Columbia, Louisiana

Columbia is a small town in Louisiana, in the United States. It is the parish seat of Caldwell Parish, which means it is an important center for the area. In 2020, the town had a population of 277 people, making it a quiet and close-knit community. Louisiana is a state known for its rich culture, music, and history, and Columbia is part of this vibrant region.

History

The land that became Columbia was first cleared by Daniel Humphries in 1827. A store was built a few years later, and it became the only settlement between Monroe, Louisiana and the settlements of the Black River. The harbor was a busy port for shipping cotton using steamboats and Packet boats until railroads arrived. In February 1864, Columbia was the site of a small battle during the Civil War. There are also several old plantations in the area.

Geography

Columbia is located east of the center of Caldwell Parish on the southwest bank of the Ouachita River. U.S. Route 165 runs through the middle of town and crosses the river, connecting to Monroe 32 miles north and Alexandria 64 miles south.

The town covers a total area of 0.77 square miles (2.00 km²), with 0.76 square miles (1.96 km²) being land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²), which is about 1.75%, being water, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Demographics

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

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	235		—
1880	210		−10.6%
1890	352		67.6%
1900	382		8.5%
1910	500		30.9%
1920	434		−13.2%
1930	760		75.1%
1940	840		10.5%
1950	920		9.5%
1960	1,021		11.0%
1970	1,000		−2.1%
1980	687		−31.3%
1990	386		−43.8%
2000	477		23.6%
2010	390		−18.2%
2020	277		−29.0%
2024 (est.)	266		−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

Government and infrastructure

Columbia has its own police department named the Columbia Police Department. The larger area is helped by the Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office. For fire safety, there is a local group called the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department. Other volunteer fire teams in the parish also help when needed.

Notable people

Columbia, Louisiana has been home to many well-known people.

Buddy Caldwell was the Attorney General of Louisiana. Graves B. Erskine was a U.S. Marine Corps general. J. D. DeBlieux was a Louisiana State Senator. Pam Kelly was a basketball player who won the Wade Trophy in 1982. Lelon Kenney was a state representative, farmer, and businessman. John J. McKeithen was the governor of Louisiana. W. Fox McKeithen was in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Clay Parker played for the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners. Neil Riser was a state senator. Chet D. Traylor was on the Louisiana Supreme Court.