Columbus, Kansas

History

The first settlement was made at Columbus in 1868. The first post office in Columbus was established in 1869.

Columbus was a railroad junction for the Saint Louis and San Francisco, and the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas railroads. It was named Columbus by A.L. Peters, one of the European-American founders, for his hometown of Columbus, Ohio; the name thus indirectly honors Christopher Columbus, the explorer. Coal, lead and zinc were mined in the region. Columbus had a considerable trade in agricultural products, and its businesses included machine shops, grain elevators, flour mills, a cigar factory, bottle works (soft drinks), a canning factory, and an extensive brick-making plant.

In 1875, Robert A. Long and Victor Bell formed the Long-Bell Lumber Company in Columbus. From one lumberyard, Long-Bell expanded operations and holdings to become one of the largest vertically integrated lumber companies in the United States. In 1956 it was purchased by International Paper.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.42 sqmi, all land.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Columbus has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

| Jan record high F = 77 | Feb record high F = 85 | Mar record high F = 93 | Apr record high F = 97 | May record high F = 98 | Jun record high F = 108 | Jul record high F = 117 | Aug record high F = 115 | Sep record high F = 108 | Oct record high F = 98 | Nov record high F = 85 | Dec record high F = 76 | year record high F = 117

|Jan avg record high F = 66.6 |Feb avg record high F = 70.6 |Mar avg record high F = 78.7 |Apr avg record high F = 83.2 |May avg record high F = 87.6 |Jun avg record high F = 93.1 |Jul avg record high F = 97.8 |Aug avg record high F = 98.7 |Sep avg record high F = 93.5 |Oct avg record high F = 85.5 |Nov avg record high F = 75.7 |Dec avg record high F = 67.5 |year avg record high F = 100.0

|Jan avg record low F = 6.0 |Feb avg record low F = 11.4 |Mar avg record low F = 18.7 |Apr avg record low F = 30.6 |May avg record low F = 41.1 |Jun avg record low F = 54.5 |Jul avg record low F = 60.8 |Aug avg record low F = 57.5 |Sep avg record low F = 44.9 |Oct avg record low F = 31.4 |Nov avg record low F = 21.0 |Dec avg record low F = 11.0 |year avg record low F = 1.6

| Jan record low F = −19 | Feb record low F = −28 | Mar record low F = −17 | Apr record low F = 16 | May record low F = 28 | Jun record low F = 42 | Jul record low F = 45 | Aug record low F = 44 | Sep record low F = 30 | Oct record low F = 15 | Nov record low F = 4 | Dec record low F = −15 | year record low F = −28 | access-date = August 3, 2021}} | access-date = August 3, 2021}}

Demographics

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2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 2,929 people, 1,251 households, and 746 families in Columbus. The racial makeup was 86.79% (2,542) white or European American (84.91% non-Hispanic white), 0.48% (14) black or African-American, 3.11% (91) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.2% (6) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 0.75% (22) from other races, and 8.67% (254) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 3.41% (100) of the population.

Of the 1,251 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18; 40.1% were married couples living together; 34.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 35.2% of households consisted of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 15.2% of the population.

24.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 118.9 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $36,688 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,704) and the median family income was $50,726 (+/- $10,311). Males had a median income of $25,964 (+/- $11,039) versus $30,048 (+/- $11,578) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $26,806 (+/- $8,270). Approximately, 9.7% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under the age of 18 and 22.4% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,312 people, 1,424 households, and 850 families living in the city. The population density was 1368.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,633 housing units at an average density of 674.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 92.9% White, 0.5% African American, 2.7% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 1,424 households, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.3% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 39.1 years. 25% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 19.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.4% male and 53.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,396 people, 1,412 households, and 885 families living in the city. The population density was 1,408.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,610 housing units at an average density of 667.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 94.70% White, 0.32% African American, 1.56% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.77% from other races, and 2.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.03% of the population.

There were 1,412 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 82.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,530, and the median income for a family was $38,136. Males had a median income of $30,541 versus $17,069 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,937. About 12.2% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The community is served by Columbus USD 493 public school district.

Notable people

• Marcellus Boss, fifth Civilian Governor of Guam
• Elizabeth W. Crandall, educator
• Merle Evans, bandleader for Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus
• James Reed Hallowell, politician
• Robert A. Long, lumber baron, developer, investor, newspaper owner, and philanthropist
• Doro Merande, film, stage and television actress
• Kenneth A. Spencer, industrialist
• Norma Terris, singer and actress
• Leland Justin Webb, first Mayor of Columbus, lawyer, served in the Civil War
• Thomas Daniel Winter, U.S. Representative from Kansas, 1939–1947 When you add a name in this section, it's YOUR responsibility to ensure all of the following for each person:

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References

References

1. "Columbus Chamber of Commerce". Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
3. {{GNIS. 485558
4. "Profile of Columbus, Kansas in 2020". United States Census Bureau.
5. Blackmar, Frank Wilson. (1912). "Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc.". Standard Publishing Company.
6. "Kansas Post Offices, 1828-1961 (archived)". Kansas Historical Society.
7. John Rydjord, ''Kansas Place-Names,'' University of Oklahoma Press, 1972, {{ISBN. 0-8061-0994-7
8. ''The Modern Light'', Columbus, August 16, 1951
9. "1904 History of Cherokee County Kansas, Chapter 12".
10. William E. Connelley, ''A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans,'', Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1918
11. "US Gazetteer files 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
12. [http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=47141&cityname=Columbus%2C+Kansas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Columbus, Kansas]
13. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: HOUSEHOLD TYPE".
14. "US Census Bureau, Table DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS".
15. "Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
16. "US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE".
17. "US Census Bureau, Table P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE".
18. "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT".
19. "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)".
20. "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: EARNINGS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2020 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS)".
21. "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS".
22. "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: POVERTY STATUS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS OF FAMILIES".
23. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
24. [https://www.usd493.com/ USD 493]