City Town Info

Columbus, MS


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Columbus, Mississippi

Introduction to Columbus, Mississippi

Columbus, Mississippi, in Lowndes county, is 53 miles W of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and 147 miles SE of Memphis, Tennessee. The city is home to some 25,944 residents.

Columbus History

Columbus was informally named Possum Town in its beginning. It was founded in 1821. Silas McBee named Columbus after Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. The Franklin Academy was the first school established in the city. It was also the first public school of the state. Columbus served as a hospital town during the Civil War. The Columbus Air Force Base was established during World War II.

Columbus and nearby Attractions

  • Lake Lowndes State Park
  • Leigh Mall Shopping Center
  • Waverley Plantation Mansion
  • Blewett – Harrison - Lee Museum
  • Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum

Things To Do In Columbus

While in Columbus, one can visit the Lake Lowndes State Park, which offers facilities for hiking, camping, canoeing and horseback riding. The Lee Park, Saunders Field and Propst Park are some of the local parks. The Mid-City Shopping Center, University Mall Shopping Center, Gateway Shopping Center, Fairlane Shopping Center and Leigh Mall Shopping Center are the local shopping centers. Golfers can enjoy a round at the Columbus Country Club and the Elm Lake Golf Club.

Columbus Transportation

Golden Triangle Airport is nearby.

Columbus Higher Education

Mississippi University for Women is located in Columbus. Residents can also attend Mississippi State University, the University of Alabama and Itawamba Community College.

High Points

Columbus strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Mississippi):

CategoryTrophy
Affordability of Rents
(vs. Peers)		Top 5%trophyColumbus Affordability of Rents
Affordability of Property Taxes
(vs. Peers)		Top 5%trophyColumbus Affordability of Property Taxes
College Educated Adults
(vs. State)		Top 10%Columbus College Educated Adults
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. State)		Top 10%Columbus Walking and Biking to Work
Well-Paid Single Women
(vs. State)		Top 15%Columbus Well-Paid Single Women
Short Commute Times
(vs. Peers)		Top 17%Columbus Short Commute Times

Comparative Profile of Columbus, MS

Comparing Columbus to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Mississippi (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Female Share of the Population107
Senior Citizens87
Children Under 5 Years Old64
Racial Diversity57
Age of the Population46
Well-Paid Single Women39
Well-Paid Single Men18
Male Share of the Population14

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Average Household Size43
Portion of People Married24

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
College Educated Adults510
People in Middle Class or Better17
People Above Poverty16
Median Family Income17

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Short Commute Times99
Walking and Biking to Work610
Working at Home27
Public Transportation Use15

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Affordability of Rents102
Affordability of Property Taxes102
People Living Alone88
Seasonal and Vacation Housing85
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals69
Housing Recently Built63

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime66
Low Property Crime34

Detailed pages on related topics: Columbus colleges • Columbus travel • Columbus mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

Columbus CollegesColumbus Colleges
Columbus colleges and trade schools.
Columbus Hotels & TravelColumbus Hotels & Travel
Columbus hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Columbus MortgageColumbus Mortgage
Columbus property, mortgage, and real estate.

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