East Columbia, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
East Columbia, Texas
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 East Columbia, Texas
Location in Texas
East Columbia, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Brazoria |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 128 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
East Columbia is a small community in Brazoria County, Texas, United States. It is known as an unincorporated community and a census designated place (CDP). This means it's a recognized place, but it doesn't have its own city government. It is located about nine miles west of Angleton.
In the 1800s, East Columbia was a very important port. It was one of the busiest inland ports in Texas. The port helped move goods for the large farms, called plantations, that grew along the Brazos River.
History of East Columbia
East Columbia was founded in 1824 by a man named Josiah Hughes Bell. He came to Texas with Stephen F. Austin's group of early settlers. Bell built a special landing for boats on the Brazos River. He called the new town Marion.
Growth and Decline
Josiah Bell sold the town to Walter C. White in 1827. By the mid-1800s, about 800 people lived in East Columbia. But things started to change when railroads came to the area. People began using trains more than steamboats to move goods. This made the river port less important.
The town also faced tough times because of strong storms. Big storms hit in 1900, 1909, and 1913, causing a lot of damage. In 1918, oil was found in a nearby area called West Columbia. Many businesses and people moved there to be closer to the new oil industry. By the 1970s, East Columbia's post office had closed, and its population had become much smaller.
Population Information
The population of East Columbia is counted every ten years by the United States Census. This helps us understand how many people live in the community.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 128 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
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As of 2020, the population of East Columbia was 128 people.
Education
Students in East Columbia attend schools operated by the Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District. This school district serves several communities in the area.
For higher education, the area is part of the Brazosport College district. This means students from East Columbia can attend Brazosport College.
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