Columbia is a town in and the parish seat of Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 277 in 2020.

Geography

Columbia is located just east of the center of Caldwell Parish on the southwest bank of the Ouachita River. U.S. Route 165 passes through the center of town and bridges the river, leading north to Monroe and south to Alexandria.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.75%, is water.

Demographics

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"

|+Columbia racial composition as of 2020

!scope="col"| Race

!scope="col"| Number

!scope="col"| Percentage

|-

!scope="row"| White (non-Hispanic)

| 202

| 72.92%

|-

!scope="row"| Black or African American (non-Hispanic)

| 48

| 17.33%

|-

!scope="row"| Asian

| 2

| 0.72%

|-

!scope="row"| Other/Mixed

| 10

| 3.61%

|-

!scope="row"| Hispanic or Latino

| 15

| 5.42%

|}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 277 people, 152 households, and 107 families residing in the town.

Government and infrastructure

Law enforcement services are provided by the Columbia Police Department and the Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office. Fire protection services are provided by the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department, and by other Volunteer Fire Departments across the parish when needed.

Notable people

  • Buddy Caldwell, Attorney General of Louisiana, elected in 2007
  • Graves B. Erskine, U.S. Marine Corps general; combat officer in World War I
  • J. D. DeBlieux, Louisiana State Senator 1956-1960 & 1964-1976
  • Pam Kelly, basketball player, recipient of the Wade Trophy in 1982
  • Lelon Kenney, Louisiana state representative, farmer, and businessman
  • John J. McKeithen, governor of Louisiana (1964–1972)
  • W. Fox McKeithen, Louisiana House of Representatives, 1984–1988
  • Clay Parker, former pitcher for the New York Yankees & Seattle Mariners
  • Neil Riser, state senator elected in 2007 from the 32nd District
  • Chet D. Traylor, Louisiana Supreme Court, 1997–2009

<gallery class="center" widths="130px">

File:Homeland Federal Savings Bank, Columbia, LA IMG 2694.JPG|Homeland Federal Savings Bank is located off U.S. Highway 165 in Columbia

File:Columbia Hill Cemetery, Columbia, LA IMG 2726.JPG|A portion of the hillside graves at the large but dispersed Columbia Hill Cemetery in Columbia. The cemetery was launched just prior to the American Civil War during a yellow fever epidemic.

File:Riser and Son Funeral Home, Columbia, LA IMG 2696.JPG|Riser and Son Funeral Home in Columbia is owned by State Senator Neil Riser.

File:First United Methodist Church, Columbia, LA IMG 2697.JPG|At this site First United Methodist Church in Columbia dates to 1838. The current building was constructed in 1911. Previously, circuit riders served Caldwell Parish.

File:First Baptist Church, Columbia, LA IMG 2699.JPG|First Baptist Church in Columbia

File:Columbia Heights Baptist Church, Columbia, LA IMG 2680.JPG|Columbia Heights Baptist Church off Highway 165 calls itself "The Lighthouse on the Hill".

</gallery>

References

  • Columbia Progress Community Progress Site for Columbia, LA