Top of Mind

Ohio's Split Personality: Boomtown Columbus vs. Ghost Town Everywhere Else

Ohio’s politicians love to brag about new jobs, investments, and “The Heart of It All” being back in action. Governor Mike DeWine even says, “This is Ohio’s time.” But if you peel back the press releases and shiny ribbon-cutting ceremonies, the numbers tell a very different, far less flattering story.

Between 2000 and 2020, Ohio’s population crept up a measly 3%, but that’s only thanks to Columbus. Strip away the capital’s boom, and the rest of the state lost over 100,000 residents. The forecast for 2050 looks even worse: Ohio could shed 675,000 people, a 5.7% drop, while the rest of the U.S. grows by 17%. It’s a tale of two states—Columbus on the rise, while the rest of Ohio slowly fades into the rearview mirror.

Ohio’s once-mighty manufacturing towns—like Akron, Toledo, and Youngstown—now carry the unflattering title of “legacy cities,” a polite way of saying they peaked decades ago. With factories gone and populations dwindling, these cities are now fighting to stay relevant. Even southeastern Ohio, despite riding the natural gas boom, is projected to lose a quarter of its population by 2050. GDP may have gone up, but as one economist noted, “Dust on the roads isn’t exactly a draw.”

And that’s the problem. Even when the state’s economy gets a win—like Intel’s shiny new factory—it doesn’t fix the deeper issues. The jobs that come are often filled by out-of-towners, leaving locals wondering, “Where’s our piece of the pie?” It’s not just manufacturing losses that haunt Ohio; it’s a vicious cycle of fewer jobs, fewer people, and shrinking tax bases that drain communities of vitality.

But while most of the state wrestles with decline, Columbus keeps throwing a party. The city and its metro area have added 426,000 new residents over the last two decades, driven by international immigration and a diversified economy. Immigrants now make up nearly 5% of Ohio’s population and are credited with keeping the state’s workforce afloat—taking jobs employers can’t seem to fill and launching new businesses along the way. Columbus isn’t just growing; it’s thriving, and dragging the state’s numbers up with it.

So what does the future hold? More power is concentrated in central Ohio, for starters. Shrinking populations in legacy cities and rural counties mean fewer Congressional seats and less political clout. As the rest of the state empties, Columbus will inevitably call more of the shots. That might sound great if you live in Franklin County—but not so much if you’re in Mansfield or Lima, watching your community erode while the state’s focus shifts elsewhere.

Still, Ohio isn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet. The state is pouring $500 million into Appalachian revitalization, banking on new projects like innovation hubs and solar farms to reverse the downward trend. JobsOhio is busy sprucing up downtown districts, hoping to turn ghost towns into boomtowns. But as one mayor put it, “Growth is slow. But we’ll fight, and we’ll keep fighting.”

The divide between Columbus and the rest of Ohio might be growing, but the game isn’t over. The state’s future rests on whether leaders can figure out how to lift up all of Ohio—not just the parts with glossy development brochures. For now, though, the message is clear: If you want to thrive in Ohio, head to Columbus. The rest of the state? They’ll still be waiting for their comeback.

Scarlet Letter Trivia

Question: How many Elevators are in Leveque tower?

A) 7

B) 4

C) 15

D) 11

The Lady In The Tower

Katherine LeVeque: The Woman Who Rebuilt a Skyline, Saved a Theater, and Rode an Elephant

At the heart of Columbus’s skyline stands the LeVeque Tower, a symbol of the city’s evolution—and the legacy of one remarkable woman, Katherine S. LeVeque. What started as “The Citadel,” a skyscraper built in the Roaring Twenties, became much more than just a building when Katherine took charge in the 1970s.

The 555-foot Art Deco tower opened in 1927, initially serving as headquarters for the American Insurance Union. But the Great Depression brought hard times, and the AIU went bankrupt. In 1945, Leslie LeVeque and John Lincoln purchased the tower, adding a new chapter to the building’s history. Yet, it was the untimely death of Leslie’s son, Frederick, that thrust Katherine into the spotlight—and the management of Columbus’s first skyscraper.

