Columbus, Mississippi

File:Postcard of Steamer "American" on Tombigbee River at Columbus, Mississippi.jpg

The first record of the site of Columbus in Western history is found in the annals of the explorer Hernando de Soto, who is reputed to have crossed the nearby Tombigbee River on his search for El Dorado. However, the site does not enter the main continuity of United States history until December 1810, when John Pitchlynn, the U.S. Indian agent and interpreter for the Choctaw Nation, moved to Plymouth Bluff, where he built a home, established a farm, and transacted Choctaw Agency business.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

After the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson recognized the urgent need for roads to connect New Orleans to the rest of the country. In 1817 Jackson ordered a road be built to provide a direct route from Nashville to New Orleans. His surveyor, Captain Hugh Young, chose a place on the Tombigbee River where high ground approached the river on both sides as the location for a ferry to be used for crossing the river when high water prevented fording the river. A military bridge was constructed where the present-day Tombigbee Bridge was later developed in Columbus, Mississippi. Jackson's Military Road opened the way for development in the area.{{cite web|last1=Ward|first1=Rufus|title=Ask Rufus: Andrew Jackson's Military Road|url=http://www.cdispatch.com/opinions/article.asp?aid=28506|publisher=Commercial Dispatch|access-date=22 December 2017|date=4 November 2013|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222220210/http://www.cdispatch.com/opinions/article.asp?aid=28506|url-status=live}}

Columbus was founded in 1819, and, as it was believed to be in Alabama, it was first officially recognized by an Alabama Legislative act as the Town of Columbus on December 6, 1819.{{cite book |last1=Toulmin |first1=Harry |title=1825 |publisher=Ginn and Curtis |location=Cahawba, Alabama}} Before its incorporation, the town site was referred to informally as Possum Town, a name which was given by the local Native Americans, who were primarily Choctaw and Chickasaw. The name Possum Town remains the town's nickname among locals. The town was settled where Jackson's Military Road crossed the Tombigbee River 4 miles south of John Pitchlynn's residence at Plymouth Bluff. In 1820 the post office that had been at Pitchlynn's relocated in Columbus. Pitchlynn's which had been settled in 1810 became the town of Plymouth in 1836 and is now the location of an environmental center for Mississippi University for Women.{{cite book |last1=Sherman |first1=Harry L |title=A Very Remarkable Bluff |date=2007 |publisher=Mississippi University for Women |pages=34–45}} Silas McBee suggested the name Columbus; in return, a small local creek was named after him.Rowland, Dunbar, ed. Mississippi, Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons arranged in Cyclopedic Form in three volumes. Vol. 2. Atlanta: Southern Historical Publishing Association, 1907, pp. 134-137.

The city's founders soon established a school known as Franklin Academy. It continues to operate and is known as Mississippi's first public school. The territorial boundary of Mississippi and Alabama had to be corrected as, a year earlier, Franklin Academy was indicated as being in Alabama. In fact, during its early post-Mississippi-founding history, the city of Columbus was still referred to as Columbus, Alabama.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

File:Mississippi - Clinton through Columbus - NARA - 23941661 (cropped).jpg

During the American Civil War, Columbus was a hospital town. Its arsenal manufactured gunpowder, handguns and a few cannons. Because of this, the Union ordered the invasion of Columbus, but was stopped by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. This is substantiated in the book The Battle of West Point: Confederate Triumph at Ellis Bridge by John McBride. Many of the casualties from the Battle of Shiloh were brought to Columbus. Thousands were eventually buried in the town's Friendship Cemetery.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

One of the hospitals was located at Annunciation Catholic Church, built in 1863 and still operating in the 21st century. The decision of a group of ladies to decorate the Union and Confederate graves with flowers together on April 25, 1866, is an early example of what became known as Memorial Day. A poet, Francis Miles Finch, read about it in the New York newspapers and commemorated the occasion with the poem "The Blue and the Grey".Fallows, Deborah. [https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/05/a-real-story-of-memorial-day/371497/ "A Real Story of Memorial Day"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613232901/https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/05/a-real-story-of-memorial-day/371497/ |date=2017-06-13 }}, The Atlantic, May 2014 Bellware and Gardiner noted this observance of the holiday in The Genesis of the Memorial Day Holiday in America (2014). They recognized the events in Columbus as the earliest manifestation of an annual spring holiday to decorate the grave of Southern soldiers. While the call was to celebrate on April 26, several newspapers reported that the day was the 25th, in error.{{Cite book|title=The Genesis of the Memorial Day Holiday in America|last=Bellware|first=Daniel |author2= Richard Gardiner|publisher=Columbus State University|year=2014|isbn=978-0-692-29225-9|pages=63–65}}

