North Carolina

Columbus

50,623
2020 population
1810
first census record
22
census records

About Columbus

Columbus, North Carolina, first appears in the United States federal census in 1810, when it recorded a population of 3,022. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 50,623.

Its recorded population peaked at 58,098 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 13 percent.

On the ground today, 7 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202050,623
201058,098
200054,749
199049,587
198051,037
197046,937
196048,973
195050,621
194045,663
193037,720
192030,124
191028,020
190021,274
189017,856
188014,439
18708,474
18608,597
18505,909
18403,941
18304,141
18203,912
18103,022
Source

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

Historic places in Columbus

National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbus, North Carolina.

Black Rock Plantation House
Riegelwood
Powell House
Fair Bluff
Lake Waccamaw Depot
Lake Waccamaw
Browse all North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Other counties in North Carolina

Explore census history and historic records for more North Carolina counties.

CabarrusCaldwellCamdenCarteretCaswellCatawbaChathamCherokeeChowanClayClevelandCravenCumberlandCurrituckDareDavidsonDavieDuplinDurhamEdgecombe
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Everything a full report reveals about Columbus County, North Carolina

This page charts the census history of Columbus County, North Carolina. 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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Explore North Carolina records

North Carolinahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from North Carolina›

Frequently asked about Columbus

When does Columbus first appear in the US census?
Columbus, North Carolina first appears in the federal census in 1810, with a recorded population of 3,022.
What is the population of Columbus?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Columbus had a recorded population of 50,623.
When did Columbus's population peak?
Columbus's recorded population peaked at 58,098 in 2010.
How many historic places are in Columbus?
7 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Columbus, North Carolina.
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