Most Liberal and Conservative Areas




Most liberal and conservative areas Columbus, Ohio

The most liberal and conservative areas of Columbus and Franklin County are somewhat debatable because the definitions of the terms are subjective to a degree. That said, to simplify things, I am basically just using Republican as conservative and Democratic as liberal/progressive. From there, I looked at the past 3 presidential election results for all of Franklin County down to the precinct level. I compared overall voting margins, trends and other factors. So what were the results?

In the rankings, green places are those that moved up versus the previous election, and red are those that moved down. Black and blue did not change.

Total Democratic Votes by Area by Election

Rank

2008

2012

2016

2020

1

Columbus: 232,494

Columbus: 240,983

Columbus: 241,243

Columbus: 271,782

2

Upper Arlington: 10,738

Upper Arlington: 10,409

Upper Arlington: 12,414

Upper Arlington: 15,022

3

Gahanna: 9,645

Gahanna: 9,813

Gahanna: 10,449

Dublin: 13,302

4

Dublin: 7,945

Westerville: 7,959

Dublin: 9,557

Gahanna: 13,121

5

Westerville: 7,740

Dublin: 7,892

Hilliard: 8,709

Hilliard: 11,976

6

Reynoldsburg: 7,233

Grove City: 7,843

Westerville: 8,412

Westerville: 10,705

7

Grove City: 7,133

Reynoldsburg: 7,746

Reynoldsburg: 7,430

Grove City: 9,370

8

Hilliard: 6,908

Hilliard: 7,653

Grove City: 7,315

Reynoldsburg: 8,635

9

Worthington: 5,100

Worthington: 5,197

Worthington: 5,876

Worthington: 7,145

10

Bexley: 4,929

Whitehall: 4,960

Bexley: 5,532

Bexley: 6,179

11

Whitehall: 4,449

Bexley: 4,737

Whitehall: 4,446

Whitehall: 4,660

12

Prairie Township: 3,503

Prairie Township: 3,611

Grandview Heights: 3,165

Jefferson Township: 4,383

13

Grandview Heights: 2,798

Grandview Heights: 2,817

Jefferson Township: 2,983

Grandview Heights: 3,977

14

Jefferson Township: 2,503

Jefferson Township: 2,618

Prairie Township: 2,835

New Albany: 3,607

15

Madison Township: 2,405

Madison Township: 2,608

New Albany: 2,535

Prairie Township: 3,196

16

Blendon Township: 1,792

Blendon Township: 1,899

Madison Township: 2,187

Madison Township: 2,489

17

New Albany: 1,557

Franklin Township: 1,648

Blendon Township: 1,818

Blendon Township: 2,370

18

Franklin Township: 1,461

New Albany: 1,633

Canal Winchester: 1,437

Canal Winchester: 1,973

19

Pleasant Township: 1,362

Canal Winchester: 1,507

Perry Township: 1,340

Perry Township: 1,685

20

Canal Winchester: 1,355

Groveport: 1,387

Franklin Township: 1,246

Groveport: 1,572

21

Groveport: 1,250

Pleasant Township: 1,365

Groveport: 1,246

Franklin Township: 1,323

22

Perry Township: 1,180

Perry Township: 1,168

Norwich Township: 1,067

Norwich Township: 1,283

23

Norwich Township: 1,037

Norwich Township: 1,030

Pleasant Township: 1,026

Pleasant Township: 1,130

24

Clinton Township: 1,033

Clinton Township: 1,028

Clinton Township: 938