As a result of Forrest preventing the Union Army from reaching Columbus, its antebellum homes were spared from being burned or destroyed, making its collection second only to Natchez as the most extensive in Mississippi.John McBride, The Battle of West Point: Confederate Triumph at Ellis Bridge, The History Press, 2013{{page needed|date=April 2018}} These antebellum homes may be toured during the annual Pilgrimage, in which the Columbus residences open their homes to tourists from around the country.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

When Union troops approached Jackson, the state capital was briefly moved to Columbus before moving to a more permanent home in Macon.{{cite web|title=Governor's Mansion during the Civil War|url=http://www.mdah.ms.gov/senseofplace/2010/11/17/governors-mansion-during-the-civil-war/|access-date=16 December 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222050819/http://www.mdah.ms.gov/senseofplace/2010/11/17/governors-mansion-during-the-civil-war/|url-status=live}}

During the war, Columbus attorney Jacob H. Sharp served as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. After the war, he owned the Columbus Independent newspaper. He was elected to two terms in the State House, serving four years representing the district in the Mississippi House of Representatives.Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, page 481. {{ISBN|0-8047-3641-3}}.

The mural Out of the Soil was completed in 1939 for the Columbus post office by WPA Section of Painting and Sculpture artist Beulah Bettersworth.{{cite news|last1=Burnett|first1=Garthia Elena|title=Post office mural raises questions of racial sensitivity|url=http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=9619&TRID=1&TID=|access-date=14 May 2016|newspaper=The Dispatch|date=January 15, 2011|location=Columbus, Mississippi|archive-date=7 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507222759/http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=9619&TRID=1&TID=|url-status=live}} Murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through "the Section" of the U.S. Treasury Department.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Columbus has hosted Columbus Air Force Base (CAFB) since World War II. CAFB was founded as a flight training school. After a stint in the 1950s and 1960s as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base (earning Columbus a spot in Soviet Union target lists), CAFB returned to its original role. Today, it is one of only four basic Air Force flight training bases in the United States, and prized as the only one where regular flight conditions may be experienced. Despite this, CAFB has repeatedly hung in the balance during Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) hearings.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Columbus boasted a number of industries during the mid-20th century, including the world's largest toilet seat manufacturer, Sanderson Plumbing Products, and major mattress, furniture and textile plants. Most of these had closed by 2000. A series of new plants at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, including the Severstal mill, the American Eurocopter factory, the Paccar engine plant and the Aurora Flight Sciences facility, are revitalizing the local economy.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

On June 12, 1990, a fireworks factory in Columbus exploded, detonating a blast felt as far as 30 miles away from Columbus. Two workers were killed in the blast.{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-13-mn-207-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Two Killed as Explosions Destroy Fireworks Factory | date=June 13, 1990 | access-date=2013-04-16 | archive-date=2013-11-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110221633/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-06-13/news/mn-207_1_fireworks-factory | url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/b6bf032a0255a80153130be35b43e3be |title=Explosions At Mississippi Fireworks Plant Kill Two |publisher=Apnewsarchive.com |date=1990-06-12 |access-date=2014-07-14 |archive-date=2014-07-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702031601/http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1990/Explosions-At-Mississippi-Fireworks-Plant-Kill-Two/id-b6bf032a0255a80153130be35b43e3be |url-status=live }}

