Columbus is a

city A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...

in Columbia and

Dodge Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence, Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...

counties in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

. The population was 5,540 at the 2020 census, all of which resided in Columbia County. Columbus is located about northeast of

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States * Madison (footballer), Brazilian footballer Places in the United States Populated places * Madi ...

on the

Crawfish River The Crawfish River is a tributary of the Rock River, long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed May 13, 2011 in south-central Wisconsin in the United States. Via the Rock R ...

. The Dane County portion of the city is part of the

Madison metropolitan area The Madison metropolitan area, also known as Greater Madison, is the metropolitan area surrounding the city of Madison, Wisconsin. The Madison, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, consists of ...

. Nearly all of the city is located within the town of Columbus in Columbia County, though a small portion lies within the town of Elba in Dodge County. The Dodge County portion is a part of the Watertown– Fort Atkinson micropolitan statistical area, which itself a part of the larger Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha Combined Statistical Area.

History

H. A. Whitney, a Yankee peddler from Vermont, moved to Columbus in 1845 and constructed the first wood frame store building in the community on the land where the Whitney now stands. The building served as a combination store/tavern/rooming house and post office, with Whitney as the first postmaster. In 1857, the building burned down and was replaced by the current Whitney Hotel in 1858. This cream brick, Italianate-style hotel's third floor ballroom was heated by six wood-burning stoves. The local newspaper reported on a ball there in 1863, "if you ever hear of a ball by Fuller, ask no questions, but go at once, and enjoy yourselves, and for one night forget the 'fear of the draft'". During the 1880s, The Whitney hosted traveling health practitioners whose expertise ranged from "delivering a 40-foot long tape worm" to a local couple to curing piles. Near the turn of the 20th century, the ballroom was turned into an apartment, and from then on served as commercial, professional, and apartment space. In the 1950s, a restaurant and bar occupied the first floor of the building. From the 1960s to the present, a succession of owners occupied the building and maintenance was deferred. In the 1950s, the building fell into disrepair and as a result of its continued decline, faced demolition in 1990. In February 1991, Heartland Properties, Inc. helped local citizens create the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC), which served as the developer to restore the Whitney. Today, the Whitney provides affordable housing for eight households and 1,570 square feet of downtown retail space for local businesses, including the ''Daily Citizen'' newspaper.

Geography

Columbus is located at (43.337366, -89.022753). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water.

Climate

Demographics

In 1900, 2,349 people lived in Columbus, Wisconsin; in 1910, there were 2,523 residents.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, 5,540 people were living in Columbus, Wisconsin. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 2,444 housing units at an average density of . Ethnically, the population was 5.2%

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race. When grouping both Hispanic and non-Hispanic people together by race, the city was 90.5%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.5%

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.1%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 1.7% from other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. According to the

American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...

estimates for 2016–2020, the median income for a household in the city was $65,029, and the median income for a family was $81,413. Male full-time workers had a median income of $54,328 versus $42,118 for female workers. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $33,946. About 3.3% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over. Of the population age 25 and over, 94.4% were high school graduates or higher and 36.1% had a bachelor's degree or higher.

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 4,991 people, 2,123 households, and 1,336 families living in the city. The

was . There were 2,287 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.7%

, 0.9%

, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races.

or Latino people of any race were 3.3% of the population. There were 2,123 households, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.1% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age in the city was 38.3 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 4,479 people, 1,843 households, and 1,194 families living in the city. The

was . There were 1,927 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.28%

, 0.36%

, 0.22% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.02%

, 0.29% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races.

or Latino people of any race were 0.98% of the population. There were 1,843 households, out of which 32% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52% were married couples living together, 9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.98. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $42,667, and the median income for a family was $52,604. Males had a median income of $36,518 versus $22,891 for females. The

for the city was $21,435. About 3.7% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the

, including 4% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

The Redbud Festival is held in May around

Mother's Day Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in Mar ...

. Each year, the community crowns a prince and princess during the budding of the "Columbus Wisconsin Strain" of the redbud tree (''

Cercis canadensis ''Cercis canadensis'', the eastern redbud, is a large deciduous shrub or small tree, native to eastern North America from southern Michigan south to central Mexico, west to New Mexico. Species thrive as far west as California and as far north as ...

''). The festival includes brats, music, and trees in full bloom. * Christopher Columbus Museum Christopher Columbus Museum Columbus Wisconsin1

* Farmers and Merchants Union Bank, a "jewel box" bank building designed by architect

Louis Sullivan Louis Henry Sullivan (September 3, 1856 – April 14, 1924) was an American architect, and has been called a "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism". He was an influential architect of the Chicago school (architecture), Chicago ...

