City Data

Time zone: Eastern

Area code: 706

County: Muscogee County

Land area: 216 square miles

Altitude: 265 feet above sea level

Derivation of name: from Cristoforo Colombo (Christopher Columbus) or for John Christopher Columbus Hill, first white child born there

Nickname(s) or motto: Fountain City; The South’s Oldest Industrial City

Neighboring cities: Fort Benning, Ga.; Phenix City, Ala.

History: Settled and incorporated as city 1828; port city on Chattahoochee River

Total population (Muscogee): 184,134

Population density: 862.5 per square mile

Projected population growth, by state (projected population change: 1988 through 2020):
24.9% (for Georgia)

Per capita income (for the metropolitan statistical area, or MSA):$22,064

Median household income: $31,349

Voter turnout, by state (average turnout in presidential elections: :
42.4% (for Georgia)

• Click here for the Georgia Republican Party
• Click here for the Georgia Democratic Party

Housing

2003 median new home price (Columbus): 136,050

2003 median home resale price (Columbus): $135,700

2003 median home resale price (Georgia): $115,400

2003 median new home price (Georgia): $128,100

Typical corporate-level home (single-family, four-bedroom, 2-½-bath, 2,200-square-foot dwelling with two-car garage) (as of 1999):

• $158,250 (for Columbus, Ga.)
• $164,766 (for Macon, Ga.)
• $200,375 (for Atlanta)
• $139,000 (for Athens, Ga.)
• $163,300 (for Savannah, Ga.)
• $174,350 (for Dalton, Ga.)

Rent: $648 

Transportation

Types of mass transit available: One airport (Columbus Metro Airport); Metra bus system; bus line; two railroads

Average commute (average round trip commute):

• U.S. average:  49.8 minutes
• Columbus: 38.6 minutes

Economy

Annual cost-of-living index (2001)

• U.S. average: 100.0
• For Atlanta (with index weight for each component shown as percentage):
  --Composite (100% composite index): 103.2
  --Grocery items (16%): 101.9
  --Housing (28%): 109.4
  --Utilities (8%): 93.2
  --Transportation (10%): 101.9
  --Health care (5%): 106.9
  --Miscellaneous goods and services (33%): 100.8

Taxes for Georgia:

• Maximum personal income tax:  6%
• Sales tax:  4%
• Per capita taxes: $3,973
• Per capita tax rate: 14.6

Business

Unemployment -- May 2003 (for Columbus, Ga.): 5.1%

Unemployment rate -- May 2002 (for Columbus, Ga) 5.0%

Unemployment rate -- May 2003 (Georgia): 4.6%

Unemployment rate -- May 2002 (Georgia): 5.0%

Civilians employed: 122,287

Civilians unemployed: 5,639

Total number of minority-owned firms, percent of total: 21.7%

Total number of women-owned firms, percent of total: 26.5%

Projected job growth: 5.4%

Projected income growth, by state (projected per-capita income change: 1988 through 2020):
35.6% (for Georgia)

Columbus is home to one expanding Fortune 500 company:

Source: Fortune magazine. Companies that produce a 10-k are ranked 1 to 500 based on 2001 revenue in their 2002 listing

Health Care

Number of hospitals: Five hospitals 

Number of teaching hospitals: 2

Average daily cost of a community-hospital patient, by state (per $10,000 of per-capita income):
$361 each day (for Georgia)

Life expectancy, by state (average lifetime in years):
72.22 years (for Georgia)

Number of community hospitals (for Georgia): 199

Number of nursing homes (for Georgia): 359

• Click here for more information on child care in Columbus

Crime

Columbus’ annual crime rates per 100,000 people (2003):

• Number of robberies:  236
• Number of rapes:  10
• Number of homicides: 5
• Number of aggravated assaults: 281
• Number of motor-vehicle thefts: 470
• Columbus, Ga., has a Relocation Crime Lab Index of 101, which is a somewhat lower crime rate than the national average

[The Relocation Crime Lab Index gives the city's crime rate relative to the average of nearly 500 total cities nationwide. A value of 100 means that the city is exactly average. A value of 200 means that the city has twice the crime rate as the average city. A value of 50 means that the city has half the crime rate of the average city. Please note that the number of crimes reported has been adjusted to yield a rate per 100,000. (THE RELOCATION CRIME LAB™ is derived by The Homebuyer's Fair from data reported for 2002 by various government, regional and local sources.)]

• ClickPolice Department for the Columbus Division of Police
• ClickFire & Emergency Medical Services Departmentfor the Columbus Division of Fire

Education

Educational facilities: Four colleges; 50 public schools; one technical school; 13 private schools

Total public-school student population: 44,534 students

Median student/teacher ratios in public elementary and secondary schools: 15.8/1

• Click here for more information on public schools in Columbus

Education spending, by state: $7,770,241

High-school dropout rate: 8.2%

Weather

Average temperature in January (daily mean temperature in Fahrenheit degrees): 43 degrees

Average temperature in July (daily mean temperature in Fahrenheit degrees): 88 degrees

Average annual snowfall: 0.5 inches

Seasonal average humidity: 71%

Average number of rainy days each year: 125

Winter temperature range (in Fahrenheit degrees): 35-61 degrees

Spring temperature range (in Fahrenheit degrees): 45-84 degrees

Summer temperature range (in Fahrenheit degrees): 68-92 degrees

Fall temperature range (in Fahrenheit degrees): 45-86 degrees

• Click here for today's weather in Columbus

Columbus, an Olympic venue city, is the site of Georgia's first city and county consolidated government. It is a city on the move. Columbus is a growing, thriving community with more than 275,000 people in its metropolitan statistical area. It is a city where old and new have been brought together with a sense of new city growth and old city charm and love of life.
The Columbus Riverwalk
The city's focus on improving its quality of life can be seen in the new Riverwalk, the new civic auditorium, the new Coca-Cola Space Science Center, the new sidewalks around schools, the renovation and upgrade of the parks, and numerous other projects. The Riverwalk now connects the historic downtown riverfront district with the National Infantry Museum, 11 miles down river. A special softball complex was constructed and used to host the 1996 Olympic Women's Fast-pitch Softball Venue and International Competition. Visitors and new residents are instantly impressed with the quality of life that the people have created for themselves.
History buffs will enjoy seeing many of the city's original homes from the 1800's, which have been preserved in their classic form, in the 30-block Columbus Historic District. Opportunities to enjoy activities like productions at the Springer Opera House, performances by the Columbus Symphony, special events at the Columbus Museum, and many other cultural activities await those interested.
Sports enthusiasts will not lack for activity in Columbus. Activities such as professional hockey with the Columbus Cottonmouths, professional baseball with the Columbus Catfish, Women's Professional Fastpitch Softball Team The Georgia Pride, and special events at nearby Callaway Gardens such as the Steeplechase, PGA Buick Challenge, and the Masters Water Ski Tournament offer year-round spectator enjoyment.
Phenix City, Alabama
Neighboring Fort Benning is Phenix City, Alabama. The city is located on the western banks of the Chattahoochee River and completes the Tri-Community.
Amphitheater
Phenix City is home to many of Fort Benning's civilian and military personnel and is proud to be so close to "The Number One Army Installation."
There are excellent educational opportunities through the local public school systems, area private schools and secondary education at area vocational and technical schools, colleges and universities.
The area is known for its rich history, hospitable people and supportive business climate. Phenix City epitomizes what true Southern hospitality is all about.