On February 16, 2001, straightline winds measured at 74 miles per hour destroyed many homes and trees but resulted in no fatalities. The city was declared a federal disaster area the next day by President George W. Bush. On November 10, 2002, a tornado hit Columbus and caused more damage to the city,{{cite web |url=http://www.tornadoproject.com/past/pastts02.htm |title=Tornadoes in the Past: 2002 |website=tornadoproject.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109205737/http://www.tornadoproject.com/past/pastts02.htm|archive-date=November 9, 2013}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/assessments/pdfs/veteran.pdf |title=Veterans Day Weekend Tornado Outbreak of November 9-11, 2002 |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce |access-date=2013-04-16 |archive-date=2013-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228003959/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/assessments/pdfs/veteran.pdf }} including the Mississippi University for Women.{{cite web |last=Amy |first=Jeff |url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/14/16963369-tornado-damage-to-university-of-southern-mississippi-estimated-in-tens-of-millions?lite |title=Tornado damage to University of Southern Mississippi estimated in tens of millions |publisher=NBC News |date=2013-02-14 |access-date=2014-07-14 |archive-date=2014-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630215949/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/14/16963369-tornado-damage-to-university-of-southern-mississippi-estimated-in-tens-of-millions?lite }}{{cite press release |url=http://www.muw.edu/publicaffairs/2006_prnews/061003_miller.html |title=Miller to present at conference on disaster relief |publisher=Mississippi University for Women |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110220116/http://www.muw.edu/publicaffairs/2006_prnews/061003_miller.html|archive-date=November 10, 2013}}

In 2010, Columbus won a Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.{{cite web | url=http://www.columbusmainstreet.com | title=Welcome to the Columbus Main Street Website | work=Columbus Main Street | access-date=December 29, 2010 | archive-date=February 7, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207130542/http://www.columbusmainstreet.com/ | url-status=live }}

In February 2019, Columbus took a direct hit from an EF-3 tornado that caused devastating damage to homes and businesses and killed one woman after a structure fell on her.{{cite web | url=https://www.wcbi.com/tornado-victim-remembered-loving-mother-daughter-caring-person/ |title=Tornado Victim Remembered As Loving Mother, Daughter And Caring Person | work=WCBI News |date=February 25, 2019 | access-date=January 26, 2022 }}

The city is located approximately {{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=on}} west of the Mississippi-Alabama state line along U.S. Route 82, U.S. Route 45, and numerous state highways. US 82 leads southeast {{convert|29|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Reform, Alabama and west {{convert|25|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Starkville. US 45 leads south {{convert|32|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Macon and north {{convert|28|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Aberdeen. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|22.3|mi2|km2|abbr=off|sp=us}}, of which {{convert|21.4|mi2|km2|abbr=off|sp=us}} is land and {{convert|0.9|mi2|km2|abbr=off|sp=us}} is water. Large lakes and rivers are nearby, such as the Buttahatchee River in northern Lowndes County that defines the border between Lowndes and Monroe counties; in the middle of the City of Columbus and Lowndes County lies the Luxapallila Creek, and the Tombigbee River with the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam impounding Columbus Lake. Columbus is a relatively flat place in the northern part of Lowndes County, as the land rises for a short period of time into hills and bluffs, in the southern/eastern part of the county, the land has rolling hills that quickly turn into flatland floodplains that dominate this county. This county lies in the Black Prairie Geographic Region, and the Northeastern Hills Region of the state/area. Prairies, forests and floodplain forests lie here. The soil quality is poor in the eastern part of the county, otherwise the soil is relatively fertile. Columbus and the surrounding areas are listed as an Arbor Day Hardiness Zone 8a ({{convert|10|to|15|°F|1|disp=or}}); note that temperatures in 2010 reached {{convert|11|°F|0}}, but the USDA Hardiness Zones list the area as zone 7b ({{convert|5|to|10|°F|1|disp=or}}).{{cite web |url=http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-mississippi-usda-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php |title=Mississippi USDA Hardiness Zone Map |access-date=2010-11-11 |archive-date=2010-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208015801/http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-mississippi-usda-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php |url-status=live }}

