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Columbia, Connecticut
The History Place
The History Place
Official seal of Columbia, Connecticut
Seal
Location in Tolland County and the state of Connecticut
Location in Tolland County and the state of Connecticut
Country  United States
U.S. state  Connecticut
County Tolland
Metropolitan area Hartford
Incorporated 1804
Government
 • Type Selectman-town meeting
Area
 • Total 22.0 sq mi (57.0 km2)
 • Land 21.4 sq mi (55.3 km2)
 • Water 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)
Elevation
551 ft (168 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 5,272
 • Density 246.4/sq mi (95.3/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
06237
Area code(s) 860
FIPS code 09-16400
GNIS feature ID 0213411

Columbia is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,272 at the 2020 census. Originally a part of Lebanon, known as the North Society or Lebanon's Crank, Columbia was incorporated in May 1804. The town was named for patriotic reasons after the national symbol "Columbia". Columbia offers pre-kindergarten through 8th grade education in town at Horace W. Porter School, while high school students have a choice of attending three nearby high schools (Bolton High School, E. O. Smith High School, and Windham Technical High School, part of the Connecticut Technical High School System).

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.0 square miles (57 km2), of which, 21.4 square miles (55 km2) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) of it (2.78%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 876
1860 832 −5.0%
1870 891 7.1%
1880 757 −15.0%
1890 740 −2.2%
1900 655 −11.5%
1910 646 −1.4%
1920 706 9.3%
1930 648 −8.2%
1940 853 31.6%
1950 1,327 55.6%
1960 2,163 63.0%
1970 3,129 44.7%
1980 3,386 8.2%
1990 4,510 33.2%
2000 4,971 10.2%
2010 5,485 10.3%
2020 5,272 −3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,971 people, 1,864 households, and 1,463 families living in the town. The population density was 232.8 people per square mile (89.9/km2). There were 1,988 housing units at an average density of 93.1 per square mile (35.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.43% White, 0.38% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.

There were 1,864 households, out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. Of all households 17.3% were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $70,208, and the median income for a family was $77,665. Males had a median income of $51,250 versus $37,685 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,446. About 1.8% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 29, 2019
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
Democratic 1,259 46 1,305 31.86%
Republican 986 36 1,022 24.95%
Unaffiliated 1,527 95 1,622 39.60%
Minor Parties 138 9 147 3.59%
Total 3,910 186 4,096 100%
Presidential Election Results
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2020 52.9% 1,888 44.8% 1,600 2.3% 80
2016 47.6% 1,558 45.8% 1,500 6.6% 215
2012 55.7% 1,715 42.9% 1,319 1.4% 43
2008 57.5% 1,843 40.8% 1,306 1.7% 55
2004 57.0% 1,771 40.9% 1,272 2.1% 64
2000 55.8% 1,567 37.1% 1,041 7.1% 196
1996 50.0% 1,271 31.9% 813 18.1% 452
1992 40.6% 1,158 29.5% 839 29.9% 855
1988 45.6% 1,082 53.6% 1,270 0.8% 19
1984 33.2% 673 66.2% 1,341 0.6% 11
1980 30.3% 593 51.2% 1,001 18.5% 361
1976 41.2% 720 58.5% 1,023 0.3% 6
1972 34.5% 583 64.7% 1,092 0.8% 13
1968 44.2% 647 52.5% 770 3.3% 48
1964 62.4% 791 37.6% 476 0.00% 0
1960 41.1% 450 58.9% 644 0.00% 0
1956 20.1% 246 70.9% 599 0.00% 0

On the National Register of Historic Places

Notable residents past and present

  • Anthony Gregorc, psychologist. Currently resides in Columbia.
  • Dwight Loomis (1821–1903), US Congressman and Connecticut Supreme Court judge.
  • Alfred Wright (1788-1853), physician, Presbyterian missionary to Choctaw Nation, translator, educator and founder of Wheelock Seminary was born in Columbia.

See also

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