Columbia, Louisiana

Columbia is a town in, and the parish seat of, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, United States.[3] The population was 390 as of the 2010 census,[4] down from 477 in 2000.

Columbia, Louisiana
Town
Town of Columbia
Gateway to Ouachita River at Columbia
Nickname(s): 
Columbia on the Ouachita
Location of Columbia in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Coordinates: 32°06′15″N 92°04′37″W
CountryUnited States
StateLouisiana
ParishCaldwell
Founded1827
Area
 • Total0.77 sq mi (2.00 km2)
 • Land0.76 sq mi (1.98 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
75 ft (23 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total390
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
366
 • RankCW: 3rd
 • Density479.06/sq mi (184.91/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
71418
Area code(s)318 Exchange: 649
FIPS code22-16830

History

The land that became Columbia was first cleared by Daniel Humphries in 1827. A store was built a few years later the only settlement between Monroe, Louisiana and the settlements of the Black River was formed. The harbor became a busy port for shipping cotton by steamboats and Packet boats until the arrival of the railroad. In February 1864 Columbia was the location of a skirmish between Federal and Confederate troops during the Civil War and there are several plantations in the area.[5]

Geography

Columbia is located just east of the center of Caldwell Parish at 32°6′15″N 92°4′37″W (32.104042, -92.076921),[6] on the southwest bank of the Ouachita River. U.S. Route 165 passes through the center of town and bridges the river, leading north 32 miles (51 km) to Monroe and south 64 miles (103 km) to Alexandria.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.77 square miles (2.00 km2), of which 0.76 square miles (1.96 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 1.75%, is water.[4]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870235—
1880210−10.6%
189035267.6%
19003828.5%
191050030.9%
1920434−13.2%
193076075.1%
194084010.5%
19509209.5%
19601,02111.0%
19701,000−2.1%
1980687−31.3%
1990386−43.8%
200047723.6%
2010390−18.2%
2019 (est.)366[2]−6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 477 people, 184 households, and 101 families residing in the town. The population density was 629.9 people per square mile (242.3/km2). There were 237 housing units at an average density of 312.9 per square mile (120.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 70.02% White, 27.25% African American, 0.63% Native American, 1.47% Asian, 0.42% from other races, and 0.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.

There were 184 households, out of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.6% were non-families. 41.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,000, and the median income for a family was $33,523. Males had a median income of $33,000 versus $18,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,999. About 19.0% of families and 25.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.0% of those under age 18 and 32.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

It has a volunteer fire department

Notable people
  • Homeland Federal Savings Bank is located off U.S. Highway 165 in Columbia
  • A portion of the hillside graves at the large but dispersed Columbia Hill Cemetery in Columbia. The cemetery was launched just prior to the American Civil War during a yellow fever epidemic.
  • Riser and Son Funeral Home in Columbia is owned by State Senator Neil Riser.
  • At this site First United Methodist Church in Columbia dates to 1838. The current building was constructed in 1911. Previously, circuit riders served Caldwell Parish.
  • First Baptist Church in Columbia
  • Columbia Heights Baptist Church off Highway 165 calls itself "The Lighthouse on the Hill".

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Columbia town, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  5. Google books: The WPA Guide to Louisiana: The Pelican State; "Columbia"- Retrieved 2017-03-11
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
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