Franklin County is a county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2018 census estimates, the population was 1,310,300,[2] making it the most populous county in Ohio. Its county seat is Columbus,[3] the state capital and most populous city in Ohio. The county was established on April 30, 1803, less than two months after Ohio became a state, and was named after Benjamin Franklin.[4] Franklin County originally extended all the way north to Lake Erie before Ohio subdivided further into more counties. Franklin County is included in the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. Franklin County, particularly Columbus, has been a centerpiece for presidential and congressional politics, most notably the 2000 presidential election, the 2004 presidential election, and the 2006 midterm elections. Franklin County is home to one of the largest universities in the United States, The Ohio State University, which as of fall 2017 has an enrollment of 59,837 students on its main Columbus campus.[5]