Arkansas

Columbia

22,801

2020 population

1860

first census record

census records

About Columbia

Columbia, Arkansas, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 12,449. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 22,801.

Its recorded population peaked at 29,822 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 24 percent.

On the ground today, 24 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	22,801
2010	24,552
2000	25,603
1990	25,691
1980	26,644
1970	25,952
1960	26,400
1950	28,770
1940	29,822
1930	27,320
1920	27,670
1910	23,820
1900	22,077
1890	19,893
1880	14,090
1870	11,397
1860	12,449

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Columbia

National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbia, Arkansas.

Longino, Dr. H. A., House

Magnolia

Couch-Marshall House

Magnolia

Couch, Harvey C., School

Calhoun

Columbia County Courthouse

Magnolia Commercial Historic District

Magnolia

Greek Amphitheatre

Magnolia

Cross and Nelson Hall Historic District

Magnolia

Magnolia Colored School Historic District

Magnolia

Dolph Camp, Bussey and Peace Halls Historic District

Magnolia

Ozmer House

Magnolia

Smith, William H., House

Browse all Arkansashistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Columbia County, Arkansas

This page charts the census history of Columbia County, Arkansas. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Arkansashistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Military engagements ›Notable people from Arkansas›

Frequently asked about Columbia

When does Columbia first appear in the US census?

Columbia, Arkansas first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 12,449.

What is the population of Columbia?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Columbia had a recorded population of 22,801.

When did Columbia's population peak?

Columbia's recorded population peaked at 29,822 in 1940.

How many historic places are in Columbia?

24 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Columbia, Arkansas.

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