{{Weather box

|location = Columbus, Mississippi (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 84

|Feb record high F = 89

|Mar record high F = 93

|Apr record high F = 96

|May record high F = 100

|Jun record high F = 111

|Jul record high F = 109

|Aug record high F = 109

|Sep record high F = 110

|Oct record high F = 104

|Nov record high F = 90

|Dec record high F = 83

|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 72.9

|Feb avg record high F = 77.0

|Mar avg record high F = 83.7

|Apr avg record high F = 87.3

|May avg record high F = 93.0

|Jun avg record high F = 96.8

|Jul avg record high F = 98.8

|Aug avg record high F = 99.3

|Sep avg record high F = 95.5

|Oct avg record high F = 89.2

|Nov avg record high F = 80.3

|Dec avg record high F = 73.3

|year avg record high F = 100.8

|Jan high F = 55.8

|Feb high F = 61.2

|Mar high F = 69.7

|Apr high F = 77.6

|May high F = 84.9

|Jun high F = 90.9

|Jul high F = 93.8

|Aug high F = 93.4

|Sep high F = 88.4

|Oct high F = 78.3

|Nov high F = 66.5

|Dec high F = 58.1

|year high F = 76.5

|Jan mean F = 45.8

|Feb mean F = 50.2

|Mar mean F = 58.0

|Apr mean F = 65.5

|May mean F = 73.2

|Jun mean F = 80.2

|Jul mean F = 83.2

|Aug mean F = 82.6

|Sep mean F = 77.0

|Oct mean F = 66.2

|Nov mean F = 54.6

|Dec mean F = 48.1

|year mean F = 65.4

|Jan low F = 35.8

|Feb low F = 39.2

|Mar low F = 46.3

|Apr low F = 53.3

|May low F = 61.5

|Jun low F = 69.4

|Jul low F = 72.7

|Aug low F = 71.9

|Sep low F = 65.6

|Oct low F = 54.0

|Nov low F = 42.7

|Dec low F = 38.1

|year low F = 54.2

|Jan avg record low F = 17.4

|Feb avg record low F = 21.5

|Mar avg record low F = 27.6

|Apr avg record low F = 35.9

|May avg record low F = 45.7

|Jun avg record low F = 57.4

|Jul avg record low F = 64.5

|Aug avg record low F = 62.8

|Sep avg record low F = 49.4

|Oct avg record low F = 34.8

|Nov avg record low F = 26.1

|Dec avg record low F = 21.4

|year avg record low F = 15.7

|Jan record low F = −7

|Feb record low F = -3

|Mar record low F = 13

|Apr record low F = 27

|May record low F = 35

|Jun record low F = 42

|Jul record low F = 53

|Aug record low F = 50

|Sep record low F = 36

|Oct record low F = 24

|Nov record low F = 9

|Dec record low F = −4

|year record low F = −7

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 5.45

|Feb precipitation inch = 5.69

|Mar precipitation inch = 5.32

|Apr precipitation inch = 5.81

|May precipitation inch = 4.02

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.40

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.68

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.50

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.20

|Oct precipitation inch = 3.63

|Nov precipitation inch = 4.35

|Dec precipitation inch = 5.59

|year precipitation inch = 56.64

|Jan snow inch = 0.2

|Feb snow inch = 0.2

|Mar snow inch = 0.0

|Apr snow inch = 0.0

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.0

|Dec snow inch = 0.0

|year snow inch = 0.4

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 9.8

|Feb precipitation days = 9.3

|Mar precipitation days = 9.9

|Apr precipitation days = 7.9

|May precipitation days = 8.0

|Jun precipitation days = 8.9

|Jul precipitation days = 9.5

|Aug precipitation days = 8.0

|Sep precipitation days = 5.7

|Oct precipitation days = 6.2

|Nov precipitation days = 7.7

|Dec precipitation days = 9.2

|year precipitation days = 100.1

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 0.1

|Feb snow days = 0.1

|Mar snow days = 0.0

|Apr snow days = 0.0

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.0

|Dec snow days = 0.0

|year snow days = 0.2

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=jan

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 9, 2021}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00221880&format=pdf

| title = Station: Columbus, MS

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = June 9, 2021}}

|date=January 2011}}

{{US Census population

|1850= 2611

|1860= 3308

|1870= 4812

|1880= 3955

|1890= 4559

|1900= 6484

|1910= 8988

|1920= 10501

|1930= 10743

|1940= 13645

|1950= 17172

|1960= 24771

|1970= 25795

|1980= 27503

|1990= 23799

|2000= 25944

|2010= 23640

|2020= 24084

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015|archive-date=April 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|url-status=live}}

