Columbus, Georgia

Columbus is a large city in the U.S. state of Georgia. It sits on the Chattahoochee River across from Phenix City, Alabama. It is the second most populous city in Georgia, just after Atlanta. Many people live in the area.

The city is important because of Fort Benning, a big U.S. Army base nearby. This base helps provide jobs for families. Columbus also has interesting places to visit, like the National Infantry Museum, which tells the story of the U.S. Army's soldiers.

One special feature of Columbus is its long course for whitewater rafting on the Chattahoochee River. The city is about 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, making it a good place to explore for history and outdoor fun.

History

See also: Timeline of Columbus, Georgia

From Indigenous cultural center to incorporation

Columbus was founded in 1828 by the Georgia Legislature. It was placed at the start of the Chattahoochee River and near the end of the Federal Road. The city was named after Christopher Columbus. A doctor named Edwin L. DeGraffenried designed the town. A surveyor named Edward Lloyd Thomas laid out the town on a large area of land. Many native tribes lived across the river. Some of them moved west after a treaty in 1826.

The river helped Columbus grow, especially by moving cotton crops to markets in New Orleans and Liverpool. The city's importance grew when railroads arrived. Textile mills were built, bringing jobs to the area. By 1860, Columbus was an important industrial city, earning the nickname the Lowell of the South.

Civil War and Reconstruction

Main article: Battle of Columbus (1865)

When the American Civil War began in 1861, Columbus became an important place for the Confederacy. The city made textiles, cannons, and other supplies. As the war continued, problems grew.

Union and Confederate forces fought in the Battle of Columbus, Georgia, in April 1865. A Union unit attacked the city and burned many buildings. After the war, factories reopened. The Springer Opera House was built and became a cultural center. It is now Georgia's official state theater.

Confederate Memorial Day

Main article: Confederate Memorial Day

In 1866, women in Columbus started a tradition to honor those who died in the Civil War. They asked women across the South to remember the soldiers each year. This idea helped create the national Memorial Day holiday.

20th century

Columbus grew over the years. Leaders founded Columbus College, which later became Columbus State University. In 1971, the city and county merged.

The city welcomed companies like Aflac and TSYS. New neighborhoods were built for soldiers returning from the Vietnam War and for people connected to Fort Benning. Efforts to restore downtown began with saving the Springer Opera House. These efforts helped preserve the city's history.

21st century

In the 2000s, Columbus started projects to renew its downtown. New places like the National Infantry Museum were built. Columbus State University expanded with a new downtown campus. The city also created a long urban whitewater rafting course, which brought many visitors. Fort Benning continues to train many soldiers each year.

Geography

Columbus is one of Georgia's three Fall Line cities, along with Augusta and Macon. The Fall Line is where the hilly lands meet the flat coastal plain. This gives Columbus a mix of rolling hills and flat areas. Rivers here flow quickly towards the sea because of this landscape.

The city is located at 32°29′23″N 84°56′26″W. It covers about 221 square miles, with a small part covered by water. Columbus borders Phenix City in Alabama and several other counties.

Climate

Columbus has a humid subtropical climate. Summers can be very hot, often above 95°F, and sometimes even over 100°F. Winters are mild, with temperatures sometimes dropping below freezing. Snowfall is rare here.

Cityscape

Main article: Neighborhoods in Columbus, Georgia

Columbus has five main areas:

• Downtown is the central business district with historic sites.
• East Columbus is mostly residential.
• MidTown is a mix of homes and businesses, and is home to the Aflac headquarters.
• North Columbus is a suburban area with many neighborhoods and shopping spots.
• South Columbus is close to Fort Benning and home to the National Infantry Museum.

Metropolitan area

Main article: Columbus-Auburn-Opelika, GA-AL CSA

The Columbus metropolitan area includes four counties in Georgia and one in Alabama. It also includes two more counties in Alabama in its combined statistical area.

Demographics

Columbus, Georgia has grown over time. In the 2020 census, there were 206,922 people living there. In 2010, the population was 189,885, and in 2000, it was 186,291. This shows the city is getting larger.

People in Columbus come from many backgrounds. In 2020, about 38% were non-Hispanic white, 46% were African American, and smaller groups included Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic or Latino people.

In 2010, the average income for a household was $41,331. By 2022, this had risen to $53,750 for households. Even so, some people still live below the poverty line, with about 18% of the population affected.

Crime

Columbus has more crime than the average U.S. city. In 2021, the city had a record number of violent incidents. This happened partly because gang activity grew. Local leaders are working to make the city safer.

Economy

Columbus, Georgia has several important companies. Some of the main companies there are Aflac, TSYS, Realtree, Synovus and the W. C. Bradley Co..

The city has many jobs, and some of the biggest employers are listed in a report from 2022.

Arts and culture

Columbus, Georgia, has many places to visit and enjoy. The Columbus Museum shows regional history and American art. The National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus has Civil War ships and uniforms. The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center opened in 2009 and has displays about soldiers through history.

The city has one big indoor shopping place called Peachtree Mall, with stores like Dillard's, Macy's, and J.C. Penney. There are also other shopping areas like Columbus Park Crossing and MidTown with local shops and restaurants.

