Wisconsin

Columbia

58,490
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Columbia

Columbia, Wisconsin, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 9,565. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 58,490.

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

On the ground today, 59 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202058,490
201056,833
200052,468
199045,088
198043,222
197040,150
196036,708
195034,023
194032,517
193030,503
192030,468
191031,129
190031,121
189028,350
188028,065
187028,802
186024,441
18509,565
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, Wisconsin.

Fort Winnebago Surgeon's Quarters
Portage
Kurth, John H., and Company Office Building
Columbus
Bennett, H. H., Studio
Wisconsin Dells
Wawbeek-Horace A.J. Upham House
Wisconsin Dells
Old Indian Agency House
Portage
Prairie Street Historic District
Columbus
Columbus Public Library
Columbus
Portage Retail Historic District
Portage
Kilbourn Public Library
Wisconsin Dells
Merrimac Ferry
Merrimac
Nashold 20-sided Barn
Fall River
Durward's Glen
Merrimac
Farnham, Fred and Lucia, House
Columbus
Cox, Angie Williams, Library
Pardeeville
Holsten Family Farmstead
Columbia
Columbus Downtown Historic District
Columbus
Bellmont Hotel
Pardeeville
Portage Street Historic District
Lodi
Columbus Post Office
Columbus
Lewis, Frank T. and Polly, House
Lodi
Chadbourn, F. A., House
Columbus
Bowman House
Wisconsin Dells
Pardeeville Presbyterian Church
Pardeeville
Columbus Fireman's Park Complex
Columbus
Browse all Wisconsinhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Wisconsin

Explore census history and historic records for more Wisconsin counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Columbia County, Wisconsin

This page charts the census history of Columbia County, Wisconsin. 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, Wisconsin first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 9,565.
What is the population of Columbia?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Columbia had a recorded population of 58,490.
How many historic places are in Columbia?
59 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Columbia, Wisconsin.
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