}}

File:Columbus MS from airplane.jpg

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 24,084 people, 9,572 households, and 5,348 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 23,640 people living in the city. 60.0% were African American, 37.4% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from some other race, and 1.1% of two or more races. 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Columbus' population has grown steadily since the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1900, 6,484 people lived in Columbus; in 1910, 8,988; in 1920, 10,501; and in 1940, 13,645. As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=2014-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218204847/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/index.html |url-status=live }} of 2000, there were 25,944 people, 10,062 households, and 6,419 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,211.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 11,112 housing units at an average density of {{convert|518.9|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city is 43.62% White, 54.41% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.

There were 10,062 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,393, and the median income for a family was $37,068. Males had a median income of $30,773 versus $20,182 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,848.

Major Employers:

• Columbus Air Force Base.
• Baptist Memorial Hospital - Golden Triangle.
• Mississippi University for Women.
• Columbus Municipal School District.
• Lowndes County School District.
• International Paper Columbus Mill and Columbus Modified Fiber.
• Steel Dynamics, Inc. (steel manufacturer).
• Paccar (diesel engines).
• American Eurocopter (military aircraft).
• Baldor (electric motors).
• Nouryon (sodium chlorate production).
• Aurora Flight Sciences (unmanned defense systems).
• Stark Aerospace (unmanned defense systems).
• Columbus / Nammo-Talley (defense systems).
• Valmet (paper machine rolls and roll covers).

Columbus is the birthplace of playwright Tennessee Williams, whose grandfather was the priest of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Williams was born in the rectory on Main Street, which is now the Tennessee Williams Home Museum and Welcome Center.{{cite news |last1=Swoope |first1=Jan |title=Columbus to host Tennessee Williams' birthday celebration |url=https://cdispatch.com/lifestyles/2021-03-20/columbus-to-host-tennessee-williams-birthday-celebration/ |access-date=12 July 2021 |newspaper=Columbus Dispatch |date=March 20, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/tennesseewilliams.html|title = Tennessee Williams Birthplace - Columbus, Mississippi}}

Columbus is home to a state university, the Mississippi University for Women. The MUW campus is also home to the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, a state-funded public boarding school for academically gifted high school juniors and seniors.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

The city's public high school (under the Columbus Municipal School District) is Columbus High School, located in the eastern part of town. It is the largest high school in the city and fifth largest in the state, enrolling approximately 1370 students. Columbus High School was formed by the merger of the city's two previous high schools, Stephen D. Lee High School and Caldwell High School; the schools were merged in 1992 and the campuses in 1997. Columbus is also home to the oldest public elementary school in Mississippi, Franklin Academy Elementary, founded in 1821.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Desegregated in 1970, Lee High School received a state award for the high school with the best race relations.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} Prior to desegregation, the school formed a race relations committee consisting of black and white students who could discuss issues and determine how to handle certain situations. For instance, the students decided to have both white and black homecoming courts so as to prevent sides being taken along racial lines. However, black students were allowed to vote for the white homecoming court and vice versa. The school went undefeated in football in 1970, which helped unite the student body. Students were ranked based on achievement score tests and divided into three groups, in order to allow each group to learn at their own pace.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} This practice was in place prior to integration. It was continued after integration for a period, but such tracking was later ruled to be unconstitutional by a Federal court, because it was based on biased testing. It did not take into account differences in preparation in earlier grades.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

The Lowndes County School District operates three high schools—Caledonia, New Hope, and West Lowndes—fed by similarly named elementary and middle schools.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Columbus has several private schools, including:

• Columbus Christian Academy, formerly Immanuel Christian School (K-3 through 12)
• Heritage Academy (Christian, K-12)
• Annunciation Catholic School (Catholic, K-8)
• Victory Christian Academy (Christian, K-12)
• Palmer Home for Children (orphanage)

Columbus' city newspapers are the daily (except Saturdays) Commercial Dispatch, the weekly (Thursdays) Columbus Packet and the internet-only paper, Real Media (formerly The Real Story). One television station, WCBI-TV 4, the CBS affiliate, is located in the city's historic downtown area; it broadcasts FOX and MyNetworkTV programming on digital subchannels.