Downtown Columbus was used to film several scenes for the 2009

Johnny Depp John Christopher Depp II (born June 9, 1963) is an American actor and musician. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Johnny Depp, multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for ...

movie '' Public Enemies''. The Farmers and Merchants Union Bank is featured in the film.

Historic buildings

* Adolphus and Sarah Ingalsbe House * Albert M. and Alice Bellack House * Amtrak station (1906) * Chapel Street Water Tower * Columbus City Hall * Columbus Fireman's Park Complex * Columbus Post Office * Columbus Public Library * E. Clarke and Julia Arnold House * F. A. Chadbourn House * Farmers and Merchants Union Bank * Frances Kurth Sharrow House * Fred and Lucia Farnham House * George Griswold House * Gov. James T. Lewis House * Holsten Family Farmstead * John A. and Maggie Jones House * Kurth Brewery * Reinhard and Amelia Schendel House * Whitney Hotel Building * Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and Parsonage

Education

Columbus is served by the Columbus School District, which operates an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school: *Columbus Elementary School (K-2) *Columbus Intermediate School (3–5) *Columbus Middle School (6–8) *Columbus High School (9–12) Other schools in Columbus: * St. Jerome Catholic School, Roman Catholic, grades K-8 * Zion Lutheran School, WELS (

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), also referred to simply as the Wisconsin Synod, is an American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as Christian theology, theologically conservative, it was founded ...

), grades K-8 * Wisconsin Academy, Seventh Day Adventist, grades 9–12

Transportation

Columbus is served by

US 151 U.S. Highway 151 (US 151) is a United States Numbered Highway that runs through the states of Iowa and Wisconsin. The southern terminus for US 151 is at a junction with Interstate 80 (I-80) in Iowa County, Iowa, and its northern termin ...

. Columbus is almost halfway on the US 151 freeway/expressway between

and Fond du Lac. There are three exits on the freeway that serve Columbus. The exits are Wis 73/Business US 151 Park Ave (Exit 115), Wis 16/Wis 60 James St (Exit 118) and Wis 73/Business US 151 Ludington St (Exit 120). Columbus is also served by 4 state highways: *

Wis 16 State Trunk Highway 16 (often called Highway 16, STH-16 or WIS 16) is a Wisconsin state highway running from Pewaukee across the state to La Crosse. Much of its route in the state parallels the former mainline of the Milwaukee Road and cur ...

runs northwest towards

Portage Portage or portaging ( CA: ; ) is the practice of carrying water craft or cargo over land, either around an obstacle in a river, or between two bodies of water. A path where items are regularly carried between bodies of water is also called a '' ...

and east with Wis 60 for several miles before heading to Watertown. * Wis 60 heads west to Lodi and east to Hustiford. *

Wis 73 State Trunk Highway 73 (often called Highway 73, STH-73 or WIS 73) is a state highway in the central part of the US state of Wisconsin that runs mostly north–south from Ingram to near Edgerton. The exception is in Wood and Adams coun ...

runs south to

Marshall Marshall may refer to: Places Australia *Marshall, Victoria, a suburb of Geelong, Victoria ** Marshall railway station Canada * Marshall, Saskatchewan * The Marshall, a mountain in British Columbia Liberia * Marshall, Liberia Marshall Is ...

and north to

Randolph Randolph may refer to: Places In the United States * Randolph, Alabama, an unincorporated community * Randolph, Arizona, a populated place * Randolph, California, a village merged into the city of Brea * Randolph, Illinois, an unincorporated com ...

. *

Wis 89 State Trunk Highway 89 (often called Highway 89, STH-89 or WIS 89) is a State highway#United States, state highway in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It travels south to north from near Delavan, Wisconsin, ...

heads south to

Waterloo Waterloo most commonly refers to: * Battle of Waterloo, 1815 battle where Napoleon's French army was defeated by Anglo-allied and Prussian forces * Waterloo, Belgium Waterloo may also refer to: Other places Australia * Waterloo, New South Wale ...

and Fort Atkinson. * Business

is cosigned with

through Columbus. Columbus is served by two daily

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...

trains, the ''

Empire Builder The ''Empire Builder'' is a daily long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak between Chicago and either Seattle or Portland via two sections west of Spokane. Introduced in 1929, it was the flagship passenger train of the Great North ...

