Columbus, OH review from an upstate New Yorker who is moving back to NY (Cincinnati: extended stay, real estate)

[NorthPoleMarathoner]

I always hear the same complaints about Columbus over and over.

1) Too many people root for the Buckeyes. Imagine that, I woulda thought everyone from Columbus was a USC fan.

2) Too much sprawl. Get a place inside 270. Problem solved.

3) No real pizza available. All these people complain about a lack of pizza and say "someone" could make a fortune if they sold real pizza. Any of these people realize they could be "someone"

4. Weather. The weather has been the same for hundreds if not thousands of years in Central Ohio. It wasn't going to change because you moved here. Trust me, you ain't that special.

I-70 and I-71 work just as well going out as they did coming in.

If Columbus is so bad then I suggest you use them.

[bellafinzi]

I think I'd like Columbus much more than Pittsburgh. More progressive city.

The negatives for me are: 1. I'm not sure I could deal with Ohio State fans (dealt with a couple real annoying ones in college )

2. I've read that Columbus is the number destination for West Virginia natives in search of job opportunities. Since I'm not a big fan of the Appalachia mentality, I'm not sure I'd like living with a large percentage of the population in the Columbus area.

[NorthPoleMarathoner]

You won't find a lot of West Virginians in Columbus. I'm sure they are there but it isn't like you run into them all the time.

I did meet a couple from Wheeling once that lived in Dublin. They seemed normal.

[mrb69]

Originally Posted by NorthPoleMarathoner

You won't find a lot of West Virginians in Columbus. I'm sure they are there but it isn't like you run into them all the time.

I did meet a couple from Wheeling once that lived in Dublin. They seemed normal.

I was reading something online about how alot of people from WV moved to the bottoms back in 1800s.

[NorthPoleMarathoner]

mrb69.
I don't know. That makes sense.

I know that many West Virginians moved to Ohio and Michigan in the 50s and 60s to work in factories.

It's just been my observation that you won't meet many native West Virginians in Columbus these days. I would think West Virginians that leave would end up in Pittsburgh, Baltimore or Washington, D.C. I could be wrong though.

[streetcreed]

Many applachain immigrants moved to Columbus' west side, the Bottoms and the Hill Top, for blue collar work from the 1800s up until the 40s and 50s. It is more likely you will meet people in Columbus who are ancestors of these immigrants.

The city has seen much migration from the NE, other Midwestern cities, and some southern. Thus, the people who still do migrate from WV tend to blend in rather than stick out.

I have known many people in Columbus, from WV, but they assimilate fast and learn to dress and speak with a Columbus tone. Many have been younger types that come to Columbus because it is more progressive, similar to those who move to the CMH from Pittsburgh.

[jmargaret]

The expression is "readin', writin', and Route 23"---it is the popular phrase to describe the migration of West Virginians to Columbus. There are many descendents of West Virginian ancestry in Cowtown.

[Columbusneon]

Wow why do people feel that in order to prop a city up, one has to bash another?? I am originally from the east coast and have lived in Columbus over ten years, partly necessity and partly choice. Sure, Columbus has some things it could work on. But if it were SO bad, why would 720,000 people live here, and 1.5 million + in the metro? Not like everyone has a gun to their heads forcing them to stay here. I still LOVE the east coast, Boston in particular, and yes, Columbus has some things it could work on, but I would rather focus on the good of Columbus, improving the bad, rather than just saying "Columbus sucks, NYC is better". Yawn..

I have also learned another thing..don't compare NY to any other city! Having lived in Boston for most of my life prior to moving to Ohio, even people in NYC consider Boston, Philly, Chicago, etc to be a "Cowtown".

[Columbusneon]

I find the pizza complaints actually quite funny! I didn't know the biggest problem facing our city, state, nation, and world was the lack of New Yawk style pizza! I learn something new every day!

A few things to know. Columbus is not, and never will be a hotbed of good, east coast style pizza. Deal with that. Neither will Miami, Houston, Portland, Anchorage, or Phoenix! I myself, do prefer the style of pizza one would get in Boston, NYC, or Philly. I lived in Boston (originally) prior to living in Columbus, and can tell you, if you look, there ARE places that serve that style of pizza. And the funniest complaint I hear is about how it is cut. Last I checked, Columbus or any other surrounding city or town has no ordinance requiring the pizzas to be cut into squares, aka party cut. If you ask an employee, manager, or owner, they will cut it however you want! I prefer mine in triangles. Someone I know doesn't want it cut at all. To each one's own. Problem solved.

[NorthPoleMarathoner]

That is pretty funny about people in NYC thinking of Boston as a cowtown. My sister has lived in Boston for 20 plus years. Her husband is from New York. After they got married they settled in Boston. He said that he always wanted to live in a small town. HaHaHa. And he was being serious. I guess it all relative.

I have no idea why people want to compare Columbus to Boston, New York etc.....

They are completley different cities. From my time in Columbus I would change one thing. And that would be to have a subway. That would be great. Somehow, I don't see it ever happening though.

I don't particulary care for pizza. Any kind. It seems to me though that if there was a market for a different type of pizza that a pizza maker would have figured it out and opened shop. More than likely there is no market.

I don't very much like the area I live in and hope to move back to Columbus this spring or summer. I don't go around bashing the area though. Most people that live here like it and would never think of leaving. Maybe if I had grown up here.