The architectural outlier of the region, and the Bartholomew County seat on I-65.
Living in Columbus
The Bartholomew County seat
A downtown with buildings by Eero Saarinen and I.M. Pei, unusual for an Indiana county seat. The ambition still shows in the neighborhoods all around it.
At a glance
Four things to know about Columbus
Bartholomew County seat
Founded as Tiptona and renamed Columbus in 1821, where the Driftwood and Flatrock rivers form the East Fork of the White River.
I-65 and US 31
I-65 runs along the west side with exits 64, 68 and 76. US 31 and State Road 46 cross the city.
Two school corporations
Bartholomew Consolidated serves most of the city, Flat Rock-Hawcreek a small area at the north edge. Confirm the school for any address.
Seven National Historic Landmarks
Among them Eero Saarinen’s Irwin Union Bank and Miller House, and I. M. Pei’s library.
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Design-serious mid-century housing alongside ordinary ranches on ordinary streets. It is the furthest south of the nine, about 40 miles south of Indianapolis, with I-65 along its west side.
Jennifer works Columbus alongside eight other Central Indiana towns from her office in Shelbyville. If you want to compare it against the others, the communities page opens each one. If you are buying, the buyer’s guide walks the sequence. If you are selling in Columbus, start with a valuation.
Frequently asked
Questions about living in Columbus
Is Columbus the county seat of Bartholomew County?
Yes. Columbus is the county seat of Bartholomew County, founded in 1821. The Bartholomew County Courthouse downtown was built from 1871 to 1874 to a design by Isaac Hodgson and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Which highways and I-65 exits serve Columbus?
I-65 runs along the west side of the city, with exit 64 at State Road 58, exit 68 at State Road 46 and exits 76A and 76B at US 31 north of the city at Taylorsville. US 31 runs through the northeast part of Columbus and State Road 46 crosses the south. Columbus is about 40 miles south of Indianapolis.
Which school corporations serve Columbus?
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation serves most of Columbus. Census Bureau maps place a small area at the city’s north edge, in Flat Rock Township, in Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corporation. Confirm the school for any address with the corporation.
What is Columbus known for?
Modern architecture. The National Park Service lists seven National Historic Landmarks in the city, among them Eero Saarinen’s Irwin Union Bank and Miller House. The library’s Cleo Rogers Memorial building was designed by I. M. Pei and opened in 1969.
Columbus resources
City of Columbus
City Hall, departments and services.
Columbus parks
Parks, People Trails and recreation programs.
Bartholomew County Public Library
The library, in the Cleo Rogers Memorial building.
Bartholomew Consolidated Schools
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.
Bartholomew County
County offices, including the assessor and auditor.
Columbus architecture
The visitors center’s guide to the city’s modern buildings.
