There have been 48 individuals that have served as mayor of Columbus, Ohio, serving 53 distinct mayoralties or consecutive terms in office. The first mayor of Columbus was Jarvis W. Pike. He was appointed by the Burough Council of Columbus in 1816. The first mayor of Columbus to be elected by popular vote was John Brooks in 1834. Five mayors have served non-consecutive terms. Philo H. Olmsted is counted as both the 8th and 12th mayor, Alexander Patton as both the 17th and 19th mayor, James G. Bull as both the 22nd and 24th mayor, George J. Karb as both the 30th and 39th mayor, and Jack Sensenbrenner as both the 46th and 48th mayor. Of the individuals appointed or elected as mayor, five have resigned from office - James Robinson, John Brooks, Warren Jenkins, John G. Miller, and Jim Rhodes. No mayor has died or become permanently disabled while in office. The shortest-serving former mayor is James Robinson, who served only eight months before resigning from office on September 11, 1827. The longest-serving mayor is Michael B. Coleman, who served 16 years and is the only African American to serve as mayor. Andrew Ginther is the current mayor. He took office on January 1, 2016.
Mayors of Columbus
thumb|upright|[[Jim Rhodes, 44th mayor of Columbus, and only former mayor to serve as Governor of Ohio]]
thumb|upright|[[Michael B. Coleman, 52nd mayor of Columbus, and the first African American to serve as mayor of Ohio's capital]]
; Political parties
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! No.<br />
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |
| 3<br /><small>(1818)</small>
| rowspan="2" | Member of Columbus Burough Council <br /><small>(1816–1823)</small>
|-
| 4<br /><small>(1819)</small>
|-
! rowspan="3" style="background: #EEEEEE;" | 3
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" | Eli C. King<br /><br />
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |
| 5<br /><small>(1820)</small>
| rowspan="3" | Justice of the Peace for<br />Montgomery Township<br /><small>(1816–1820)</small>
|-
| 6<br /><small>(1821)</small>
|-
| 7<br /><small>(1822)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: #EEEEEE;" | 4
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | John Laughrey<br /><small>(1784– )</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| 8<br /><small>(1823)</small>
| rowspan="1" | <br />
|-
! rowspan="3" style="background: #EEEEEE;" | 5
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" | William T. Martin<br /><small>(1788–1866)</small><br />
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |
| 9<br /><small>(1824)</small>
| rowspan="3" | Recorder of Columbus<br /><small>(1823, 1834–1838)</small>
|-
| 10<br /><small>(1825)</small>
|-
| 11<br /><small>(1826)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: #EEEEEE;" | 6
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | James Robinson<br /><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | <br />
| rowspan="6" |
| rowspan="6" |
| rowspan="6" |
| rowspan="6" | Recorder of Columbus <br /><small>(1824–1827)</small>
|-
| 13<br /><small>(1828)</small>
|-
| 14<br /><small>(1829)</small>
|-
| 15<br /><small>(1830)</small>
|-
| 16<br /><small>(1831)</small>
|-
| 17<br /><small>(1832)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;" | 8
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Philo H. Olmsted<br /><small>(1793–1870)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Whig
| 18<br /><small>(1833)</small>
| rowspan="1" | Ohio Representative from Franklin County <br /><small>(1831–1832, 1833–1834)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: #EEEEEE;" | 9
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | John Brooks<br /><small>(1785–1869)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | <br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | <br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | <br />
| rowspan="5" |
| rowspan="5" |
| rowspan="5" | Whig
| 28<br /><small>(1851)</small>
| rowspan="5" | No previous experience in public office <br />
|-
| 29<br /><small>(1853)</small>
|-
| 30<br /><small>(1855)</small>
|-
| 31<br /><small>(1857)</small>
|-
| 32<br /><small>(1859)</small>
|-
! rowspan="2" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Wray Thomas<br /><small>(1810–)</small><br />
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Democratic
| 33<br /><small>(1861)</small>
| rowspan="2" | Ohio Representative from Delaware and Franklin County <br /><small>(1831–1832, 1833–1834)</small>
|-
| 34<br /><small>(1863)</small>
|-
! rowspan="2" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | James G. Bull<br /><small>(1838–1927)</small><br />
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Democratic
| 35<br /><small>(1865)</small>
| rowspan="2" | No previous experience in public office <br />
|-
| 36<br /><small>(1867)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | George W. Meeker<br /><small>(1833–1890)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Democratic
| 37<br /><small>(1869)</small>
| rowspan="1" | Justice of the Peace for Montgomery Township <br /><small>(1863–1869)</small>
|-
! rowspan="2" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | James G. Bull<br /><small>(1838–1927)</small><br />
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Democratic
| 40<br /><small>(1875)</small>
| rowspan="2" | Ohio Representative from Franklin County <br /><small>(1874–1876)</small>
|-
| 41<br /><small>(1877)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Gilbert G. Collins<br /><small>(1830–1885)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Republican
| 42<br /><small>(1879)</small>
| rowspan="1" | City Attorney of Columbus <br /><small>(1873–1875)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | George S. Peters<br /><small>(1846–1928)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Democratic
| 43<br /><small>(1881)</small>
| rowspan="1" | No previous experience in public office <br />
|-
