Columbus, Texas
Encyclopedia
Columbus is a city in Colorado County, Texas
, United States
, 74 miles (119.1 km) west of Houston
along Interstate 10
, on the Colorado River
. In 1890, 2,199 people lived in Columbus, Texas; in 1900, there were 1,824 residents. The population was 3,916 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Colorado County. The town's motto is "City of Live Oaks and Live Folks."
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²), all land.
Columbus would become part of Austin's colony
in 1822, when the colony was divided into two districts by Mexican governor José F. Trespalacios. The Mexican government granted the rights to establish a town and locals elected town officials. John J. Tumlinson, Sr. was elected alcalde, with Robert Kuykendall captain and Moses Morrison lieutenant. Later in 1834, after the Tumlinson children inherited the estate, they would sell land to William Dewee, where upon it became known as DeWees crossing. In 1835 it was officially renamed Columbus, in honor of residents from Columbus, Ohio.
By 1836, Columbus was home to over twenty-five families. William D. Lacey, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
, hailed from Columbus. During the Runaway Scrape
, Sam Houston camped at Columbus and burned the town, as he departed for San Jacinto. After the return of the population to Columbus, the Dewees would give land for a new school and courthouse. By 1837, the town had been reestablished with two public houses, two stores, and half a dozen small dwellings.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 3,916 people, 1,497 households, and 946 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1387.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,750 housing units at an average density of 620.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 66.55% White, 19.94% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 10.52% from other races
, and 2.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.62% of the population.
There were 1,497 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples
living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,175, and the median income for a family was $40,197. Males had a median income of $30,104 versus $19,077 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,822. About 15.5% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.
.
The district includes:
Also in Columbus are Saint Anthony School, a Catholic school
serving students in grades pre-kindergarten through eight, and Texas Bible Institute, a branch of Burchfield Ministries International.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 74 miles (119.1 km) west of Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
along Interstate 10
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
, on the Colorado River
Colorado River (Texas)
The Colorado River is a river that runs through the U.S. state of Texas; it should not be confused with the much longer Colorado River which flows from Colorado into the Gulf of California....
. In 1890, 2,199 people lived in Columbus, Texas; in 1900, there were 1,824 residents. The population was 3,916 as of 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 Colorado County. The town's motto is "City of Live Oaks and Live Folks."
Geography
Columbus is located at 29°42′21"N 96°32′46"W (29.705822, -96.546223).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 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²), all land.
History
Columbus was established in 1821, on the legendary site of Montezuma's Indian village by members of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred. By late December, colonist's Robert H. Kuykendall with his brother Joseph, and Daniel Gilleland had arrived in the area of Columbus. In 1822, settler Benjamin Beason began operating a ferry across the Colorado River known as Beason's Ferry.Columbus would become part of Austin's colony
San Felipe, Texas
San Felipe, also known as San Felipe de Austin, is a town in Austin County, Texas, United States. The town was the social, economic, and political center of the early Stephen F. Austin colony. The population was 868 at the 2000 census.-History:...
in 1822, when the colony was divided into two districts by Mexican governor José F. Trespalacios. The Mexican government granted the rights to establish a town and locals elected town officials. John J. Tumlinson, Sr. was elected alcalde, with Robert Kuykendall captain and Moses Morrison lieutenant. Later in 1834, after the Tumlinson children inherited the estate, they would sell land to William Dewee, where upon it became known as DeWees crossing. In 1835 it was officially renamed Columbus, in honor of residents from Columbus, Ohio.
By 1836, Columbus was home to over twenty-five families. William D. Lacey, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
Texas Declaration of Independence
The Texas Declaration of Independence was the formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico in the Texas Revolution. It was adopted at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836, and formally signed the following day after errors were noted in the...
, hailed from Columbus. During the Runaway Scrape
Runaway Scrape
The Runaway Scrape was the name given to the flight and subsequent hostilities that occurred, as Texan, Tejano, and American settlers and militia encountered the pursuing Mexican army in early 1836....
, Sam Houston camped at Columbus and burned the town, as he departed for San Jacinto. After the return of the population to Columbus, the Dewees would give land for a new school and courthouse. By 1837, the town had been reestablished with two public houses, two stores, and half a dozen small dwellings.
Demographics
Census
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 3,916 people, 1,497 households, and 946 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 1387.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,750 housing units at an average density of 620.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 66.55% White, 19.94% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 10.52% 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 2.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.62% of the population.
There were 1,497 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% 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, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,175, and the median income for a family was $40,197. Males had a median income of $30,104 versus $19,077 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 $15,822. About 15.5% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.
Notable People from Columbus
- Tanya McQueenTanya McQueenTanya McQueen is an American television personality and interior designer on TV's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. She made her debut on Extreme Makeover in an October 2005 episode titled, "The Teas Family"...
- Interior designer for Extreme Makeover: Home EditionExtreme Makeover: Home EditionExtreme Makeover: Home Edition is a reality television series providing home renovations for less fortunate families and community schools etc... - Doug RauDoug RauDouglas James Rau , is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1972-1981...
- Former 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...
pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming... - Aaron SchobelAaron SchobelAaron Ross Schobel is a retired American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft and played his entire career for the Bills, retiring before the 2010 season. He played collegiately at Texas Christian University .-High school...
- NFL Defensive EndDefensive endDefensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
with the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Bo SchobelBo SchobelRobert Edward "Bo" Schobel is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian University ....
- Defensive End with the Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Matt SchobelMatt SchobelMatthew Thomas Schobel is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian....
- Tight EndTight endThe tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
with the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Hal Smith - Former Major League catcherCatcherCatcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and third basemanThird basemanA third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
during 1955-1964 - James TruchardJames TruchardDr. James Joseph Truchard is the co-founder and current president and CEO of National Instruments, a company producing automated test equipment and virtual instrumentation software...
- Cofounder of National InstrumentsNational InstrumentsNational Instruments Corporation, or NI , is an American company with over 5,000 employees and direct operations in 41 countries. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, it is a producer of automated test equipment and virtual instrumentation software...
Education
The City of Columbus is served by the Columbus Independent School DistrictColumbus Independent School District
Columbus Independent School District is a public school district based in Columbus, Texas .Columbus ISD serves the northern portion of Colorado County, including the city of Columbus and the communities of Frelsburg and Rock Island as well as a small portion of western Austin County that includes...
.
The district includes:
- Columbus High School (9-12).
- Columbus Junior High (6-8)
- Columbus Elementary (PK-5)
Also in Columbus are Saint Anthony School, a Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
serving students in grades pre-kindergarten through eight, and Texas Bible Institute, a branch of Burchfield Ministries International.