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Columbus/Ohio (USA)

The partnership with Columbus was founded in 1992 and there has been a lively programme of exchanges with the city in the Midwest of the USA ever since. The cooperation covers many different fields on both sides. Regular contacts between universities, schools and athletes, alongside a diversity of individual projects, continue to stimulate the young relationship. The art scenes in Dresden and Ohio have also been in close contact for many years, not least through the annual residency exchanges which enable artists to meet up with colleagues from the other side of the Atlantic. The many members of the American sponsors' association for reconstruction of the Frauenkirche, "Friends of Dresden", has collected a considerable sum of donations in Columbus and organises various benefit events in support of the Dresden church.

Population: approx. 750,000

Geographical location:

Midwest of the USA, south of the Great Lakes, capital of the State of Ohio

Profile:

After the founding of the State of Ohio, the city of Columbus, which was named after the famous seafarer, became the capital of the 17th state of the USA in 1816. As a gateway to the Midwest, Columbus and its surrounding metropolitan region can point to a long industrial tradition. This can be attributed not least to the building of the railroads in the 19th century. Columbus enjoyed an economic heyday at the start of the 20th century thanks to the further expansion of traffic routes and the local oil wells.
Parallel to the economic upswing, Columbus experienced a major wave of immigration, above all Germans and Irish. For a time, Germans made up one-third of the population of Columbus, and the city is still today one of the largest settlements of ethnic Germans in the United States. The originally German residential and business district, the historical German Village, is among the most charming in the city and a magnet for visitors. As capital of the State of Ohio, Columbus is not only the seat of the state government, but also of Franklin County and the City of Columbus. Through this multiplicity of administrations, and with the Ohio State University as the largest employer in the city, the majority of the working population in Columbus has jobs in the public sector. Columbus counts the headquarters of several major US companies, such as Nationwide Insurance, American Electric Power, Limited Brands and Cardinal Health. The 1970s heralded a transformation from an industrial city into a centre of finance and the service industries. Columbus has maintained this character to the present day, and has at the same time developed into one of the most important high-tech centres in the United States.
Their riverside locations have brought both Columbus and Dresden their share of floods. A catastrophic flood in 1913, for example, left large areas of Columbus under water. In the years which followed, a system of artificial levees and dams was erected along the Scioto River and its tributaries, and the Miami Valley Conservation project was established to manage flood control.

Tips:

Visitors to Columbus should not only be sure to take in Downtown, the typically American business district at the heart of the city, but should also plan a stroll through the famous German Village neighbourhood: Founded by German immigrants, it continues to captivate visitors today with its red-brick houses and paved streets. At the heart of the German Village is Schiller Park, with a statue of the famous poet. The next must on the agenda is a visit to the Ohio State University (OSU), which possesses one of the largest single campuses in the country. Short North links the OSU campus with downtown Columbus and is an especially popular neighbourhood with young people, thanks to its restaurants, bars and art galleries. On the first Saturday of each month, it plays host to the so-called "Gallery Hop". On these evenings, the High Street becomes a bustling hive of visitors who come to admire the latest works of local artists in the many galleries, on the lookout for potential additions to their own art collections, and stop off in the countless bars and restaurants along the way.

Fairs and festival:

Columbus Arts Festival: Held on the first weekend in June each year. From Friday to Sunday, artists and artisans from all over the country present and sell their works to the festival visitors. Thousands flock to the city to enjoy the enormous diversity of art on show, and no less also the live music, artist workshops and good food. The Discovery District, which is also home to the Columbus Museum of Art and the College of Art and Design, has provided for backdrop for the festival since 2009.
ComFest (Community Festival): The works of regional artists can be admired and bought in Goodale Park. The ComFest is widely acclaimed as an alternative music and street festival.
Red, White & Boom: That is the fitting name given to the firework displays organised on the Fourth of July, the American national holiday. The spectacle is framed by all manner of entertainment on the streets.
Jazz & Ribs Festival: The Jazz & Ribs Festival is another highly popular street festival, whose three days are devoted above all to music and ribs from some of the best rib vendors in the country.
Ohio State Fair: Originally an agricultural show, as was once held in almost all states of the US. Today, the Ohio State Fair is a gigantic carnival event. It is held at the end of July/beginning of August and usually lasts for 10 days.
Columbus Oktoberfest: With the Oktoberfest, the city of Columbus celebrates its important German heritage. There are seemingly endless supplies of bratwurst and beer, to the accompaniment of polka music and dancing.