Cowtown no more

Columbus has come a long way since the days when that charlatan Samuel Hartman harvested crops on what is now High Street

The latest data out of the U.S. Census Bureau backs up what anyone paying attention has long known: Columbus is a galaxy away from the “cowtown” it was when famed Peruna “cure-all” tonic peddler Samuel Hartman established what was once the largest farm in the nation in 1890 south of what is now I-270 along South High Street.

The issue is not what we were.

The issue is if we will fully embrace who we have become and whether we can maintain and spread prosperity to those not benefitting from it.

Those are the multibillion questions the capital city must address as it continues its growth.

And researchers forecast it will grow. The Mid-ohio Regional Planning Commission, a central Ohio planning agency, projects that the 15-county area will grow to 3 million residents by 2050.Right now, central Ohio – the home of one of the youngest and mosteducated populations in the nation – has five of Ohio’s six fastest growing counties.

The census estimated 235,600 more residents lived here in 2020 than in 2010, accounting for about 90% of the state’s growth.

Columbus’ population has exploded to

905,748 — up 15% from the 787,033 in 2010. It is the nation’s 14th biggest city and is the giant among Ohio’s 3 C’s.

Central Ohio is also the Buckeye State’s most financially secure region, benefiting from several industries beyond state government and higher education.

While still recovering from the impact of COVID-19, Columbus has for decades been a

Midwest economic star. Companies want to come here. Google for instance just announced it will invest an additional $1 billion into its data center operations in New Albany and has bought 618 acres of land in Columbus and Lancaster for more possible centers.

That land includes part of Samuel Hartman former farm site at 5076 S. High St. on the Far South Side.

In March, Columbus City Council approved $54.3 million in tax incentives for a data center on that land.

There are big challenges ahead. and far too many do not benefit from Columbus’ relatively good fortune.

Housing

You do not have to be looking for a place to live to know the housing market is on fire in central Ohio. The flames are not expected to be extinguished anytime soon.

The projected growth will be a curse if the demand for housing — both affordable and not-so-affordable — is not met with supply.

JAMES D. DECAMP/COLUMBUS DISPATCH Ed Vaughan works through his monologue as “cure-all” tonic peddler Dr. Samuel Hartman in the CATCO production of “Snake Oil” at the Vern Riffe Theatre in 2006.