Clinton Township: 1,032

25

Hamilton Township: 942

Hamilton Township: 992

Obetz: 780

Obetz: 948

26

Obetz: 820

Obetz: 924

Sharon Township: 674

Minerva Park: 869

27

Jackson Township: 772

Jackson Township: 792

Hamilton Township: 606

Sharon Township: 812

28

Mifflin Township: 660

Mifflin Township: 690

Jackson Township: 600

Jackson Township: 685

29

Sharon Township: 643

Sharon Township: 643

Mifflin Township: 554

Brown Township: 630

30

Brown Township: 525

Brown Township: 504

Brown Township: 497

Hamilton Township: 596

31

Minerva Park: 441

Minerva Park: 432

Minerva Park: 455

Mifflin Township: 544

32

Plain Township: 383

Plain Township: 392

Plain Township: 379

Plain Township: 517

33

Truro Township: 339

Truro Township: 351

Truro Township: 340

Truro Township: 360

34

Urbancrest: 257

Urbancrest: 299

Marble Cliff: 293

Riverlea: 343

35

Riverlea: 215

Riverlea: 251

Riverlea: 273

Marble Cliff: 341

36

Marble Cliff: 213

Marble Cliff: 244

Urbancrest: 271

Urbancrest: 247

37

Washington Township: 209

Washington Township: 206

Washington Township: 168

Washington Township: 199

38

Valleyview: 134

Valleyview: 142

Valleyview: 102

Valleyview: 136

Total Republican Votes by Area by Election

Rank

2008

2012

2016

2020

1

Columbus: 107,574

Columbus: 105,050

Columbus: 99,575

Columbus: 104,835

2

Upper Arlington: 11,595

Upper Arlington: 12,225

Grove City: 11,750

Grove City: 13,275

3

Dublin: 10,925

Dublin: 11,804

Dublin: 9,145
Dublin: 10,175

4

Grove City: 10,733

Grove City: 10,762

Upper Arlington: 8,997

Upper Arlington: 8,978

5

Gahanna: 9,488

Gahanna: 9,470

Gahanna: 8,353

Hilliard: 8,877

6

Westerville: 9,129

Westerville: 8,965

Hilliard: 8,057

Gahanna: 8,316

7

Hilliard: 8,273

Hilliard: 8,731

Westerville: 7,366

Westerville: 7,458

8

Reynoldsburg: 6,164

Reynoldsburg: 5,636

Reynoldsburg: 5,264

Reynoldsburg: 5,218

9

Worthington: 4,030

Worthington: 4,110

Prairie Township: 4,078

Prairie Township: 4,448

10

Prairie Township: 4,010

Prairie Township: 3,597

Jefferson Township: 3,057

Jefferson Township: 3,516

11

Jefferson Township: 3,117

Jefferson Township: 3,396

Worthington: 2,931

New Albany: 2,996

12

Bexley: 2,834

New Albany: 3,222

Madison Township: 2,666

Worthington: 2,899

13

Madison Township: 2,803

Bexley: 2,963

New Albany: 2,620

Madison Township: 2,833

14

Whitehall: 2,701

Madison Township: 2,437

Pleasant Township: 2,384

Pleasant Township: 2,765

15

New Albany: 2,495

Pleasant Township: 2,202

Canal Winchester: 2,240

Canal Winchester: 2,404

16

Pleasant Township: 2,281

Canal Winchester: 2,189

Whitehall: 2,163

Whitehall: 2,252

17

Canal Winchester: 2,163

Whitehall: 2,114

Bexley: 1,919

Bexley: 1,891

18

Blendon Township: 1,914

Blendon Township: 1,836

Jackson Township: 1,673

Jackson Township: 1,810

19

Jackson Township: 1,602

Jackson Township: 1,538

Blendon Township: 1,669