Columbus is also served by television stations from the Columbus / Tupelo / West Point DMA. These include NBC affiliate WTVA 9, its DT2 subchannel which is the market's ABC affiliate, and CW affiliate WLOV-TV 27.

Radio Stations include:

• 103.1 Sports Talk/ESPN Radio
• 94.1 Top 40
• 99.9 Rock
• 92.1 Hip-Hop & R&B
• 100.9 Talk Radio (Supertalk Mississippi)
• 93.3 Easy Listening/Top 40
• 104.5 Christian radio/KLOVE

Columbus lies on U.S. Highways 82 and 45. It is also served by state highways 12, 50, 69, and 182. Columbus is the eastern terminus of the Columbus and Greenville Railway; it is also served by the BNSF Railway (on the original right-of-way of the St. Louis - San Francisco Railway), the Norfolk Southern, and the Alabama Southern Railroad (using the original right-of-way of the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad). The local airport is Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The airport currently has three flights a day to Atlanta.

The city is located on the east bank of the Tombigbee River and the associated Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. Columbus Lake, formed by the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam, is approximately two miles north of downtown. The Luxapalila Creek runs through the town, separating East Columbus from Columbus proper (both are within city limits). The Lux, as it is locally known, joins the Tombigbee about three miles south of downtown.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

==Notable people==

{{Div col}}

• Mike Adams (columnist)
• Henry Armstrong, world boxing champion{{cite web | title = Biography | publisher = Henryarmstrong.com | url = http://www.henryarmstrong.net/BIOGRAPHY.html | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090511003744/http://www.henryarmstrong.net/BIOGRAPHY.html | archive-date = 2009-05-11 | url-status = dead }}
• Roy Ayres, pedal steel guitar player{{cite web | title = The Inductees | publisher = The Steel Guitar Hall Of Fame | url = http://www.scottysmusic.com/hofplq.htm | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2018-10-14 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181014214124/http://www.scottysmusic.com/hofplq.htm | url-status = live }}
• Red Barber, sports commentator{{cite web | title = 1978 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Red Barber | publisher = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum | url = http://baseballhall.org/awards/ford-c-frick/red-barber | access-date = 28 November 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131014201416/http://baseballhall.org/awards/ford-c-frick/red-barber | archive-date = 2013-10-14 }}
• William T. S. Barry, congressman from Mississippi{{cite encyclopedia | title = BARRY, William Taylor Sullivan, (1821 - 1868) | dictionary = Biographical Directory of the United States Congress | url = http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000193 | access-date = 28 November 2013 | date = | archive-date = 2014-07-01 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140701141529/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000193 | url-status = live }}
• Homer "Billy" Brewer, professional football player{{cite web | title = Billy Brewer | work = NFL.com | url = http://www.nfl.com/player/billybrewer/2510154/profile | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2013-12-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203204104/http://www.nfl.com/player/billybrewer/2510154/profile | url-status = live }}
• Terry W. Brown, president pro tempore of the Mississippi Senate{{cite web | title = Terry W. Brown | publisher = Mississippi Senate | url = http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/senate/brown.xml | access-date = 28 November 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131023065014/http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/senate/brown.xml | archive-date = 2013-10-23 }}
• Tyson Brummett, professional baseball player{{cite web | title = Tyson Brummett | website = Baseball-Reference.com | url = https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brummty01.shtml | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2017-07-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170707170455/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brummty01.shtml | url-status = live }}
• Corey Cott, actor and singer
• James E. Darnell, biologist{{cite web | title = "Vital Information" - Laureates of the 2002 National Medal of Science | publisher = National Science Foundation | date = Oct 29, 2003 | url = https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=103051 | access-date = April 6, 2018 | archive-date = May 28, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170528072140/https://nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=103051 | url-status = live }}
• Jacob M. Dickinson, U.S. Secretary of War from 1909 to 1911{{cite web | title = Jacob McGavock Dickinson | publisher = U.S. Army Center of Military History | date = March 6, 2001 | url = http://www.history.army.mil/books/Sw-SA/Dickinson.htm | access-date = November 28, 2013 | archive-date = July 1, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140701101317/http://www.history.army.mil/books/Sw-SA/Dickinson.htm | url-status = dead }}