Columbus has many places to watch games and shows. A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium hosts football games and the Pioneer Bowl. The Columbus Civic Center is a big arena for concerts and sports. Synovus Park is an old baseball stadium that hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics. The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts and the Springer Opera House offer theatre shows.

Sports

Columbus Northern Little League won the 2006 Little League World Series. They beat a team from Kawaguchi, Japan in the final game. A current Major League Baseball player named Josh Lester was on that winning team.

Parks and recreation

Main article: List of parks in Columbus, Georgia

Columbus has many places to play and relax. There are more than 50 parks, four recreation centers, four senior centers, and the Standing Boy Creek Park.

Walking trails

• The Chattahoochee RiverWalk is a long path for walking and biking. It goes from downtown to the southern part of the city and near Fort Benning.
• The Columbus Fall Line Trace is another path for walking and exercising. It stretches from downtown to the northeastern part of the city.
• The Black Heritage Trail is special because it shows important history and culture. It is part of a National Recreation Trail.

Whitewater kayaking, rafting, and zip-line

The Chattahoochee River has a special area for water sports. After two dams were removed, the river returned to its natural flow. This created a long path for kayaking and rafting. This path is known for being one of the best places in the world for these activities. There is also a zip-line that takes people from Georgia to Alabama and back over the river. There are more zip-lines and a ropes course on the Alabama side.

This area is popular with people who love kayaking. It has special waves in the water all year. In the winter, it is sometimes called a meeting place for people who enjoy big waves.

Law and government

Elected officials

Mayor

See also: List of mayors of Columbus, Georgia

• B. H. "Skip" Henderson III

City council

The city council of Columbus, called the Columbus Council, has ten members who are elected. Eight of these members represent specific areas, and two are chosen to represent the whole city. The city uses a council–manager government, where the council picks a city manager to carry out their plans. Isaiah Hugley was the city manager from 2005 to 2025, and now the position is open.

Education

Primary and secondary education

The Muscogee County School District gives schooling from preschool to grade 12. It has 35 elementary schools, 12 middle schools, and nine high schools. The district has over 2,000 teachers and serves more than 31,899 students.

The district covers all of Muscogee County except Fort Benning. Children at Fort Benning go to schools run by the Department of Defense Education Activity for grades K-8. High school students from Fort Benning go to public high schools in the counties where they live.

Libraries

Columbus has four branches of the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries:

• Columbus Public Library
• Mildred L. Terry Public Library
• North Columbus Public Library
• South Columbus Public Library

Higher education

Public

• Columbus State University
• Columbus Technical College
• Georgia Military College – main campus in Milledgeville, Georgia

Private, for profit

• Christian Life School of Theology
• Miller-Motte Technical College – main campus in Wilmington, North Carolina
• Rivertown School of Beauty
• Southeastern Beauty School
• Strayer University – main campus in Baltimore, Maryland

Private, nonprofit

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Fort Benning – main campus in Daytona Beach, FL
• Mercer University School of Medicine - main campus in Macon, Georgia

Media and communications

Main article: Media in Columbus, Georgia

Columbus, Georgia, has many ways for people to share news and stay connected. The city has television stations, radio stations, and newspapers. These help bring information about local events, weather, and stories that matter to the people living in and around Columbus.

Transportation

Aviation

Main article: Columbus Airport (Georgia)

Columbus has had regular airplane flights since 1929. The Columbus Municipal Airport started flights to Atlanta and Montgomery. It was replaced by the Columbus Airport in 1944. Since then, the Columbus Airport has been the main airport for the area. It is the fourth-busiest airport in Georgia. You can find it near I-185 along Airport Thruway and Armour Road. It has flights to Atlanta through Delta Connection service.

Highways

Interstate

• .svg) Interstate 185

U. S. routes

• U.S. Route 27
• U.S. Route 27 Alternate
• U.S. Route 80
• U.S. Route 280

Georgia state routes

• S.R. 1
• S.R. 22
• State Route 22 Connector
• State Route 22 Spur
• S.R. 85
• S.R. 219
• S.R. 411 (unsigned designation for I-185)
• S.R. 520
• S.R. 540 (Fall Line Freeway)

Bus lines

• METRA Transit System is the main way people get around in Muscogee County, with 10 routes in Columbus. It is run by the Columbus Consolidated Government under METRA.
• Greyhound Lines offers trips to other cities, with a station on Veterans Parkway in Downtown Columbus.

Railroads

In the 1960s, trains stopped at Columbus Union Station for trips from Chicago to Florida. The last trains stopped in 1971 when Amtrak took over most passenger train services. Today, only freight trains run through Columbus, provided by Norfolk Southern Railroad and the Columbus and Chattahoochee Railroad.

Sister cities

Columbus has official sister cities around the world. These include:

• Zugdidi, Georgia
• Kiryū, Gunma, Japan (since April 25, 1978)
• Bistriţa, Romania (since May 2023)
• Taichung, Taiwan (since November 11, 2007)