Franklin Township: 1,781

20

Franklin Township: 1,598

Groveport: 1,506

Franklin Township: 1,616

Blendon Township: 1,749

21

Groveport: 1,586

Perry Township: 1,495

Groveport: 1,580

Groveport: 1,747

22

Perry Township: 1,459

Grandview Heights: 1,440

Hamilton Township: 1,362

Hamilton Township: 1,582

23

Grandview Heights: 1,428

Norwich Township: 1,430

Obetz: 1,223

Obetz: 1,439

24

Norwich Township: 1,420

Franklin Township: 1,375

Norwich Township: 1,221

Grandview Heights: 1,339

25

Hamilton Township: 1,342

Hamilton Township: 1,138

Grandview Heights: 1,155

Norwich Township: 1,262

26

Obetz: 992

Brown Township: 947

Perry Township: 1,116

Perry Township: 1,076

27

Brown Township: 907

Obetz: 937

Brown Township: 897

Brown Township: 923

28

Plain Township: 768

Plain Township: 762

Plain Township: 716

Plain Township: 713

29

Sharon Township: 593

Sharon Township: 557

Clinton Township: 490

Clinton Township: 521

30

Clinton Township: 580

Clinton Township: 496

Sharon Township: 463

Sharon Township: 455

31

Minerva Park: 416

Minerva Park: 387

Mifflin Township: 313

Minerva Park: 378

32

Truro Township: 288

Washington Township: 269

Minerva Park: 306

Mifflin Township: 299

33

Washington Township: 273

Truro Township: 256

Washington Township: 283

Washington Township: 295

34

Valleyview: 180

Mifflin Township: 252

Riverlea: 273

Truro Township: 250

35

Marble Cliff: 178

Marble Cliff: 200

Truro Township: 238

Valleyview: 178

36

Riverlea: 150

Riverlea: 147

Valleyview: 164

Marble Cliff: 144

37

Urbancrest: 36

Valleyview: 135

Marble Cliff: 159

Riverlea: 93

38

Mifflin Township: 32

Urbancrest: 21

Urbancrest: 35

Urbancrest: 62

Areas by % of Total Votes that were Democratic

Rank

2008

2012

2016

2020

1

Urbancrest: 86.53

Urbancrest: 92.0

Urbancrest: 86.03

Urbancrest: 76.95

2

Columbus: 66.93

Mifflin Township: 71.5

Riverlea: 68.77

Riverlea: 76.05

3

Mifflin Township: 65.09

Whitehall: 68.54

Bexley: 68.5

Bexley: 74.98

4

Grandview Heights: 64.99

Columbus: 68.12

Grandview Heights: 67.95

Grandview Heights: 73.27

5

Bexley: 62.54

Clinton Township: 65.56

Columbus: 65.93

Columbus: 70.35

6

Clinton Township: 61.38

Grandview Heights: 64.49

Whitehall: 62.98

Worthington: 69.5

7

Whitehall: 60.04

Riverlea: 62.59

Mifflin Township: 61.01

Marble Cliff: 68.89

8

Riverlea: 57.95

Bexley: 60.65

Worthington: 60.62

Minerva Park: 68.26

9

Worthington: 54.8

Reynoldsburg: 56.73

Clinton Township: 60.32

Whitehall: 65.39

10

Marble Cliff: 53.79

Truro Township: 56.52

Marble Cliff: 60.29

Clinton Township: 64.91

11

Reynoldsburg: 52.74

Worthington: 54.69

Sharon Township: 54.8

Sharon Township: 62.7

12

Truro Township: 52.56

Marble Cliff: 54.1

Truro Township: 54.75

Mifflin Township: 62.67

13

Sharon Township: 50.87

Franklin Township: 52.82

Minerva Park: 54.69

Upper Arlington: 61.01

14

Minerva Park: 50.34

Sharon Township: 52.62