• Doughboy, record producer{{cite web|title=Doughboy Beatz Discography and Songs|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/3274289-Doughboy-Beatz|website=Discogs.com|access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-date=January 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210436/https://www.discogs.com/artist/3274289-Doughboy-Beatz|url-status=live}}
• Elbert Drungo, professional football player{{cite web | title = Elbert Drungo | work = NFL.com | url = http://www.nfl.com/player/elbertdrungo/2513217/profile | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2013-12-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203204024/http://www.nfl.com/player/elbertdrungo/2513217/profile | url-status = live }}
• Ean Evans, bass player for Lynyrd Skynyrd; moved to Columbus{{cite news | title = Ean Evans, Lynyrd Skynyrd Bassist, Dead At 48 | publisher = HuffingtonPost.com | date = May 7, 2009 | url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/07/ean-evans-lynyrd-skynyrd-_n_199193.html | access-date = November 28, 2013 | archive-date = December 9, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131209174939/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/07/ean-evans-lynyrd-skynyrd-_n_199193.html | url-status = live }}
• Leslie Frazier, professional football player and coach{{cite web | title = Leslie Frazier | publisher = Sports Reference | url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/FrazLe0.htm | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2018-04-07 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180407041841/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/FrazLe0.htm | url-status = live }}
• Charles Fredericks, actor{{cite web | title = Charles Fredericks | publisher = Internet Broadway Database | url = http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=41266 | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2013-12-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203051347/http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=41266 | url-status = live }}
• Luther Hackman, professional baseball player{{cite web | title = Luther Hackman | website = Baseball-Reference.com | url = https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hackmlu01.shtml | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2017-10-08 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171008042707/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hackmlu01.shtml | url-status = live }}
• Arthur Cyprian Harper, 26th mayor of Los Angeles{{cite news|title=Arthur C. Harper, Former Los Angeles Mayor, Dies |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=Dec 26, 1948 |url=http://www.ulwaf.com/LA-1900s/SpecialReports/Mayors/MayorHarper.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702014326/http://www.ulwaf.com/LA-1900s/SpecialReports/Mayors/MayorHarper.html |archive-date=2014-07-02 }}
• Robert Ivy, chief executive officer of the American Institute of Architects{{cite web|url=http://www.aia.org/about/structure/AIAB099628?dvid=&recspec=AIAB099628|title=About|website=www.aia.org|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=13 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113131022/http://www.aia.org/about/structure/AIAB099628?dvid=&recspec=AIAB099628|url-status=live}}
• Sam Jethroe, first black baseball player on the Boston Braves roster
• Edward J. C. Kewen, member of California State Legislature and first attorney general of California{{cite web | title = Edward J. C. Kewen, 1st Attorney General | publisher = State of California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General | url = http://oag.ca.gov/history/1kewen | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2013-12-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203052933/http://oag.ca.gov/history/1kewen | url-status = live }}
• Stephen D. Lee, Confederate general, first president of Mississippi State University{{cite web | title = The Stephen D. Lee Home and Museum (c.1847) | publisher = Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau | url = http://columbus-ms.org/?page_id=67 | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131020120504/http://columbus-ms.org/?page_id=67 | archive-date = 2013-10-20 | url-status = usurped }}
• Jasmine Murray, singer, Miss Mississippi 2014{{cite web | last = Watkins | first = Billy | title = A Star in the Making? | publisher = Clarion Ledger | date = Feb 24, 2009 | url = http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090224/NEWS/902240347}}{{cite web|last1=Bradley-Phillips|first1=Terricha|title=Miss Riverland Jasmine Murray crowned Miss Mississippi 2014|url=http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/2014/07/12/jasmine-murray-miss-mississippi/12589209/|website=Hattiesburg American|access-date=1 March 2015|ref=missmiss2014}}
• Passie Fenton Ottley (1868-1940), Chair of the Georgia Library Commission
