Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Colorado County in southeastern Texas, United States. Its population was 3,699 as of the 2020 census. It is located on the Colorado River. The Colorado County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A Santa Claus museum is located in Columbus.

History

thumb|Abram Alley Log Cabin (1830s), now used also as Tool Museum in Columbus

thumb|Park commemorating Benjamin Beason's ferry and where Sam Houston camped during his retreat to San Jacinto where he defeated the Mexican Army

The first American settlers arrived in 1821 on what is known as the legendary site of Montezuma's Indian village. In 1822, the Mexican government issued land grants to members of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred, who included Benjamin Beason (originally spelled "Beeson") and Abram Alley. Alley's 1830s log cabin has been preserved in Columbus and is used as a tool museum. Beason arrived in 1821, received his land grant in 1822, and settled along the Colorado River with his wife Elizabeth "Betsy" and family. By late December 1821, colonists Robert H. Kuykendall, with his brother Joseph and Daniel Gilleland, arrived in the area of present-day Columbus. In 1822, Benjamin Beason began operating a ferry across the Colorado River, and the settlement became known as Beason's Ferry or Beason's Crossing. Beason also established a gristmill, gin, and sawmill; his wife operated a boarding house.

Beason's Crossing became part of Austin's San Felipe colony in 1822, when the colony was divided into two districts by the Mexican governor José F. Trespalacios. The Mexican government granted the rights to establish a town, and the locals elected town officials. John J. Tumlinson Sr., was elected alcalde, with Robert Kuykendall captain and Moses Morrison lieutenant. Tumlinson's land adjoined Beason's; together, they made up much of the site of present-day Columbus. Tumlinson was killed by Native Americans in 1823. In 1834, after the Tumlinson children inherited the estate, they sold land to William Dewees, who was married to Beason's daughter, Lydia. Dewees' land grant was near the site of present-day Glidden, Texas.

By 1836, Beason's Ferry Crossing was home to over 25 families. During the fight for Texas independence, Sam Houston and his men camped along the banks of the Colorado River near Beason's Crossing. Following the Battle of the Alamo, Santa Anna's army headed for San Jacinto, and Houston ordered that Beason's Crossing be burned during the Runaway Scrape.

Columbus was established by European Americans in 1837 after Texas achieved independence from Mexico.

Demographics

In 1890, 2,199 people lived in Columbus. In 1900, the population declined to 1,824 residents.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Columbus had a population of 3,699. The median age was 41.6 years; 21.7% of residents were under 18 and 24.3% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males, and for every 100 females 18 and over, there were 93.6 males 18 and over. None of the residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

Of the 1,446 households in Columbus, 30.8% had children under 18 living in them, 42.1% were married-couple households, 20.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 2,138 || 57.8%

|-

| Black or African American || 643 || 17.4%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 17 || 0.5%

|-

| Asian || 40 || 1.1%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0%

|-

| Some other race || 427 || 11.5%

|-

| Two or more races || 434 || 11.7%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 1,066 || 28.8%

|}

thumb|Old Stafford Opera House – Columbus, Texas

thumb|upright|War Memorial Museum – Colorado County, Texas

200px|right|thumb|[[Colorado River (Texas)|Colorado River in Beason's Park in Columbus]]

2000 census

At the 2000 census,

Education

The city is served by the Columbus Independent School District, which includes:

  • Columbus High School (grades 9–12)
  • Columbus Junior High (grades 6–8)
  • Columbus Elementary (prekindergarten - grade 5)

The Columbus Cardinal mascot was named by James Harbert Wooten, Jr., MD.

Also in Columbus are Saint Anthony Catholic School, a Catholic school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Texas serving students in prekindergarten through grade eight, and the Texas Bible Institute, a branch of Burchfield Ministries International.

The designated community college for Columbus ISD is Wharton County Junior College.

Infrastructure

Highways

Notable people

<!--please keep in alphabetical order; only add persons with existing WP articles and documented connection to the city-->

  • Donna Campbell, former resident; member of the Texas Senate and an emergency room physician in New Braunfels

<!-- * William D. Lacey - a signatory of the Texas Declaration of Independence -->* Tanya McQueen, interior designer for the TV reality show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

  • Doug Rau, former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers and California Angels
  • Aaron Schobel, National Football League (NFL) defensive end with the Buffalo Bills
  • Bo Schobel, defensive end with the Arizona Cardinals
  • Matt Schobel, tight end with the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles
  • Hal Smith, former MLB catcher and third baseman during 1955–1964
  • James Truchard, co-founder of National Instruments
  • LaAdrian Waddle, NFL player for the New England Patriots
  • Dane Myers, MLB player for the Miami Marlins

See also

  • List of museums in East Texas
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Colorado County, Texas

References

  • City of Columbus official website
  • Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Columbus Independent School District