Columbia in Houston County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Columbia, Alabama

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 1, 2014

1. Columbia, Alabama Marker

Inscription. Founded in 1820, Columbia was originally located about a mile south, near where the Omussee Creek flows into the Chattahoochee River. It served as the county seat of Henry County from 1826 to 1833. Bordering the State of Georgia and the Chattahoochee River, Columbia was a major port-of-call for steamboats and was known to many as “Old Columbia.” The town was incorporated in 1880 and was the center of education, culture, commerce, and trade. Located in the southeast corner of Alabama, Columbia was the largest town in the area during the 19th century and remains one of the area’s oldest continuously operating municipalities. When the railroad came in 1889, Columbia’s river trade diminished; however, Columbia sustained itself as a thriving farming community through the mid-20th century. Columbia received its first cotton textile mill in 1891 and its first electric plant in 1892. A branch of the Henry County Courthouse was located here from 1889 until Columbia became part of Houston County in 1903. Columbia got electric street lights in 1900 and its first electric utility company in 1914.

Erected 2010 by the

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Alabama Tourism Department and the Town of Columbia.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Tourism Department series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.

Location. 31° 17.562′ N, 85° 6.704′ W. Marker is in Columbia, Alabama, in Houston County. It is at the intersection of South Main Street and West Church Street (Alabama Route 52), on the right when traveling south on South Main Street. Located at southwest corner of intersection in a small park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: South Main Street, Columbia AL 36319, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Wiregrass.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 1, 2014

2. Marker area

Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Columbia Elementary School Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Columbia Jail / Columbia (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Columbia Baptist Church (about 600 feet away); Columbia Methodist Episcopal Church, South (about 600 feet away); Columbia Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Purcell - Killingsworth House (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Chacato People (approx. 1.2 miles away); Omussee Creek Mound and Mississippian Period Societies (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.

Also see . . . Columbia, Alabama - Historic Sites & Points of Interest. (Submitted on May 2, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Previous buildings located here. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 1, 2014

3. Previous buildings located here.

Marker inside this park. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 1, 2014

4. Marker inside this park.

Columbia Historical Society across street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 1, 2014

5. Columbia Historical Society across street.

Columbia Volunteer Fire/Rescue down the street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, May 1, 2014

6. Columbia Volunteer Fire/Rescue down the street.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 2, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,722 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 2, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.