Reynoldsburg: 54.59

Reynoldsburg: 60.8

15

Gahanna: 49.45

Minerva Park: 51.31

Upper Arlington: 53.26

Gahanna: 59.69

16

Upper Arlington: 47.25

Madison Township: 50.4

Gahanna: 51.07

Perry Township: 59.23

17

Blendon Township: 47.24

Gahanna: 49.9

Perry Township: 49.94

Truro Township: 57.6

18

Franklin Township: 45.56

Valleyview: 49.82

Westerville: 48.19

Westerville: 57.5

19

Prairie Township: 45.29

Blendon Township: 49.58

Hilliard: 47.38

Hilliard: 55.99

20

Westerville: 45.02

Prairie Township: 48.54

Dublin: 46.95

Blendon Township: 55.82

21

Madison Township: 44.88

Obetz: 48.23

Blendon Township: 46.86

Dublin: 55.37

22

Hilliard: 44.61

Groveport: 46.99

New Albany: 46.12

Jefferson Township: 54.25

23

Perry Township: 43.85

Westerville: 45.96

Jefferson Township: 45.63

New Albany: 53.67

24

Jefferson Township: 43.79

Hilliard: 45.81

Norwich Township: 42.9

Norwich Township: 49.03

25

Obetz: 43.76

Upper Arlington: 45.17

Madison Township: 42.09

Groveport: 46.63

26

Groveport: 42.78

Hamilton Township: 45.11

Groveport: 40.97

Madison Township: 45.57

27

Washington Township: 42.39

Perry Township: 42.99

Franklin Township: 40.91

Canal Wincheseter: 44.1

28

Valleyview: 41.88

Jefferson Township: 42.78

Prairie Township: 38.02

Valleyview: 42.77

29

Dublin: 41.54

Washington Township: 42.65

Canal Winchester: 36.39

Plain Township: 41.1

30

Norwich Township: 41.41

Grove City: 41.19

Obetz: 36.38

Franklin Township: 41.58

31

Hamilton Township: 39.68

Norwich Township: 41.15

Grove City: 35.57

Prairie Township: 40.84

32

Grove City: 38.93

Canal Winchester: 40.14

Valleyview: 35.29

Grove City: 40.4

33

New Albany: 37.97

Dublin: 39.43

Washington Township: 34.57

Washington Township: 39.41

34

Canal Winchester: 37.7

Pleasant Township: 37.41

Brown Township: 33.0

Brown Township: 39.23

35

Pleasant Township: 36.24

Brown Township: 34.03

Plain Township: 32.34

Obetz: 38.65

36

Brown Township: 35.93

New Albany: 33.2

Hamilton Township: 28.61

Pleasant Township: 28.41

37

Plain Township: 32.46

Jackson Township: 33.19

Pleasant Township: 28.09

Jackson Township: 26.9

38

Jackson Township: 31.59

Plain Township: 33.19

Jackson Township: 24.71

Hamilton Township: 26.82

Areas by % of Total Votes that were Republican

Rank

2008

2012

2016

2020

1

Jackson Township: 65.55

New Albany: 65.51

Jackson Township: 68.9

Hamilton Township: 71.2

2

Plain Township: 65.08

Plain Township: 64.52

Pleasant Township: 65.28

Jackson Township: 71.09

3

Brown Township: 62.08

Jackson Township: 64.46

Hamilton Township: 64.31

Pleasant Township: 69.52

4

New Albany: 60.84

Brown Township: 63.94

Plain Township: 61.09

Obetz: 58.66

5

Pleasant Township: 60.7

Pleasant Township: 60.35

Brown Township: 59.56

Washington Township: 58.42

6

Canal Winchester: 60.18

Dublin: 58.98

Washington Township: 58.23

Brown Township: 57.47

7

Grove City: 58.58

