Ohio
The story of Ohio's statehood dates back to the Ordinance of 1787 and the creation of the Northwest Territory--a large body of unsettled land that encompassed what is now Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.
The territory was ruled by a governor, a secretary, and three judges, who were all appointed by Congress. These five officials performed the executive, legislative and judicial functions of government. It wasn't until 1798--after the male adult population of the territory reached 5,000--that the settlers were given the right to elect a house of representatives. The first meeting of the legislature convened in Cincinnati in 1799. The body elected Edward Tiffin as Speaker of the House and William Henry Harrison as the territory's representative to Congress.
Though the territorial government was just getting on its feet in 1799, Ohio settlers were already clamoring for statehood. And just a few years later, in 1802, Congress passed an enabling bill that authorized the formation of a state government in Ohio. Ohio's first constitutional convention convened in Chillicothe in November of that same year. Ohio was admitted to the Union in 1803.
Chillicothe served as the temporary capital for the new state until 1810 when the legislature moved the capital to Zanesville. The capital was shuttled back to Chillicothe in 1812, while the legislature searched for a more centralized location. The legislature finally decided to build a new capital on "the high banks of the Scioto River." Columbus became Ohio's permanent capital in 1816.
Text on this page from Ohio Defined published by the Secretary of State's office
Franklin County
Franklin County, named for the great statesman Benjamin Franklin, was among the first counties carved out of the new state of Ohio on April 30, 1803. Franklin County is located in the center of the state and is home to Columbus, the capital of Ohio and the seat of Franklin County.
Franklin County is the 33rd largest county in the United States and is home to approximately 1,068,978 people (according to the 2000 U.S. Census), more than nine-percent of Ohio's population. The steady growth of its metropolitan area over the past 20 years is unique among the urban counties in the northeast quadrant of the United States.
Franklin County is very rich in history. It is the home of the first Miss America, the world's first shopping center (Town & Country Shopping Center), the first White Castle and Wendy's hamburgers and the first ATM machine.
Being the site of the state capital, and home to The Ohio State University contributes significantly to Franklin County's success. The county has a stable yet diverse economy, combining urban attributes with small town friendliness. Franklin County is full of charming, quiet communities, all with excellent schools, businesses and public services, making Franklin County a great place to live and work.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of the U.S. state of Ohio. It was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, and was named the state capital in 1816.
According to the 2000 census, Columbus has a population of 711,470 residents, making it the largest city in Ohio and the 15th largest in the United States. The population increased to an estimated 730,008 in 2004. The greater Columbus metropolitan area has a population of 1,612,694, ranking it third in Ohio (behind Cleveland and Cincinnati) and 31st in the United States. With regard to the Combined Statistical Area (which includes Chillicothe and Marion), Columbus ranks 24th in the country with approximately 1.84 million residents.
Located near the geographic center of the state, Columbus is the county seat of Franklin County, though parts of the city also extend into Delaware and Fairfield counties.