Columbus is a city in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 4,159 at the 2020 census.
History
The city was known as Columbus Township until September 21, 2006, when it was incorporated as the city of Columbus, in response to concerns that the adjacent city of Forest Lake was planning to annex portions of the township.
Mel Mettler, the first mayor of Columbus, was reelected in 2008. Ron Hanegraaf was elected mayor in 2024.
Running Aces Harness Park, a 5/8 mile harness horse racing track, opened in Columbus in April 2008.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water.
Anoka County Roads 18, 19, 23, 54, and 62 are the main routes in the community. Interstate 35 splits into Interstates 35E and 35W within the southeast corner of Columbus. The junction is commonly known as the Forest Lake Split, after the city to the immediate east.
Rice Creek flows through Columbus. Carlos Avery Wildlife Area is in the north-central and west-central parts of the city.
Nearby places include Forest Lake, Lino Lakes, Ham Lake, East Bethel, and Wyoming.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Columbus had a population of 4,159. The median age was 46.6 years. 19.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 105.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 105.4 males age 18 and over.
There were 1,553 households in Columbus, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 66.5% were married-couple households, 14.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 12.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 3,914 people, 1,416 households, and 1,119 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 1,464 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 93.6% White, 0.7% African American, 0.6% Native American, 3.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.
There were 1,416 households, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.1% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 21.0% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.08.
The median age in the city was 45.3 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 39.6% were from 45 to 64; and 11.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.9% male and 48.1% female.
2000 census
As of the census