Columbia, Kentucky
Encyclopedia
Columbia is a city in Adair County
, Kentucky
, United States
, just above Russell Creek. The area was settled around 1802 by Daniel Trabue. The post office was opened on April 1, 1806 by John Field
, who also ran a local store. The population was 4,014 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Adair County
. For the origin of the name see Columbia.
The Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway runs through Columbia as it extends from Bowling Green, KY to Somerset, KY. This Parkway is a future Corridor of Interstate 66
. The addition of an interchange with a 2006 reconstruction of Highway 61 South, Columbia now has two exits on the Parkway.
Exit 49, the original exit on the parkway, merges onto Highway 55 South (also known as Jamestown Street) bringing drivers through the middle of Columbia.
Exit 47, the new exit, merges onto Highway 61 South (also known as Burkesville Street/Road) and drivers can choose to go north and visit the new Holladay Place Shopping Center, home of Columbia's Super Wal-Mart or go to Burkesville
to the south.
The Highway 55 Bypass was officially opened on October 7, 2008, for more information see below.
Columbia is also the home of Lindsey Wilson College
, a private four year college.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), all land. Official revisions have been made to the total area of the city as at least eight annexations have occurred since November 4, 2004.
of 2000, there were 4,014 people, 1,554 households, and 893 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,167.9 people per square mile (450.5/km²). There were 1,789 housing units at an average density of 520.5 per square mile (200.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.38% White, 7.37% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races
, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.02% of the population.
There were 1,554 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples
living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.0% under the age of 18, 19.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,861, and the median income for a family was $31,344. Males had a median income of $23,906 versus $21,000 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,836. About 19.9% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.4% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.
The higher education presence is Lindsey Wilson College
.
finally made construction of the Columbia Bypass a reality. Construction began early in May 2007, which culminated in an official ground breaking ceremony by the former Governor himself on May 15, 2007 http://www.columbiamagazine.com/photoarchive.php?photo_id=23914 near the front of the newly constructed Adair County Elementary School, which faces the direction of the bypass.
The Columbia Bypass was opened to the public on October 7, 2008 featuring a traffic light at the intersection of the bypass and North 55 as well as a traffic light at the intersection of South 61. The bypass has relieved a majority of the downtown traffic, the purpose of it being built in the first place.
starring Wilford Brimley
in 2002. The film was directed by another Columbia native, Matthew Eric Arnold as part of the USC School of Cinematic Arts
graduate thesis program and won awards at the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival. The filming was featured on local news stations and in USA Today
.
Adair County, Kentucky
Adair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population is 18,656. Its county seat is Columbia, Kentucky. The county is named for John Adair, then Speaker of the House in Kentucky and later Governor of Kentucky ....
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, just above Russell Creek. The area was settled around 1802 by Daniel Trabue. The post office was opened on April 1, 1806 by John Field
John Field
John Field is the name of:*John Field , an Australian Army officer*John Field , 19th century Irish composer*John Field , 20th Century British dancer of the Royal Ballet*John Field , 16th century British Puritan...
, who also ran a local store. The population was 4,014 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Adair County
Adair County, Kentucky
Adair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population is 18,656. Its county seat is Columbia, Kentucky. The county is named for John Adair, then Speaker of the House in Kentucky and later Governor of Kentucky ....
. For the origin of the name see Columbia.
The Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway runs through Columbia as it extends from Bowling Green, KY to Somerset, KY. This Parkway is a future Corridor of Interstate 66
Interstate 66 (west)
The U.S. Department of Transportation had plans to extend Interstate 66 westward across the country to California. However, Interstate 66 west of Wichita, Kansas, has been postponed, with the Nevada and California sections cancelled...
. The addition of an interchange with a 2006 reconstruction of Highway 61 South, Columbia now has two exits on the Parkway.
Exit 49, the original exit on the parkway, merges onto Highway 55 South (also known as Jamestown Street) bringing drivers through the middle of Columbia.
Exit 47, the new exit, merges onto Highway 61 South (also known as Burkesville Street/Road) and drivers can choose to go north and visit the new Holladay Place Shopping Center, home of Columbia's Super Wal-Mart or go to Burkesville
Burkesville, Kentucky
Burkesville is a city in Cumberland County, Kentucky, United States. Nestled among the rolling foothills of Appalachia and bordered by the Cumberland River to the south and east, it is the county seat of Cumberland County...
to the south.
The Highway 55 Bypass was officially opened on October 7, 2008, for more information see below.
Columbia is also the home of Lindsey Wilson College
Lindsey Wilson College
Lindsey Wilson College is a private four-year college affiliated with the United Methodist Church in an open ecumenical atmosphere. The 45 acre campus is located in Columbia, Kentucky. The school currently offers associate degrees in 11 areas of study, bachelor degrees in 20 areas of study and...
, a private four year college.
Geography
Columbia is located at 37°6′2"N 85°18′22"W (37.100652, -85.306056).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), all land. Official revisions have been made to the total area of the city as at least eight annexations have occurred since November 4, 2004.
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 4,014 people, 1,554 households, and 893 families residing in the city. 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 1,167.9 people per square mile (450.5/km²). There were 1,789 housing units at an average density of 520.5 per square mile (200.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.38% White, 7.37% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% 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 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.02% of the population.
