No, we’re not talking about being able to get HBO from the modern cable company. This signal had even worse consistency. On August 15, 1977, the Big Ear telescope– officially known as the Ohio State University Radio Observatory- recorded a surprisingly strong signal of non-terrestrial origin. At the time, the telescope was being utilized to search for signs of extraterrestrial life, a task that many large installations around the world had been occasionally involved in, with very little to show for the effort.
The observatory, located of of US 23 between Columbus and Delaware, had been working with SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) since 1973, after the installation had been deemed “defunct”. Equipment listening for frequencies would print out results on long sheets of paper, and while reviewing the data, the signal was first detected by astronomer Jerry Ehman at around 10:16PM. The readout featured the sequence 6EQEJ5, a combination that indicated frequency and signal intensity. The signal’s intensity was 30 standard deviations above normal background noise, and lasted for the full 72 seconds that the Big Ear was able to listen. Both the length and strength fell in line with expectations of what an alien signal would be like. Ehman was so shocked by it, that he circled the sequence and marked it with a “Wow!”, which is how the signal got its name.
The exact origin of the signal is even today unknown, but it was narrowed down to somewhere in the Sagittarius Constellation. Despite multiple attempts by the team at Big Ear, as well other other Earth-bound observatories to locate the signal again, they were unable to. This lack of repetition has meant that theories to its origin- either natural or otherwise- remain unconfirmed. Ehman himself was later skeptical of it actually coming from space and suggested it was signal from Earth that just happened to bounce off a satellite of some kind, but subsequent studies suggested this was highly unlikely.
For the next few decades, astronomers made multiple attempts to locate the signal again, but it was never heard again. To date, it remains one of the most mysterious space signals ever captured.
In 1997, the Big Ear ended all operations after 40 years of use. The following year, it was demolished to expand a golf course.
After a very long delay, the 2020 Census data has arrived! In this first series of related posts, we will compared Columbus to national peer and Midwest metro areas. Metros used here are those that were within 1.5-2.5 million in either 2010 or 2020, as well as Midwest metros of 500,000 or more in either 2010 or 2020, and all Ohio metros.
Total Population by Metro Area by Year Green metros moved up in the rankings 2010-2020 and red moved down.
Rank
2010
2020
1
Chicago: 9,461,105
Chicago: 9,618,502
2
Detroit: 4,296,250
Detroit: 4,392,041
3
Minneapolis: 3,346,859
Minneapolis: 3,690,261
4
St. Louis: 2,787,701
St. Louis: 2,820,253
5
Pittsburgh: 2,356,285
Orlando: 2,673,376
6
Charlotte: 2,243,960
Charlotte: 2,660,329
7
Portland: 2,226,009
San Antonio: 2,558,143
8
Sacramento: 2,149,127
Portland: 2,512,859
9
San Antonio: 2,142,508
Sacramento: 2,379,382
10
Cincinnati: 2,137,667
Pittsburgh: 2,370,930
11
Orlando: 2,134,411
Austin: 2,283,371
12
Cleveland: 2,077,240
Las Vegas: 2,265,461
13
Kansas City: 2,009,240
Cincinnati: 2,256,884
14
Las Vegas: 1,951,269
Kansas City: 2,192,035
15
Columbus: 1,901,974
Columbus: 2,138,926
16
Indianapolis: 1,887,877
Indianapolis: 2,111,040
17
San Jose: 1,836,911
Cleveland: 2,088,251
18
Austin: 1,716,289
San Jose: 2,000,251
19
Virginia Beach: 1,713,954
Nashville: 1,989,519
20
Nashville: 1,646,200
Virginia Beach: 1,799,674
21
Providence: 1,600,852
Providence: 1,676,579
22
Milwaukee: 1,555,908
Jacksonville: 1,605,848
23
Jacksonville: 1,345,596
Milwaukee: 1,574,731
24
Grand Rapids: 993,670
Grand Rapids: 1,087,592
25
Omaha: 865,350
Omaha: 967,604
26
Dayton: 799,232
Dayton: 809,248
27
Akron: 703,200
Des Moines: 707,915
28
Toledo: 651,429
Akron: 701,449
29
Wichita: 623,061
Madison: 670,447
30
Des Moines: 606,475
Wichita: 643,768
31
Madison: 605,435
Toledo: 641,549
32
Youngstown: 565,773
Lansing: 548,248
33
Lansing: 534,684
Youngstown: 531,420
34
Canton: 404,422
Canton: 396,669
Columbus largely held its own in the rankings this decade, but it poised to eventually pass a few of the metros currently ahead of it.
Columbus had the 2nd highest growth in the Midwest after Minneapolis, and is growing much faster than 3 metros currently ranked ahead of it- Cincinnati, Kansas City and Pittsburgh- which it will likely pass at some point in the future. For Cincinnati, for example, current growth rates would suggest Columbus will pass it sometime around 2027. In any event, Columbus’ metro growth was the highest in its history, and about 10,000 more than occurred during the 2000s.
Data related to metro components of growth, such as immigration and deaths vs. births, have yet to be released. Those should come out sometime next month, and will be posted here when they do.
Franklinton has been known as The Bottoms for many years, mainly because the low-lying neighborhood has seen flooding more often than anywhere else in the city. With the completion of the Franklinton Floodwall nearly 20 years ago, the neighborhood has been seeing redevelopment at an ever-increasing pace. This Before and After of the neighborhood only covers some of the changes, and another similar post detailing more changes will most likely be needed.
