Columbia, Louisiana

History

The land that became Columbia was first cleared by Daniel Humphries in 1827. A store was built a few years later the only settlement between Monroe, Louisiana, and the settlements of the Black River was formed. The harbor became a busy port for shipping cotton by steamboats and Packet boats until the arrival of the railroad. In February 1864 Columbia was the location of a skirmish between Federal and Confederate troops during the Civil War and there are several plantations in the area.

Geography

Columbia is located just east of the center of Caldwell Parish on the southwest bank of the Ouachita River. U.S. Route 165 passes through the center of town and bridges the river, leading north 32 mi to Monroe and south 64 mi to Alexandria.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.00 km2, of which 1.96 km2 is land and 0.03 sqkm, or 1.75%, is water.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 277 people, 152 households, and 107 families residing in the town.

Government and infrastructure

Law enforcement services are provided by the Columbia Police Department and the Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office. Fire protection services are provided by the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department, and by other Volunteer Fire Departments across the parish when needed.

Notable people

• Buddy Caldwell, Attorney General of Louisiana, elected in 2007
• Graves B. Erskine, U.S. Marine Corps general; combat officer in World War I
• J. D. DeBlieux, Louisiana State Senator 1956-1960 & 1964-1976
• Pam Kelly, basketball player, recipient of the Wade Trophy in 1982
• Lelon Kenney, Louisiana state representative, farmer, and businessman
• John J. McKeithen, governor of Louisiana (1964–1972)
• W. Fox McKeithen, Louisiana House of Representatives, 1984–1988
• Clay Parker, former pitcher for the New York Yankees & Seattle Mariners
• Neil Riser, state senator elected in 2007 from the 32nd District
• Chet D. Traylor, Louisiana Supreme Court, 1997–2009

Gallery

File:Homeland Federal Savings Bank, Columbia, LA IMG 2694.JPG|Homeland Federal Savings Bank is located off U.S. Highway 165 in Columbia File:Columbia Hill Cemetery, Columbia, LA IMG 2726.JPG|A portion of the hillside graves at the large but dispersed Columbia Hill Cemetery in Columbia. The cemetery was launched just prior to the American Civil War during a yellow fever epidemic. File:Riser and Son Funeral Home, Columbia, LA IMG 2696.JPG|Riser and Son Funeral Home in Columbia is owned by State Senator Neil Riser. File:First United Methodist Church, Columbia, LA IMG 2697.JPG|At this site First United Methodist Church in Columbia dates to 1838. The current building was constructed in 1911. Previously, circuit riders served Caldwell Parish. File:First Baptist Church, Columbia, LA IMG 2699.JPG|First Baptist Church in Columbia File:Columbia Heights Baptist Church, Columbia, LA IMG 2680.JPG|Columbia Heights Baptist Church off Highway 165 calls itself "The Lighthouse on the Hill".

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. {{GNIS. 2406299
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZV3pCAAAQBAJ&dq=Lincecum+Lake%2C+Louisiana&pg=PT528 Google books: ''The WPA Guide to Louisiana: The Pelican State''; "Columbia"]- Retrieved March 11, 2017
5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Columbia town, Louisiana". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder.
6. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
8. "Explore Census Data".
9. "Town of Columbia".
10. "Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office".
11. "Fire Departments - Caldwell Parish, LA (Fire Stations & Marshals)".
12. (June 21, 2019). "Fire Services {{!}} Caldwell Parish, Louisiana".