There were 1,554 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% 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, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.0% under the age of 18, 19.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,861, and the median income for a family was $31,344. Males had a median income of $23,906 versus $21,000 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 city was $17,836. About 19.9% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.4% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Schools in Columbia include:- Adair County Elementary School (Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th Grade Students from County)
- Colonel William Casey School ( Pre-school, Kindergarten, 1st,& 2nd Grade Students from City)
- John Adair Intermediate School (3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Students from City)
- Adair County Middle School (7th, & 8th Grade Students)
- Adair County High SchoolAdair County High School (Kentucky)Adair County High School is a U.S. high school in the small town of Columbia, Adair County, Kentucky. It is the county's only high school.In 2005, the school had some 746 students and 45 teachers, and was eligible for Title One support...
(9th-12 Grade Students)
The higher education presence is Lindsey Wilson College
Lindsey Wilson College
Lindsey Wilson College is a private four-year college affiliated with the United Methodist Church in an open ecumenical atmosphere. The 45 acre campus is located in Columbia, Kentucky. The school currently offers associate degrees in 11 areas of study, bachelor degrees in 20 areas of study and...
.
Events
Events held in Columbia, Kentucky:- Downtown Days, two-day festival on the streets of downtown Columbia. The event includes a parade, a beauty pageant, reenactment of the James/Younger Bank of Columbia robbery, 5-K run, pet show, train rides for the kids, kids carnival, face painting, inflatables, live entertainment, food, fun, clowns, choirs, and more.
Media
Media in Columbia, KY, include:- The Adair Progress, a local 2x weekly newspaper
- WHVE, a contemporary radio station
- WAIN, a country radio station
- Adair County Community Voice, a local once weekly newspaper complete with Public Records information
- Columbia Magazine, an online-only magazine updated daily with local news and history.
Columbia Bypass
After years of promises by various Governors and other Kentucky Officials, Governor Ernie FletcherErnie Fletcher
Ernest Lee "Ernie" Fletcher is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. In 1999, he was elected to the first of three consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives; he resigned in 2003 after being elected the 60th governor of Kentucky and served in that office...
finally made construction of the Columbia Bypass a reality. Construction began early in May 2007, which culminated in an official ground breaking ceremony by the former Governor himself on May 15, 2007 http://www.columbiamagazine.com/photoarchive.php?photo_id=23914 near the front of the newly constructed Adair County Elementary School, which faces the direction of the bypass.
The Columbia Bypass was opened to the public on October 7, 2008 featuring a traffic light at the intersection of the bypass and North 55 as well as a traffic light at the intersection of South 61. The bypass has relieved a majority of the downtown traffic, the purpose of it being built in the first place.
Notable residents
- Damon E. AllenDamon E. AllenDamon Earl Allen, Sr., was an optometrist from Campbellsville in central Kentucky, who as a three-term president of the Kentucky Optometric Association led the campaign to procure passage in the Kentucky State Legislature of a bill permitting optometrists to prescribe medication for their...
- Columbia optometrist who led the move to permit optometrists to prescribe medication to their patients - Ben Arnold - inventor of the Phantom, a medical bone density measurement device used in diagnosis of osteoporosisOsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density is reduced, bone microarchitecture is deteriorating, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered...
- Elizabeth Arnold - Miss Kentucky (2002)
- Steve HamiltonSteve HamiltonSteven Absher Hamilton was a Major League Baseball and NBA player....
- Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher (1935-1997) - Vernie McGahaVernie McGahaVernie D. McGaha is an American politician and state senator from Kentucky's south central 15th district, which includes the counties of Adair, Casey, Pulaski, and Russell.-Biography:...
- Kentucky state senator from Adair County since 1997 - Marine Sergeant Dakota MeyerDakota MeyerDakota L. Meyer is a United States Marine Corps veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganjgal on September 8, 2009, part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kunar province, Afghanistan...
- In September 2011, he received the Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
from President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
at age 23; he saved numerous American and Afghan troops during a Taliban ambush and is the third living recipient of the honor (and first living Marine) from the Iraq and Afghan wars - Doug MoseleyDoug MoseleyDouglas Dewayne Moseley, known as Doug Moseley , is a retired United Methodist minister and author who served as a Republican member of the Kentucky State Senate from 1974 to 1986...
- United Methodist clergyClergyClergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
man and a member of the Kentucky State Senate from 1974–1987; former Columbia resident - Frank Lane Wolford - U.S. Congressman (1883–1887)
Popular culture
Columbia, Kentucky was depicted in the film Resurrection MaryResurrection Mary
Resurrection Mary is a well-know Chicago area ghost story. Of the "vanishing hitchhiker" type, the story takes place outside Resurrection Cemetery in Justice, Illinois, a few miles southwest of Chicago....
starring Wilford Brimley
Wilford Brimley
Allen Wilford Brimley is an American actor. He has appeared in such films as The China Syndrome, Cocoon, The Thing and The Firm. He had a recurring role on the 1970s television series The Waltons...
in 2002. The film was directed by another Columbia native, Matthew Eric Arnold as part of the USC School of Cinematic Arts
USC School of Cinematic Arts
The USC School of Cinematic Arts, until 2006 named the School of Cinema-Television , is a film school within the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. It is the oldest and largest such school in the United States, established in 1929 as a joint venture with the Academy of...
graduate thesis program and won awards at the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival. The filming was featured on local news stations and in USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
.