! rowspan="2" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Charles C. Walcutt<br /><small>(1838–1898)</small><br />
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Republican
| 44<br /><small>(1883)</small>
| rowspan="2" | Member of Columbus Board of Education<br /><small>(1873–1894)</small>
|-
| 45<br /><small>(1885)</small>
|-
! rowspan="2" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Philip H. Bruck<br /><small>(1845–1920)</small><br />
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Democratic
| 46<br /><small>(1887)</small>
| rowspan="2" | No previous experience in public office <br />
|-
| 47<br /><small>(1889)</small>
|-
! rowspan="2" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | George J. Karb<br /><small>(1858–1937)</small><br />
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Democratic
| 48<br /><small>(1891)</small>
| rowspan="2" | Columbus Police Commissioner <br /><small>(1889–1890)</small>
|-
| 49<br /><small>(1893)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Cotton H. Allen<br /><small>(1834–1900)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Democratic
| 50<br /><small>(1895)</small>
| rowspan="1" | No previous experience in public office <br />
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Samuel L. Black<br /><small>(1859–1929)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Democratic
| 51<br /><small>(1897)</small>
| rowspan="1" | No previous experience in public office<br />
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Samuel J. Swartz<br /><small>(1859–1905)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Republican
| 52<br /><small>(1899)</small>
| rowspan="1" | Police Court Judge of Columbus<br /><small>(1897–1898)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | John N. Hinkle<br /><small>(1854–1905)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Democratic
| 53<br /><small>(1901)</small>
| rowspan="1" | No previous experience in public office<br />
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Robert H. Jeffrey<br /><small>(1873–1961)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | <br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Democratic
| 55<br /><small>(1905)</small>
| rowspan="1" | U.S. Representative from Ohio <br /><small>(1903–1905)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Charles A. Bond<br /><small>(1873–1943)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Republican
| 56<br /><small>(1907)</small>
| rowspan="1" | No previous experience in public office <br />
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | George S. Marshall<br /><small>(1869–1956)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | <br />
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" | Republican
| 61<br /><small>(1919)</small>
| rowspan="3" | Member of Columbus City Council <br /><small>(1898–1901)</small>
|-
| 62<br /><small>(1923)</small>
|-
| 63<br /><small>(1927)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Henry W. Worley<br /><small>(1877–1938)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Democratic
| 64<br /><small>(1931)</small>
| rowspan="1" | Member of Columbus City Council<br /><small>(1922–1932)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" | 100px
| rowspan="1" | Myron B. Gessaman<br /><small>(1894–1975)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Republican
| 65<br /><small>(1935)</small>
| rowspan="1" | Member of the Ohio House of Representatives <br /><small>(1934–1935)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Floyd F. Green<br /><small>(1900–1952)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Republican
| 66<br /><small>(1939)</small>
| rowspan="1" | Member of Columbus City Council <br /><small>(1927–1931)</small>
|-
! rowspan="3" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" | Jim Rhodes<br /><small>(1909–2001)</small><br />
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" | <br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Republican
| rowspan="1" | President of Columbus City Council<br />
|-
! rowspan="2" style="background: ;" |
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Jack Sensenbrenner<br /><small>(1902–1991)</small><br />
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Democratic
| rowspan="2" | No previous experience in public office<br />
|-
| 70<br /><small>(1955)</small>
|-
! rowspan="1" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Ralston Westlake<br /><small>(1907–1978)</small><br />
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" |
| rowspan="1" | Republican
| 71<br /><small>(1959)</small>
| rowspan="1" | Member of Columbus City Council <br /><small>(1956–1959)</small>
|-
! rowspan="2" style="background: ;" |
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Jack Sensenbrenner<br /><small>(1902–1991)</small><br />
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" | Republican
| 74<br /><small>(1971)</small>
| rowspan="3" | Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge <br /><small>(1968–1971)</small>
|-
| 75<br /><small>(1975)</small>
|-
| 76<br /><small>(1979)</small>
|-
! rowspan="2" style="background: ;"|
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | Buck Rinehart<br /><small>(1946–2015)</small><br />
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | <br />
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" | <br />
<!---->
<!---->
References
Bibliography
;Books
;Newspapers
Further reading
External links
- A Look Back: Columbus Mayors – A slide show of 37 images of Columbus mayors. Includes a list of all mayors with their respective terms in office. Provided by The Columbus Dispatch, a daily newspaper based in Columbus, Ohio.
- Mayors of Columbus, Ohio 1816-2013 at Political Graveyard
- A Quarter Century of Mayoral Memories A panel discussion with three mayors of Columbus, Buck Rinehart (1984–1992), Greg Lashutka (1992–2000), and Michael B. Coleman (2000-Present). The discussion was hosted by The Columbus Metropolitan Club. Published September 10, 2012 on YouTube; 53 minutes.