Columbia, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Columbia
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Main Street in Columbia, California
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Location in Tuolumne County and the state of California
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 Columbia, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Tuolumne |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.98 sq mi (15.49 km2) |
| • Land | 5.96 sq mi (15.44 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) 0.31% |
| Elevation | 2,139 ft (652 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,577 |
| • Density | 432.31/sq mi (166.90/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
95310
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| Area code | 209 |
| FIPS code | 06-14904 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 277490, 2407648 |
| Reference #: | 123 |
Columbia is a special kind of town called a census-designated place (CDP). It's located in the beautiful Sierra Nevada foothills in Tuolumne County, California.
This town started as a boomtown in 1850. This was when people found gold during the exciting California Gold Rush. Columbia was even known as the "Gem of the Southern Mines" because of all the gold found there.
Today, the old part of Columbia is a special place called Columbia State Historic Park. This park helps keep the history of the 1800s mining town alive. It's a very important historic district and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Where is Columbia Located?
Columbia is found along State Route 49. It's just north of another town called Sonora. The town sits at an altitude of about 652 meters (2,139 feet) above sea level.
The total area of Columbia is about 15.5 square kilometers (6.0 square miles). Only a tiny part of this area, about 0.31%, is covered by water.
What is Columbia's Climate Like?
Columbia has a climate with hot and dry summers. The average monthly temperatures don't go above 32.3 °C (90.1 °F). This type of weather is called a warm-summer Mediterranean climate.
A Look Back at Columbia's History
The first people to live in the Columbia area were the Miwok, who are Native Americans.
When gold was found near Columbia, thousands of people quickly moved there. Within weeks, the population grew to 5,000! By 1852, Columbia had many businesses. There were 8 hotels, 4 banks, 17 general stores, and even a newspaper. People also enjoyed over 40 places for drinking and gambling.
Between 1850 and the early 1900s, a huge amount of gold was found. About $87 million worth of gold was taken from the hills around Columbia. This would be a massive amount of money today!
In 1851, the town's brass band welcomed the first "white woman" to Columbia. The town also had five cemeteries, including a "Boot Hill." This was a place where people were buried without headstones.
In 1854, a big fire destroyed most of Columbia. Richer business owners rebuilt their stores using brick and iron. This made them stronger. But the rest of the town was rebuilt with wood and canvas. In 1857, another fire burned almost everything else down. Only three brick buildings were left.
The Columbia one-room school house was built in 1860. It was used until 1937. In 1947, the state of California bought the school for just $1. It became part of the historic park.
A TV show called Death Valley Days once had an episode about Columbia. It suggested Columbia almost became California's state capital in 1854. But this story was mostly for entertainment, not completely true history. Sacramento became the capital instead.
By 1860, finding gold in Columbia became harder. Miners even started digging under buildings to find gold. This meant tearing down houses. When copper was found nearby, many bricks from Columbia's destroyed buildings were sold to help build the new town of Copperopolis.
In 1862, Columbia was the site of the first official Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the United States. Mexican miners in Columbia were very happy about Mexico's victory over French rule. They celebrated with rifle shots, fireworks, and patriotic songs.
Columbia was once California's fifth-largest city. It had about 25,000 people. Today, about 2,000 people live there. Unlike many gold rush towns, Columbia never became a ghost town. In 1945, California created Columbia State Historic Park. This park helps protect the town's historical buildings.
Things to See and Do in Columbia
The main street in Columbia's historic district is part of the Columbia State Historic Park. Cars are not allowed there. But you can enjoy horses, carriages, bicycles, and walking. The area is famous for its huge rock gardens. These were left over from old gold mining methods. It's a great place for families to picnic and take walks.
The old buildings are rented out to businesses that fit the old-time theme. You can try gold-panning, candle-dipping, or watch an iron-worker. There are also places to eat. You can even take a ride on a horse-drawn wagon.
Many events happen throughout the year. Some popular ones are the Fourth of July parade and Pioneer Days. Sometimes, local artists set up booths along Main Street. Park employees and shopkeepers dress in old-fashioned clothes. This helps make the park feel like it's from the past.
There's a short hiking trail from the old School House. The school is open with exhibits to explore. Two campgrounds nearby offer places for tents and motorhomes. There's also a small general store for supplies.
Other interesting places nearby include Columbia Community College, which is a two-year college. There's also the Columbia Airport. This airport is busy with firefighting planes during the summer.
Columbia also hosts an annual Fire Muster. This event often kicks off California's summer musters.
Columbia's Population
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 2,405 | — | |
| 2010 | 2,297 | −4.5% | |
| 2020 | 2,577 | 12.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Columbia had a population of 2,577 people. In 2010, there were 2,297 people living there. Most people in Columbia live in households.
The population includes people of different ages. In 2010, about 20.5% of the people were under 18 years old. About 21.1% were 65 years or older. The average age was 47.8 years.
Famous People from Columbia
- Delmer Berg, a veteran of two wars, lived in Columbia.
- Jon Robert Cavaiani, who received the Medal of Honor, lived here.
- Drew Gagnon, a professional baseball pitcher, was born in Columbia.
- Red Kress, a Major League Baseball player and coach, was born here.
- Peter Muldoon, a Roman Catholic Bishop, was born in Columbia.
- Slim Pickens, a famous actor, lived in Columbia later in his life.
Movies and TV Shows Filmed in Columbia
Columbia has been a filming location for over 100 movies and TV series! Its historic look makes it perfect for old-time stories. Some of the films and shows include:
- Sierra Spirits, 2007
- Behind the Mask of Zorro, 2005
- Radio Flyer, 1992
- Blood Red, 1989
- Pale Rider, 1985
- The Shadow Riders, 1982
- Joe Dancer: The Big Trade, 1981
- The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang, 1979
- Law of the Land, 1976
- Little House on the Prairie, 1974
- Something for a Lonely Man, 1968
- Bullwhip, 1958
- Rage at Dawn, 1955
- Texas Lady, 1955
- The Cimarron Kid, 1952
- Death Valley Days, 1952
- High Noon, 1952
- The Lone Ranger, 1949
- The Red House, 1947
- Rustlers' Valley, 1937
- Wells Fargo, 1937
- The Best Bad Man, 1925
- Timber Stampede, 1939
Columbia Airport
The Columbia Airport is about one mile from the town. It's a general aviation airfield. This airport is also home to a special base for aerial firefighting. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) uses it. They keep planes and helicopters there to fight wildfires.
See also
In Spanish: Columbia (California) para niños
