Columbia, Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Columbia, Louisiana
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Town
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| Town of Columbia | |
Gateway to Ouachita River at Columbia
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| Nickname(s):
Columbia on the Ouachita
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Location of Columbia in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana.
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Location of Louisiana in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Parish | Caldwell |
| Founded | 1827 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.77 sq mi (2.00 km2) |
| • Land | 0.76 sq mi (1.98 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 75 ft (23 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 277 |
| • Rank | CW: 3rd |
| • Density | 362.57/sq mi (139.94/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
71418
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| Area code(s) | 318 |
| FIPS code | 22-16830 |
Columbia is a small town in Louisiana, USA. It is the main town, or "parish seat," of Caldwell Parish. In 2020, about 277 people lived there. Columbia is known for its location on the Ouachita River, which was once very important for trade.
Contents
History of Columbia
The area where Columbia now stands was first settled in 1827 by Daniel Humphries. A few years later, a store was built. This store became the only stop between Monroe and other towns along the Ouachita River.
Columbia's harbor became a busy place. Steamboats and Packet boats used to ship cotton from here. This was a very important way to move goods before railroads became common.
In February 1864, during the American Civil War, there was a small fight, or "skirmish," in Columbia. Soldiers from both sides were involved. There are also several old plantations in the area.
Geography of Columbia
Columbia is located in the middle of Caldwell Parish. It sits on the southwest bank of the Ouachita River.
U.S. Route 165 goes right through the town. This road also has a bridge over the river. If you go north on this road, it's about 32 miles (51 km) to Monroe. If you go south, it's about 64 miles (103 km) to Alexandria.
The town covers a total area of about 0.77 square miles (2.00 km²). Most of this area is land, and a very small part is water.
Population and People
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 235 | — | |
| 1880 | 210 | −10.6% | |
| 1890 | 352 | 67.6% | |
| 1900 | 382 | 8.5% | |
| 1910 | 500 | 30.9% | |
| 1920 | 434 | −13.2% | |
| 1930 | 760 | 75.1% | |
| 1940 | 840 | 10.5% | |
| 1950 | 920 | 9.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,021 | 11.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,000 | −2.1% | |
| 1980 | 687 | −31.3% | |
| 1990 | 386 | −43.8% | |
| 2000 | 477 | 23.6% | |
| 2010 | 390 | −18.2% | |
| 2020 | 277 | −29.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Columbia has changed a lot over the years. In 1870, there were 235 people. The population grew steadily until 1960, when it reached its highest at 1,021 people. After that, the number of residents started to decrease. By 2020, the population was 277 people.
In 2020, most of the people living in Columbia were White (about 73%). About 17% were Black or African American. A smaller number of people were Asian, or from other racial backgrounds. About 5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. There were 152 households and 107 families living in the town.
Famous People from Columbia
Many interesting people have come from Columbia, Louisiana. Here are a few:
- Buddy Caldwell: He was the Attorney General of Louisiana. This means he was the state's top lawyer. He was elected in 2007.
- Graves B. Erskine: He was a very important general in the U.S. Marine Corps. He fought in World War I and World War II. He received special awards for his bravery, like the Silver Star and the Distinguished Service Medal. He led the 3rd Marine Division in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
- J.D. DeBlieux: He served as a Louisiana State Senator for many years. He represented East Baton Rouge Parish.
- Pam Kelly: She was a famous college basketball player. In 1982, she won the Wade Trophy. This award goes to the best women's college basketball player in the country.
- Lelon Kenney: He was a Louisiana state representative, a farmer, and a businessman.
- John J. McKeithen: He was the governor of Louisiana from 1964 to 1972. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II and received two Bronze Stars for his service.
- W. Fox McKeithen: He was John J. McKeithen's son. He served in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He was also the Louisiana Secretary of State for five terms, from 1988 to 2005. He used to be a teacher.
- Clay Parker: He was a professional baseball pitcher. He played for famous teams like the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners.
- Neil Riser: He is a state senator who was elected in 2007. He was the first Republican from his district since the Reconstruction period after the Civil War.
- Chet D. Traylor: He served on the Louisiana Supreme Court from 1997 to 2009.
Gallery
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Homeland Federal Savings Bank is located off U.S. Highway 165 in Columbia.
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A portion of the hillside graves at the large but spread-out Columbia Hill Cemetery in Columbia. The cemetery started just before the American Civil War during a yellow fever outbreak.
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Riser and Son Funeral Home in Columbia is owned by State Senator Neil Riser.
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The First United Methodist Church in Columbia has been at this site since 1838. The building you see today was built in 1911. Before that, traveling preachers called "circuit riders" served Caldwell Parish.
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First Baptist Church in Columbia.
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Columbia Heights Baptist Church off Highway 165 calls itself "The Lighthouse on the Hill".
See also
In Spanish: Columbia (Luisiana) para niños