Canal Winchester: 58.31

Grove City: 57.14

Grove City: 57.24

8

Dublin: 57.12

Norwich Township: 57.13

Obetz: 57.04

Prairie Township: 56.84

9

Norwich Township: 56.71

Grove City: 56.52

Valleyview: 56.75

Plain Township: 56.68

10

Hamilton Township: 56.53

Washington Township: 55.69

Canal Winchester: 56.72

Franklin Township: 55.97

11

Valleyview: 56.25

Jefferson Township: 55.5

Prairie Township: 54.69

Valleyview: 55.97

12

Washington Township: 55.38

Perry Township: 55.02

Franklin Township: 53.05

Canal Winchester: 53.73

13

Jefferson Township: 54.53

Upper Arlington: 53.05

Groveport: 51.96

Madison Township: 51.87

14

Groveport: 54.28

Hilliard: 52.26

Madison Township: 51.31

Groveport: 51.82

15

Perry Township: 54.22

Westerville: 51.77

Norwich Township: 49.1

Norwich Township: 48.22

16

Hilliard: 53.42

Hamilton Township: 51.75

New Albany: 47.66

New Albany: 44.58

17

Westerville: 53.1

Groveport: 51.02

Jefferson Township: 46.76

Jefferson Township: 43.52

18

Obetz: 52.93

Obetz: 48.9

Dublin: 44.93

Dublin: 42.35

19

Madison Township: 52.3

Prairie Township: 48.35

Hilliard: 43.83

Hilliard: 41.5

20

Prairie Township: 51.85

Gahanna: 48.15

Blendon Township: 43.02

Blendon Township: 41.19

21

Upper Arlington: 51.02

Blendon Township: 47.94

Westerville: 42.2

Westerville: 40.06

22

Blendon Township: 50.46

Valleyview: 47.37

Perry Township: 41.6

Truro Township: 40.0

23

Franklin Township: 49.83

Madison Township: 47.09

Gahanna: 40.82

Gahanna: 37.83

24

Gahanna: 48.65

Minerva Park: 45.96

Reynoldsburg: 38.68

Perry Township: 37.82

25

Minerva Park: 47.49

Sharon Township: 45.58

Upper Arlington: 38.6

Reynoldsburg: 36.74

26

Sharon Township: 46.91

Marble Cliff: 44.35

Truro Township: 38.33

Upper Arlington: 36.46

27

Marble Cliff: 44.95

Franklin Township: 44.07

Sharon Township: 37.64

Sharon Township: 35.14

28

Reynoldsburg: 44.95

Worthington: 43.25

Minerva Park: 36.78

Mifflin Township: 34.45

29

Truro Township: 44.65

Reynoldsburg: 41.28

Mifflin Township: 34.47

Clinton Township: 32.77

30

Worthington: 43.31

Truro Township: 41.22

Marble Cliff: 32.72

Whitehall: 31.6

31

Riverlea: 40.43

Bexley: 37.94

Clinton Township: 31.51

Minerva Park: 29.69

32

Whitehall: 36.45

Riverlea: 36.66

Whitehall: 30.64

Marble Cliff: 29.09

33

Bexley: 35.96

Grandview Heights: 32.97

Worthington: 30.24

Worthington: 28.2

34

Clinton Township: 34.46

Clinton Township: 31.63

Columbus: 27.21

Columbus: 27.14

35

Grandview Heights: 33.17

Columbus: 29.7

Grandview Heights: 24.8

Grandview Heights: 24.67

36

Mifflin Township: 31.76

Whitehall: 29.21

Bexley: 23.76

Bexley: 22.95

37

Columbus: 30.97

Mifflin Township: 26.11

Riverlea: 21.91

Riverlea: 20.62

38

Urbancrest: 12.12

Urbancrest: 6.46

Urbancrest: 11.11

Urbancrest: 19.31

Areas Ranked by Margin between Democratic and Republican Votes
Negative numbers are Democratic leads, positive are Republican

