects our changing nation.

But those are too easy. For us, it's ultimately about the people.

Zoom in: Columbus is a melting pot of cultures, growing larger and more diverse every day.

• Our metro offers a snapshot of America in one place: urban, suburban and rural communities, an influx of immigrants, and people from all walks of life.
• Many move here for better opportunities and our wide-ranging economy.

Sound familiar? That's America.

The bottom line: George Washington famously called democracy an "experiment."

• Columbus is "Test City USA."
• We think there's no better place to keep the experiment going.

📬 What do you think? Email us at [email protected] and let us know why Columbus is (or isn't) the most American city.