'' a long-distance train between Chicago and Portland and Seattle, and the Borealis a regional train that parallels the empire builder between Chicago and Saint Paul with an additional stop at Milwaukee General Mitchell. Both trains stop at the Columbus station. Freight railroad services are provided by the

Soo Line Railroad The Soo Line Railroad is one of the primary United States railroad subsidiaries for the CPKC Railway , one of six U.S. Class I railroads, controlled through the Soo Line Corporation. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Saul ...

, a legal U.S. alias of the

Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway () , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Canadian Pacific Ka ...

. Columbus has the distinction of hosting the primary Amtrak station for the Madison metro area. Columbus is also served by Lamers Bus Service which provides a Connect to Madison, Wisconsin from Amtrak.

Notable people

* Michael Adams, Wisconsin state representative and businessman * Charles L. Dering, Wisconsin State Senator * Francis Fagan,

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Naval Service's second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is equivalent to the Army ...

recipient * Harmon J. Fisk, Wisconsin state representative * William M. Griswold, Wisconsin state senator *

Joshua James Guppey Joshua James Guppey (August 27, 1820December 8, 1893) was an American lawyer, politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served as a Union Army officer in the American Civil War, and received an honorary Brevet (military), brevet to the rank of Briga ...

, Union Army general * William Jones, Wisconsin state representative * Frank Lange, major league baseball player * James T. Lewis, governor of Wisconsin *

Lewis Ludington Lewis Ludington (June 25, 1786 – September 3, 1857) was a real estate developer who helped settle Columbus, Wisconsin. Personal life Ludington's father, Henry Ludington of the Ludington family, was a soldier in the French and Indian War. H ...

, early settler of Columbus. * Heather Miller, Olympic athlete * Peter Morris, major league baseball player *

William Penterman William L. Penterman (born May 18, 1996) is an American dairy farmer and Republican politician from Columbus, Wisconsin. He is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Wisconsin's 38th Assembly district since 2025; he previously ...

, Wisconsin state representative * Bob Poser, major league baseball player * Frederick J. Stare, nutritionist *

Samuel R. Webster Samuel Robert Webster (July 7, 1854 in Elba, Wisconsin – March 12, 1948) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Webster was born on the Webster farm in Elba, Wisconsin, east of Columbus. He attended high school in Danville, Wisc ...

, Wisconsin state representative * Russel R. Weisensel, Wisconsin state representative * E. W. Ziebarth, radio broadcaster

Gallery

File:Columbus Wisconsin 11.jpg, Columbus, Wisconsin before the storm Columbus Downtown Historic District File:ColumbusWisconsinDowntown1WIS60WIS16.jpg, Downtown Columbus on

Highway 60 The following highways are numbered 60: International * Asian Highway 60 * European route E60 Australia * Bruxner Highway * Dawson Highway (Rolleston to Gladstone) – Queensland State Route 60 Brazil * BR-060 Canada * Alberta Highway 60 ...

/ 16 - a portion of the Columbus Downtown Historic District File:ColumbusWisconsinDowntown2WIS73.jpg, Downtown Columbus on Highway 73 File:Dix Street-Warner Street HD.jpg, A portion of the Dix Street-Warner Street Historic District File:Holsten Family Farmstead May2012 Columbia County Wisconsin.jpg, A portion of the Holsten Family Farmstead File:John A and Maggie Jones House.jpg, John A. and Maggie Jones House File:PrairieStreetHistoricDistrict615.jpg, A house within the Prairie Street Historic District File:SouthDickasonBlvdHistoricDistrictHouse.jpg, A house within the South Dickason Boulevard Residential Historic District File:EClarkeJuliaArnoldHouseColumbusWisconsin.jpg, E. Clarke and Julia Arnold House File:Albert M and Alice Bellack House.jpg, Albert M. and Alice Bellack House File:FAChadborneHouseSept2009.jpg, F. A. Chadbourn House File:ColumbusWisconsinCityHall.jpg, Columbus City Hall File:Columbus Fireman's Park Complex October 2012.jpg, Columbus Fireman's Park Complex File:ColumbusWisconsinPostOffice.jpg, Columbus Post Office File:ColumbusWisconsinPublicLibrarySign.jpg, Columbus Public Library

References

External links

City of Columbus

Columbus Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce
* Sanborn fire insurance maps
18851892189819041915
{{authority control Cities in Wisconsin Cities in Columbia County, Wisconsin Cities in Dodge County, Wisconsin