Rank

2008

2012

2016

2020

1

Urbancrest: -74.41

Urbancrest: -85.54

Urbancrest: -74.92

Urbancrest: -57.63

2

Columbus: -35.96

Mifflin Township: -45.39

Riverlea: -46.85

Riverlea: -55.43

3

Mifflin Township: -33.33

Whitehall: -39.33

Bexley: -44.74

Bexley: -52.03

4

Grandview Heights: -31.82

Columbus: -38.43

Grandview Heights: -43.15

Grandview Heights: -48.6

5

Clinton Tonwship: -26.92

Clinton Township: -33.93

Columbus: -38.72

Columbus: -43.21

6

Bexley: -26.58

Grandview Heights: -31.52

Whitehall: -32.34

Worthington: -41.3

7

Whitehall: -23.59

Riverlea: -25.94

Worthington: -30.38

Marble Cliff: -39.8

8

Riverlea: -17.52

Bexley: -22.71

Clinton Township: -28.81

Minerva Park: -38.57

9

Worthington: -11.49

Reynoldsburg: -15.45

Marble Cliff: -27.57

Whitehall: -33.79

10

Marble Cliff: -8.84

Truro Township: -15.3

Mifflin Township: -26.54

Clinton Township: -32.14

11

Truro Township: -7.91

Worthington: -11.44

Minerva Park: -17.91

Mifflin Township: -28.23

12

Reynoldsburg: -7.79

Marble Cliff: -9.76

Sharon Township: -17.15

Sharon Township: -27.57

13

Sharon Township: -3.96

Franklin Township: -8.75

Truro Township: -16.43

Upper Arlington: -24.55

14

Minerva Park: -2.85

Sharon Township: -7.04

Reynoldsburg: -15.91

Reynoldsburg: -24.06

15

Gahanna: -0.8

Minerva Park: -5.34

Upper Arlington: -14.66

Gahanna: -21.86

16

Blendon Township: 3.22

Madison Township: -3.3

Gahanna: -10.24

Perry Township: -21.41

17

Upper Arlington: 3.77

Valleyview: -2.46

Perry Township: -8.35

Truro Township: -17.6

18

Franklin Township: 4.27

Gahanna: -1.74

Westerville: -5.99

Westerville: -17.44

19

Prairie Township: 6.56

Blendon Township: -1.64

Blendon Township: -3.84

Blendon Township: -14.63

20

Madison Township: 7.42

Prairie Township: -0.19

Hilliard: -3.55

Hilliard: -14.49

21

Westerville: 8.08

Obetz: 0.68

Dublin: -2.02

Dublin: -13.02

22

Hilliard: 8.81

Groveport: 4.03

Jefferson Township: 1.13

Jefferson Township: -10.73

23

Obetz: 9.17

Westerville: 5.81

New Albany: 1.55

New Albany: -9.09

24

Perry Township: 10.37

Hilliard: 6.45

Norwich Township: 6.19

Norwich Township: -0.8

25

Jefferson Township: 10.74

Hamilton Township: 6.64

Madison Township: 9.22

Groveport: 5.19

26

Groveport: 11.5

Upper Arlington: 7.88

Groveport: 10.98

Madison Township: 6.3

27

Washington Township: 12.99

Perry Township: 12.04

Franklin Township: 12.15

Canal Winchester: 9.63

28

Valleyview: 14.37

Jefferson Township: 12.71

Prairie Township: 16.67

Valleyview: 13.21

29

Norwich Township: 15.3

Washington Township: 13.04

Canal Winchester: 20.33

Franklin Township: 14.39

30

Dublin: 15.58

Grove City: 15.33

Obetz: 20.66

Plain Township: 15.58

31

Hamilton Township: 16.85

Norwich Township: 15.98

Valleyview: 21.45

Prairie Township: 16.0

32

Grove City: 19.65

Canal Winchester: 18.17

Grove City: 21.57

Grove City: 16.84

33

Canal Winchester: 22.48

Dublin: 19.55

Washington Township: 23.66

Brown Township: 18.24

34

New Albany: 22.87

Pleasant Township: 22.94

Brown Township: 26.56

Washington Township: 19.01

35

Pleasant Township: 24.46

Brown Township: 29.91

Plain Township: 28.75

Obetz: 20.02

36

Brown Township: 26.15

Jackson Township: 31.27

Hamilton Township: 35.69

Pleasant Township: 41.11

37

Plain Township: 32.62

Plain Township: 31.33

Pleasant Township: 37.19

Jackson Township: 44.19

38

Jackson Township: 33.96

New Albany: 32.31

Jackson Township: 44.19

Hamilton Township: 44.37

Overall, most places in Franklin County have moved strongly left in the past 3 elections. The few areas that did not tended to be more rural towns and townships. Most of Columbus’ major suburbs now vote strongly Democratic, with the notable exceptions of Grove City and Canal Winchester.