Before: COSI Parking Lot in 2009 This large parking lot had once been part of Central High School’s campus and was originally the site of the schools track and athletic fields. After the school closed in the early 1980s, the area was converted to a large parking lot. It continued its life as parking when COSI moved from Downtown to a new facility in the converted school. When plans for the Scioto Peninsula to be redeveloped emerged, it was decided to turn the parking lot into a brand new park. After: New Park in 2020 The parking was not actually lost, however. An underground garage was constructed beneath the park itself, which is now called Dorian Green. New development, which will include offices, retail and hundreds of new residences, can be seen under construction in the background.
Before: Veterans Memorial in 2011 The old Veterans Memorial was constructed in the mid-1950s. Over the subsequent decades, the building was renovated and expanded multiple times. By the 2000s, the building was considered outdated with a convoluted layout. Despite some objections, it was decided that the complex would be torn down and replaced with a new veterans center. After: National Veterans Memorial and Museum in 2020 The new building had a far more modern, almost futuristic design, like something out of an X-Men movie. The new building was to remain a veterans memorial with office and event space, but also serve as a museum. It was eventually given the status of being the National Veterans Memorial, the only one of its kind in the nation.
Before: 500 West Broad Street in 2011 Back in 2011, 500 W. Broad was a collection of small businesses, most notably Wasserstrom restaurant supply. This stretch of Broad was unremarkable and a more modern remnant of urban renewal during the mid-20th Century. After: 500 West Broad in 2020 Today, the first phase of the Gravity development occupies the entire stretch. This unique mixed-use development contains, among other things, apartments, retail space, community art and activity space for its residents. Directly across the street, the 2nd- and much larger- phase of Gravity is currently under construction.
Before: A.D. Farrow Harley Davidson in 2012 A century after the business was established, this Harley Davidson sales shop just down the street from Gravity looked out of date. Half the site was also a parking lot that fronted Broad Street. After: A.D. Farrow Harley Davidson in 2020 In 2020, the business was engaged in a significant remodel and expansion. Local business investments such as this have been on the rise in Franklinton in recent years, especially east of 315.
Before: 524 West Broad in 2009 This site had been used as a car lot for some time. The original buildings had been demolished in the early 1960s, replaced with surface parking. After: 524 West Broad in 2020 Today the site is home to Franklinton Station, a lower-income residential complex for seniors.
Before: West Rich Street at the Railroad Crossing, looking west in 2009 This view of West Rich Street shows how the area had been in decline, with abandoned buildings on the right and run-down public housing on the left that had seen little investment since its construction in the early 1960s. After: West Rich Street at the Railroad Crossing, looking west in 2020 Today, this section of Rich Street looks like a completely different place. Buildings have been renovated and old housing has been replaced with the much more dense River & Rich mixed-use development. The new complex contains retail space and residences that retain affordable housing. Another phase of the River & Rich development is in the works that may eventually include a new residential tower.
Before: 548 West State Street in 2011 The site at 548 W. State had been vacant for a number of years, with the original development having been demolished. By 2011, it was overgrown with weeds. After: 548 West State Street in 2020 In 2020, the site had a brand new mixed-use building containing 13 apartments and retail space. The mural also contributes to Franklinton becoming more of an arts location as the previous arts destination, the Short North, becomes ever more expensive.
Before: Mount Carmel West in 2015 Mount Carmel West Hospital had been a dominant fixture in Franklinton for more than a century. It was originally known as Hawkes Hospital and constructed in 1886, becoming Mount Carmel in the 20th Century. However, by the 2010s, the location was deemed to be less optimal and so most of the services were moved to a new hospital in Grove City. The fate of the old hospital was sealed and a plan was drawn up to redevelop the entire site. After: Mount Carmel West in 2020 By 2020, the main hospital was no more. The only structures that will remain include the nurse’s college and several parking garages. The site will be redeveloped with mixed-use projects including residential, retail and office space over the next several years.
Before: Hawkes Avenue, looking south from Chapel Street in 2009 Hawkes Avenue was a typical Franklinton street by the late 2000s, with its vacant lots, abandoned buildings and poorly-maintained infrastructure. After: Hawkes Avenue, looking south from Chapel Street in 2019 Infill housing has been gradually becoming more common throughout Franklinton, as well as home renovations and general reinvestment in infrastructure by the City. Hawkes Avenue has been a beneficiary, and now looks better than it has in many years.
Franklinton has come a long way in just a few years, and the neighborhood is poised to only continue to change even more drastically in the near future. Many new projects are either under construction or have been recently proposed. Future phases of the Scioto Peninsula redevelopment will only spur additional development and growth westward. Whether Franklinton can revitalize without driving out too many of its existing residents remains somewhat of an open question.
Around Columbus and Franklin County, tax incentives and abatements are granted to properties either for new development or to encourage improvements to existing buildings. Most of these incentives are given to properties in urban neighborhoods that have suffered from a lack of investment. However, in recent years, studies have shown that the distribution of them is both uneven and highly controversial, often going to rich developers in already well-established neighborhoods rather than those that need them the most. The link of the Columbus property tax abatement map provides both descriptions of the types of tax incentives used locally, as well as a map that shows what properties get what incentives and how much they amount to.
In addition to abatements and incentives, TIFs, or Tax Increment Financing, uses targeted tax collection in specific areas to make improvements within said districts. Unlike tax abatements/incentives, TIFs can be found almost anywhere, and are regularly used in both suburban and urban neighborhoods, and are not always tied to improving declined areas.
