Columbia, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Columbia is a town
in Tolland County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 4,971 at the 2000 census. Columbia was incorporated in May, 1804, from Lebanon
. Columbia offers prekindergarten through 8th grade education in town at Horace W. Porter School, while high school students have a choice of attending four nearby high schools (Bolton High School
, E. O. Smith High School, Windham High School and Windham Technical High School, part of the Connecticut Technical High School System
).
, the town has a total area of 22 square miles (57 km²), of which, 21.4 square miles (55.4 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (2.78%) is water.
of 2000, there were 4,971 people, 1,864 households, and 1,463 families residing in the town. The population density
was 232.8 people per square mile (89.9/km²). There were 1,988 housing units at an average density of 93.1 per square mile (35.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.43% White, 0.38% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races
, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.
There were 1,864 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% were married couples
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $70,208, and the median income for a family was $77,665. Males had a median income of $51,250 versus $37,685 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $29,446. About 1.8% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Tolland County
Tolland County, Connecticut
Tolland County is a county located in the northeastern part of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 152,691.Counties in Connecticut have no governmental function: all legal power is vested in the state, city, and town governments...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,971 at the 2000 census. Columbia was incorporated in May, 1804, from Lebanon
Lebanon, Connecticut
Lebanon is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,907 at the 2000 census. The town lies just to the northwest of Norwich, north of New London, and east of Hartford...
. Columbia offers prekindergarten through 8th grade education in town at Horace W. Porter School, while high school students have a choice of attending four nearby high schools (Bolton High School
Bolton High School (Connecticut)
Bolton High School is a public high school located at 72 Brandy Street, Bolton, Connecticut. Bolton participates in the North Central Connecticut Conference for athletics, and competes as a Class "S" school. Bolton High School accepted students from nearby Willington, Connecticut, until that...
, E. O. Smith High School, Windham High School and Windham Technical High School, part of the Connecticut Technical High School System
Connecticut Technical High School System
The state of Connecticut funds and operates the Connecticut Technical High School System , a statewide system of 16 degree-granting technical high schools and one technical education center, serving approximately 10,200 full-time high school students with comprehensive education and training in 38...
).
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 22 square miles (57 km²), of which, 21.4 square miles (55.4 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (2.78%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,971 people, 1,864 households, and 1,463 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 232.8 people per square mile (89.9/km²). There were 1,988 housing units at an average density of 93.1 per square mile (35.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.43% White, 0.38% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.
There were 1,864 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $70,208, and the median income for a family was $77,665. Males had a median income of $51,250 versus $37,685 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $29,446. About 1.8% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active Voters | Inactive Voters | Total Voters | Percentage |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
1,113 | 65 | 1,178 | 31.68% |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
765 | 32 | 797 | 21.44% |
Unaffiliated | 1,616 | 125 | 1,741 | 46.83% |
Minor Parties | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.05% | |
| Total | 3,496 | 222 | 3,718 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Notable residents past and present
- Anthony GregorcAnthony GregorcAnthony F. Gregorc is best known for his theory of aMind Styles Model and its associatedStyle Delineator.-Career:Gregorc obtained a B.S. degree from Miami University and an M.S. degree and a Ph.D. degree from Kent State University. He has taught mathematics and biology and has been principal of a...
, psychologist. Currently resides in Columbia. - Dwight LoomisDwight LoomisDwight Loomis was a United States Representative from Connecticut. He was born in Columbia, Connecticut where he attended the common schools. He also attended the academies in Monson, Massachusetts and Amherst, Massachusetts. He taught school and was also graduated from the law department of Yale...
(1821–1903), US Congressman and Connecticut Supreme CourtConnecticut Supreme CourtThe Connecticut Supreme Court, formerly known as the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, is the highest court in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. The seven justices sit in Hartford, across the street from the Connecticut State Capitol...
judge.