West Columbia, Texas Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids West Columbia, Texas
City
Capitol Theater
Motto(s): "Birthplace of a Republic"
Location of West Columbia, Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Brazoria
Government
• Type	General Law Municipality
Area
• Total	2.63 sq mi (6.80 km²)
• Land	2.61 sq mi (6.75 km²)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.04 km²)
Elevation	36 ft (11 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	3,644
• Density	1,468.56/sq mi (567.04/km²)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	77486
Area code(s)	979
FIPS code	48-77416
GNIS feature ID	1371096

West Columbia is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, in the United States. It is located about 55 miles (88 km) southwest of downtown Houston. In 2020, about 3,644 people lived there.

This city is special because the very first Congress of the Republic of Texas met here on October 3, 1836. At that time, the city was simply called Columbia.

West Columbia's Location and Area
People Living in West Columbia
History of West Columbia
- Early Days as a Capital City
- Growth and Changes Over Time
Education in West Columbia
- Local Schools
- Libraries and Colleges
See also

West Columbia's Location and Area

West Columbia is in the western part of Brazoria County. It is about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the Brazos River.

Two main roads, Texas Highway 35 and Texas Highway 36, cross through the city. Highway 35 goes east to Angleton, which is the county seat, and southwest to Bay City. Highway 36 goes north to Rosenberg and southeast to Freeport near the Gulf of Mexico.

The United States Census Bureau says that West Columbia covers a total area of about 2.63 square miles (6.8 square kilometers). Only a very small part of this area, about 0.02 square miles (0.04 square kilometers), is water.

People Living in West Columbia

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1940	1,573	—
1950	2,100	33.5%
1960	2,947	40.3%
1970	3,335	13.2%
1980	4,109	23.2%
1990	4,372	6.4%
2000	4,255	−2.7%
2010	3,905	−8.2%
2020	3,644	−6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

**West Columbia's Population in 2020**
(NH = Not Hispanic)
Group	Number of People	Percentage
White (NH)	2,029	55.68%
Black or African American (NH)	563	15.45%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	16	0.44%
Asian (NH)	18	0.49%
Some Other Race (NH)	11	0.3%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	105	2.88%
Hispanic or Latino	902	24.75%
Total	3,644

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,644 people living in West Columbia. These people made up 1,398 households and 984 families.

In 2000, there were 4,255 people, 1,607 households, and 1,099 families in the city. About 35.5% of households had children under 18. Half of the households (50.0%) were married couples. About 13.3% of households had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

The average household had 2.60 people, and the average family had 3.19 people. The median age in the city was 35 years old.

History of West Columbia

Columbia was founded in 1826 by Josiah Hughes Bell. It was built two miles west of another town called Marion (now East Columbia).

Early Days as a Capital City

For a short time, from September to December 1836, Columbia was the capital of the Republic of Texas. The First Congress of the Republic of Texas met here when Sam Houston became president on October 22, 1836. The House of Representatives and Senate held their meetings in private homes.

On November 30, the First Congress decided to move the capital to Houston. This was because Columbia did not have enough places for government officials to live. On December 27, 1836, Stephen F. Austin, an important figure in Texas history, passed away at a home in Columbia.

Growth and Changes Over Time

After the government moved away, the town, which became known as West Columbia, saw less business. A post office was set up in 1905.

In 1918, oil was found in the West Columbia oil field. This made the town an important center for cotton, oil, rice, and sulphur. By 1928, the town's population grew to 2,500 people. However, the Great Depression caused the number of residents to drop to about 1,000.

By 1940, West Columbia had 1,573 people and 50 businesses. During the 1950s, the population increased to 2,100. In the 1960s, large oil companies were very active near the town. The area also had the most cattle in the state.

The population continued to grow, reaching 2,947 in 1960, 3,335 in 1970, and 4,372 in 1990. In the next twenty years, the population slightly decreased. The Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site is also located near West Columbia.

Stephen F. Austin death place on County 467
Charlie Brown state historic marker on Brazos Ave.
Veterans War Memorial at the American Legion Post

Education in West Columbia

The Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District serves the city of West Columbia.

Local Schools

Schools that serve the city include:

West Columbia Elementary School
Barrow Elementary School
Wild Peach Elementary School
West Brazos Junior High School
Columbia High School

West Columbia Elementary School and Columbia High School are located in West Columbia. West Brazos Junior High and Barrow Elementary are in the nearby town of Brazoria. There is also a charter school called West Columbia Charter School.

Libraries and Colleges

The West Columbia Library is part of the Brazoria County Library System. The Texas Legislature has assigned the area in Columbia-Brazoria ISD, including West Columbia, to the Brazosport College district for higher education.