Florida

Columbia

69,698
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Columbia

Columbia, Florida, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 2,102. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 69,698.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Timucua Mission Raids 1702, Confederate Cavalry Action at Fort White, Lake City FL Skirmishes (Olustee approaches), and 12 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202069,698
201067,531
200056,513
199042,613
198035,399
197025,250
196020,077
195018,216
194016,859
193014,638
192014,290
191017,689
190017,094
189012,877
18809,589
18707,335
18604,646
18504,808
18402,102
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Columbia

Military engagements that took place in Columbia, Florida.

Timucua Mission Raids 1702
1702
Confederate Cavalry Action at Fort White
1864
Lake City FL Skirmishes (Olustee approaches)
1864
Confederate Cavalry Skirmish near White Springs
1864

Historic places in Columbia

National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbia, Florida.

Goodbread-Black Farm Historic District
Lake City
Fort White Public School Historic District
Fort White
Hotel Blanche
Lake City
Columbia County High School
Lake City
Henderson, T. G., House
Lake City
O'Leno State Park
High Springs
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Other counties in Florida

Explore census history and historic records for more Florida counties.

HardeeHendryHernandoHighlandsHillsboroughHolmesIndian RiverJacksonJeffersonLafayetteLakeLeeLeonLevyLibertyMadisonManateeMarionMartinMiami-Dade
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Everything a full report reveals about Columbia County, Florida

This page charts the census history of Columbia County, Florida. 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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Frequently asked about Columbia

When does Columbia first appear in the US census?
Columbia, Florida first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 2,102.
What is the population of Columbia?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Columbia had a recorded population of 69,698.
Were any battles fought in Columbia?
4 documented military engagements took place in Columbia, including Timucua Mission Raids 1702, Confederate Cavalry Action at Fort White, Lake City FL Skirmishes (Olustee approaches).
How many historic places are in Columbia?
12 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Columbia, Florida.
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