The most conservative place in Franklin County as recently as 2020 was Hamilton Township, with the most liberal being Urbancrest. Urbancrest is a tiny, diverse neighborhood north of Grove City. In recent years, it’s been becoming less diverse, though, which may explain why its Democratic margins have been getting smaller.

Finally, the overall margin change from 2008-2020.

Rank

2008-2020

1

Riverlea: -37.91

2

Minerva Park: -35.72

3

New Albany: -31.96

4

Perry Township: -31.78

5

Marble Cliff: -30.96

6

Worthington: -29.81

7

Dublin: -28.6

8

Upper Alrington: -28.32

9

Westerville: -25.52

10

Bexley: -25.45

11

Sharon Township: -23.61

12

Hilliard: -23.3

13

Jefferson Township: -21.47

14

Gahanna: -21.06

15

Blendon Township: -17.85

16

Plain Township: -17.05

17

Grandview Heights: -16.78

18

Reynoldsburg: -16.27

19

Norwich Township: -16.1

20

Canal Winchester: -12.85

21

Whitehall: -10.2

22

Truro Township: -9.69

23

Brown Township: -7.91

24

Columbus: -7.25

25

Groveport: -6.31

26

Clinton Township: -5.22

27

Grove City: -2.81

28

Valleyview: -11.16

29

Madison Township: -1.13

30

Mifflin Township: 5.1

31

Washington Township: 6.02

32

Prairie Township: 9.44

33

Franklin Township: 10.12

34

Jackson Township: 10.23

35

Obetz: 10.85

36

Pleasant Township: 16.66

37

Urbancrest: 16.78

38

Hamilton Township: 27.52

Past election maps for past elections in Ohio are also available. And if you are interested in where these places are, here is a voting district map for Franklin County.



Before and After Views from Franklinton




These before and after views from Franklinton show a snapshot in time of just how unattractive and people-unfriendly the riverfront once was.

Before: 1923
Before and after views from Franklinton in 1923
This view looks east from the Franklinton side of the Scioto River. At the time, Central High School was under construction, which is why the area looks like such a mess of materials. Central High School would be completed in 1924 and open on September 4th of that year. The school would remain open for 60 years before being shut down in the mid-1980s. The building sat empty for more than a decade before being renovated into the new COSI.
Beyond the river, a much shorter Downtown skyline can be seen. The image predates LeVeque Tower and most of the government buildings that now line the Scioto’s shores.

After: 2020
Before and after views from Franklinton in 2020.
The riverfront looks much different today. With the Scioto Greenways and park space added in more recent years, the view is much more pleasant, the bathroom not included.

Before: 1926
Before and after view from Franklinton in 1926.
In an image taken just 3 years after the one above, the Franklinton side of the riverfront looks much better. Additionally, LeVeque Tower is now well under construction.
After: 2021
before and after view from Franklinton in 2021
In the modern view, the parking and cars have been replaced with parklands and public space, while LeVeque has become the city’s most iconic skyline addition.

If you enjoy this series, the Historic Building Database page offers thousands of before and after photos of historic buildings and places in and around Columbus.

AllColumbusData’s Most Popular Posts and Pages

most popular posts and pages

Next month, AllColumbusData.com will have its 10-year anniversary. Hard to believe! Here are some stats on just some of what the site now contains:
-338 published posts. 10 additional are already complete and scheduled over the next few months.
-105 specific content pages.
-Well over 2,000 individual and before and after series historic photos.
-143+ years of weather data for both Columbus and its suburbs.
-200+ years of demographic and population data for Columbus and its suburbs.
-Information and photos for hundreds of current and past development projects.
-100+ videos.