• Bobby Richards, professional football player{{cite web | title = Bobby Richards | publisher = Sports Reference | url = http://www.nfl.com/player/bobbyrichards/2524091/profile | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2013-12-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203200936/http://www.nfl.com/player/bobbyrichards/2524091/profile | url-status = live }}
• Andre Rush, celebrity chef and veteran{{Cite news|date=2018-11-11|title=Muscle-bound chef has served 4 presidential administrations|url=https://apnews.com/article/55aab620394d42f2aea30cda42d804db|access-date=2021-04-04|publisher=AP NEWS|archive-date=2021-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404155457/https://apnews.com/article/55aab620394d42f2aea30cda42d804db|url-status=live}}
• Jacob H. Sharp, lawyer, newspaperman, politician, and Confederate general; moved to Columbus{{cite web | title = About Columbus | publisher = Cam Club | url = http://thecamclub.org/about-columbus/ | access-date = 28 November 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203035350/http://thecamclub.org/about-columbus/ | archive-date = 2013-12-03 }}
• Jeff Smith, member of Mississippi House of Representatives{{cite web | title = Jeff Smith | publisher = Project Vote Smart | url = http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/3725/jeffrey-smith#.UpbexOL1G5c | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2013-12-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203093919/http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/3725/jeffrey-smith#.UpbexOL1G5c | url-status = live }}
• Ruby Jane Smith, bluegrass fiddler
• Cordella Stevenson, African-American woman who was raped and lynched by a mob of white men in Columbus in 1915{{cite news |title=RAPE, LYNCH NEGRO MOTHER |newspaper=Chicago Defender |date=December 18, 1915}}
• William N. Still Jr., maritime historian
• Jim Thomas, professional football player
• Sedric Toney, professional basketball player{{cite web | title = Sedric Toney | publisher = Sports Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/toneyse01.html | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2017-07-01 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170701221444/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/toneyse01.html | url-status = live }}
• Guy M. Townsend, U.S. Air Force brigadier general, test pilot, and combat veteran{{cite web | title = Brigadier General Guy M. Townsend | publisher = U.S. Air Force | url = https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/105436/brigadier-general-guy-m-townsend/ | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2013-12-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203203055/http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/105436/brigadier-general-guy-m-townsend.aspx | url-status = live }}
• Robert L. Turner, member of Wisconsin State Assembly{{cite web | title = Members of State Legislature | publisher = Wisconsin State Legislature | url = http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/03bb/60-61.pdf | access-date = 28 November 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203060454/http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/03bb/60-61.pdf | archive-date = 2013-12-03 }}
• James R. Williams, lawyer, politician and jurist{{cite web|title=UA Board Approves Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for the Honorable Judge James R. Williams |publisher=University of Akron |url=http://www.uakron.edu/news/articles/uamain_1195.php |access-date=28 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203040948/http://www.uakron.edu/news/articles/uamain_1195.php |archive-date=2013-12-03 }}
• Tennessee Williams, playwright{{cite web | title = Tennessee Williams Welcome Center | publisher = City of Columbus | url = http://www.thecityofcolumbusms.org/primary.asp?t=9&p=66 | access-date = 28 November 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131212210036/http://www.thecityofcolumbusms.org/primary.asp?t=9&p=66 | archive-date = 2013-12-12 }}
• Andrew Wood, musician{{cite web | last = Prato | first = Greg | title = Biography | website = Allmusic | url = http://www.allmusic.com/artist/andrew-wood-mn0001619976 | access-date = 28 November 2013 | archive-date = 2013-11-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131124042045/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/andrew-wood-mn0001619976 | url-status = live }}

{{div col end}}

{{Portal|Mississippi}}

• Eliza Battle
• White's Slough

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{NIE Poster|Columbus (Mississippi)|Columbus, Mississippi}}

• {{Official website|http://www.thecityofcolumbus.ms.gov/Pages/default.aspx}}
• {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Columbus (Mississippi)|display=Columbus, a city and the county-seat of Lowndes county, Mississippi, U.S.A. |short=x}}

{{Lowndes County, Mississippi}}

{{Mississippi}}

{{Mississippi county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Mississippi

Category:Cities in Lowndes County, Mississippi

Category:County seats in Mississippi

Category:Populated places established in 1821

Category:1821 establishments in Mississippi