**History and Development**:
– Columbus, Georgia was founded in 1828 by an act of the Georgia Legislature and named after Christopher Columbus.
– Initially the territory of the Creek Indians, Columbus became a vital connection for shipping cotton crops internationally.
– By 1860, Columbus had emerged as a significant industrial hub in the South, with textile mills and railroads driving its growth.
– During the Civil War, Columbus played a crucial role in supplying the Confederate army, and the Battle of Columbus in 1865 marked the last land battle of the war.
– Reconstruction efforts post-war led to the revival of factories, the establishment of Fort Benning, and rapid industrial growth.
**Geography and Demographics**:
– Columbus is located on the west-central border of Georgia, with an area of 221.01 square miles and a population of 206,922 in 2020.
– The city’s elevation is 243 feet, and it serves as a key point on the navigable Chattahoochee River for cotton shipping.
– Columbus is part of the Columbus metropolitan statistical area with a population of 328,883.
– The city features a humid subtropical climate with varied temperatures throughout the year.
**Economic Landscape**:
– Columbus is home to major companies like Aflac, TSYS, and Synovus, with significant employers including St. Francis Hospital and Columbus State University.
– The city has seen economic revitalization efforts over the years, including projects like the Chattahoochee RiverWalk and the National Civil War Naval Museum.
– The median household income in Columbus was $53,750 in 2022, with 17.8% of the population living at or below the poverty line.
**Arts, Culture, and Recreation**:
– Columbus offers a rich cultural scene with attractions like the Columbus Museum, Historic Westville, and the National Civil War Naval Museum.
– The city boasts over 50 parks, including the Chattahoochee RiverWalk and the Black Heritage Trail, catering to outdoor enthusiasts.
– Whitewater activities on the Chattahoochee River, including urban whitewater rafting and kayaking, attract visitors and outdoor sports enthusiasts.
**Community Life and Infrastructure**:
– Columbus features diverse shopping options such as Peachtree Mall, Columbus Park Crossing, and The Shoppes at Bradley Park.
– Major venues like the Columbus Civic Center and RiverCenter for the Performing Arts host a variety of events and performances.
– The city’s law and government are overseen by the Columbus Consolidated Government Center, led by Mayor B. H. Skip Henderson III and the Columbus Council.
– The Muscogee County School District serves a significant student population, and Columbus Airport is the primary airport for the metro area.
Columbus is a consolidated city-county located on the west-central border of the U.S. state of Georgia. Columbus lies on the Chattahoochee River directly across from Phenix City, Alabama. It is the county seat of Muscogee County, with which it officially merged in 1970; the original merger excluded Bibb City, which joined in 2000 after dissolving its own city charter.
Columbus, Georgia | |
|---|---|
 Downtown skyline on the banks of the Chattahoochee River | |
 Flag  Seal  | |
| Nicknames: The Fountain City or The Lowell of the South | |
| Motto: We Do Amazing | |
 Location within Georgia | |
  Columbus Location within the state of Georgia  Columbus Location within the USA | |
| Coordinates: 32°29′32″N 84°56′25″W / 32.49222°N 84.94028°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Georgia |
| County | Muscogee |
| Founded | 1828 |
| Named for | Christopher Columbus |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | B. H. "Skip" Henderson III |
| • City Manager | Isaiah Hugley |
| Area | |
| • Consolidated city-county | 221.01 sq mi (572.42 km2) |
| • Land | 216.50 sq mi (560.73 km2) |
| • Water | 4.51 sq mi (11.68 km2) |
| Elevation | 243 ft (74 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Consolidated city-county | 206,922 |
| • Rank | 112th in the United States 2nd in Georgia |
| • Density | 955.76/sq mi (369.02/km2) |
| • Urban | 267,746 (US: 153rd) |
| • Urban density | 1,874.2/sq mi (723.6/km2) |
| • Metro | 328,883 (US: 157th) |
| Demonym | Columbusite |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 31820, 31829, 31900–09, 31914, 31917, 31993–94, 31997–99 |
| Area code(s) | 706, 762 |
| FIPS code | 13-19007 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0331158 |
| Airport | Columbus Airport (CSG) |
| Website | www |
Columbus is the second most populous city in Georgia (after Atlanta), and fields the state's fourth-largest metropolitan area. At the 2020 U.S. census, Columbus had a population of 206,922, with 328,883 in the Columbus metropolitan statistical area. The metro area joins the nearby Alabama cities of Auburn and Opelika to form the Columbus–Auburn–Opelika combined statistical area, which had a population of 563,967 in 2020.
Columbus lies 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Atlanta. Fort Moore, the United States Army's Maneuver Center of Excellence and a major employer, is located south of the city in southern Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties. Columbus is home to museums and tourism sites, including the National Infantry Museum, dedicated to the U.S. Army's Infantry Branch. It has the longest urban whitewater rafting course in the world constructed on the Chattahoochee River.