What has been the most visited page, the most popular post over the years? Unfortunately, visitor data was lost prior to 2015 for various reasons. However, here have been the top 10 most popular posts and pages since 2015.

Top 10 Posts and the Year Published
1. Before and After How Columbus Changed in 10 Years 2021
This 2-part series was extremely popular last year, and easily became the most visited in the past 7 years.
2. Questions Answered- Columbus Zip Codes 2014
This post was very popular into 2018, but is now defunct. The information on this post ended up becoming bits and parts of other posts and pages.
3. Columbus Retail History- Shopping Centers 2013
One of the oldest posts on the site, it still gets consistent traffic almost a decade later.
4. Columbus Historic Church Demolition 2021
This one detailed plans to demolish an old church on the South Side.
5. Columbus Area Murders by Zip Code 2008-2015 2016
Pretty explanatory. This post provided crude maps of murders by zip code.
6. Columbus’ Greatest Snowstorm 2021
This post gave an account of the March 7-8, 2008 blizzard.
7. Columbus Area Zip Codes and Their Economies 2013
Still a consistent hit after a decade, this post gave details on economic information by local zip code.
8. Winter 2020-2021 Review 2021
Review the 2020-2021 winter with stats and rankings, something that has been done for all winters since 2014.
9. Franklin County Gentrification Trends 1990-2015 2017
This post looked at how income and race changes were driving neighborhood gentrification around Columbus.
10. How We Should Develop Around Intel 2022
The most recent on this list, this post deals with how the area around the Intel project should have a development plan, and detailed a hypothetical map of what that development could look like.

Top 10 Pages
1. Columbus Tornado History
The most popular by far, this page covers historic tornadic events throughout the entire Columbus Metro Area.
2. Olde Towne East Historic Buildings
This has been the most popular of all the Historic Building Database pages to date.
3. Proposed Development
This regularly-updated development page highlights the region’s many proposed projects.
4. Other Residential Historic Buildings
This page was one of the very first to be included in what would eventually become the Historic Building Database. It is defunct now, as its photos were eventually divided into a much greater expansion of featured neighborhoods.
5. Development Under Construction
All the projects currently under construction at any given time.
6. Census Tract Maps
Demographics, population and other data at the census tract level are provided in interactive maps going back to 1930.
7. Winter Storms
This page chronicles significant winter weather events from the past.
8. Columbus Flood History
As above, but dealing with flooding events.
9. Columbus Crime Statistics
Violent and property crime data, maps and demographic data related to Columbus crime are provided going back about 40 years.
10. Completed Development
Buildings and projects that were completed at some point in the past are highlighted on this page going back to the 19th Century.

Any surprises in what has been the most popular? Any posts or pages you’d like to see more of? Let me know here or on the Facebook page if you are enjoying the content or would like to see something different!



Cool Link University District History

University district history

This link is a great repository of historic photographs of the Ohio State Campus area, including High Street and neighboring Weinland Park. There is also a lot of historical information on events, restaurants, buildings and a lot more.

University District History



Spooky Links for Halloween

Spooky links for Halloween Columbus Ohio

Halloween is my absolute most favorite holiday. The crisp, fall weather, the pumpkins, the candy, the costumes, the scare movie marathons… what’s not to like? Here are some great spooky links for Halloween to help you have the best holiday possible.

Columbus Halloween Climatology
Curious to know what the historic weather was like on past Halloweens back to 1878? This is your link.

Ohio’s Haunted Attractions
Looking for some spooky fun? This is yours. This is a great list to find all the haunted houses, hayrides and corn mazes near you.

2022 Trick or Treat Schedule
NBC4 provides a list of Trick or Treat times across Central Ohio, so you have no excuse to miss out!

And don’t forget about Columbus’ largest costume party!
HighBall Halloween

Have a safe, fantastic Halloween!