Katherine’s husband, Frederick, died tragically in a 1975 plane crash, leaving her with the tower and more responsibilities than she ever imagined. With no business background, she dove headfirst into managing the property, determined not only to keep it standing but to make it a proud piece of the city’s identity.

That’s Elephants Baby!…Like Showbiz but with Bigger Ears

Managing the LeVeque Tower came with unexpected surprises—like learning that it also housed the historic Palace Theatre, hidden within its footprint and in desperate need of restoration. Rather than sell the theater off, Katherine raised $3 million by selling land to bring it back to life. By 1980, the Palace Theatre reopened as a performing-arts hall, a shining example of her vision and commitment to preserving Columbus’s heritage.

But Katherine didn’t stop at running a tower or restoring a theater—she knew how to make an entrance, too. In one of her most memorable moments, Katherine rode an elephant down the streets of Columbus during a parade, cementing her place not only as a business leader but as a larger-than-life figure in the community. Her charm and confidence were just as legendary as the elephant she rode.

“She could charm anyone,” said her son Colin. “She’d host board meetings on the 41st floor with coffee and scones, making everyone feel at ease—and then, like magic, she’d walk away with exactly what she wanted.” It was this Southern charm, paired with grit and determination, that made her an icon among Columbus’s business leaders.

The Mike Jefferies Thing…

From Polo Shirts to Prison Time: Abercrombie’s Dirty Secret Exposed

Mike Jeffries, the former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO who once built an empire on shirtless models and exclusionary fashion, is now facing accusations that make his past controversies seem quaint. This time, it’s not about outdated beauty standards—it’s about an international sex trafficking operation that allegedly spanned years and continents.

Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith, and recruiter James Jacobson were arrested for running what prosecutors describe as a high-end prostitution ring from 2008 to 2015. Think less boardroom, more backroom—where promises of modeling gigs lured young men into sex events spanning locations like the Hamptons, Paris, and Morocco. Participants arrived expecting career opportunities; what they got instead was a dark initiation into Jeffries’s personal underworld.

Court documents reveal that Jeffries and Smith didn’t just dabble in exploitation—they built an empire around it. Staff in Abercrombie uniforms managed the gatherings, offering alcohol, Viagra, and muscle relaxants like “poppers” to guests. Phones and wallets were confiscated upon entry, ensuring absolute control. And, in the most disturbing twist, those who couldn’t perform were allegedly injected with unknown substances to “assist” them.

The case came to light thanks to a BBC investigation last year, blowing the lid off a sophisticated network of manipulation and abuse. Men were coerced under the pretense of networking opportunities, with some forced into sex acts under the threat of career ruin. Others attended believing they had signed up for a legitimate gig, only to find themselves trapped in Jeffries’s orbit.

Even Abercrombie & Fitch isn’t walking away from this scandal unscathed. The company, already named in a civil suit alleging it turned a blind eye to Jeffries’s behavior, is now paying for his legal defense. The corporate statement condemning the acts as “appalling” seems a bit rich, considering they were footing the bill while distancing themselves from the very man they once championed.

Following his arrest, Jeffries posted $10 million in bail, while Smith—deemed a flight risk—remains in custody. Prosecutors say the arrests are only the beginning, with more victims expected to come forward as the investigation unfolds. For years, Jeffries rode high on the allure of youth and exclusivity. Now, federal prosecutors are making it clear: the only thing exclusive about his future may be the view from a prison cell.

In an industry built on image, the Jeffries scandal exposes a darker truth lurking beneath Abercrombie’s glossy exterior. Once celebrated as a tastemaker, Jeffries now faces the reality of becoming another cautionary tale. As U.S. Attorney Breon Peace put it: “For too long, the casting couch was a gateway to exploitation—now, it’s a fast pass to federal prison.”

Trivia Answer:

D: 11 (an odd number of elevators feels…odd)

Signing Off