# Timeline of Columbus, Georgia

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Columbus, Georgia, US.

## 19th century

* 1828
** Columbus settled on site of formerly Creek village.
** Mirabeau B. Lamar begins publication of the Columbus Enquirer newspaper.
** Methodist Church established.
** Old City Cemetery founded.
* 1829 - Baptist Church established.
* 1830 - Population: 1,152.
* 1834 - Columbus Factory (textiles) in business.
* 1836 - Columbus becomes "center of military operations" against the Creek during the Creek War of 1836, fought nearby.
* 1840 - Wynnton School built (approximate date).
* 1846 - Fire.
* 1847 - Columbus Board of Trade founded.
* 1850
** Columbus Times newspaper begins publication.
** Population: 5,042.
* 1853
** Mobile & Girard Railroad begins operating.
** Columbus Iron Works built.
** Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center built.
* 1854 - Temple Israel founded.
* 1856 - Pemberton House built.
* 1860 - Population: 9,621.
* 1865 - April 16: Battle of Columbus; Union forces win.
* 1867 - Rankin House built.
* 1868 - Eagle & Phenix Mill in operation.
* 1869 - Muscogee Mills in business.
* 1870
** Bethel Baptist Church built (approximate date).
** Population: 7,401.
* 1871
** Springer Opera House opens.
** Lummus Cotton Gin manufactory relocates to Columbus.
* 1879 - Confederate Monument erected.
* 1880 - Population: 10,123.
* 1886
** Columbus Evening Ledger newspaper begins publication.
** Future singer Ma Rainey born in Columbus.
* 1887
** Columbus Messenger newspaper begins publication.
** Synagogue dedicated.
* 1890 - Population: 17,303.
* 1900 - Population: 17,614.

## 20th century

* 1902 - Columbian Lodge No.7 Free and Accepted Masons building built.
* 1905
** "Academic trade school" established.
** Cole-Hampton-Hatcher Grocery introduces flavored beverage Royal Crown Ginger Ale.
* 1910 - Population: 20,554.
* 1914 - Grand Theatre built.
* 1918
** U.S. military Camp Benning established near Columbus.
** Textile labor unrest.
** National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Columbus branch organized (approximate date).
* 1920 - League of Women Voters of Columbus organized.
* 1921 - Centennial Cotton Gin Company relocates to Columbus.
* 1925 - Tom Huston Peanut and Candy Co. in business.
* 1926 - Lake Harding reservoir created on the Chattahoochee River near Columbus.
* 1928
** WRBL radio begins broadcasting.
** Muscogee County Courthouse built.
* 1929
** Social Civic 25 Club organized.
** Columbus Municipal Airport commences operations.
* 1930 - Spencer High School, the first African American high school in Columbus.
* 1936 - Junior League of Columbus established.
* 1940
** Bradley Theatre opens.
** Population: 53,280.
* 1944 - Muscogee County Airport (present-day Columbus Airport) commences operations.
* 1949 - Columbus Symphony Orchestra active.
* 1950
** Columbus Drive-In cinema in business.
* 1953
** WRBL-TV and WTVM (television) begin broadcasting.
** Columbus Museum of Arts and Crafts opens.
* 1958 - Columbus College established.
* 1960 - Population: 116,779.
* 1962 - National Civil War Naval Museum opened.
* 1965 - B. Ed Johnson becomes mayor.
* 1966 - Historic Columbus Foundation formed.
* 1970 - Population: 154,168.
* 1971
** Columbus joins with Muscogee County to form a consolidated city-county.
** Racial unrest.
* 1972 - Metro Columbus Urban League established.
* 1975 - Historic District Preservation Society organized.
* 1976 - Chattahoochee Promenade built.
* 1979 - Columbus' only Interstate highway, auxiliary Interstate 185 fully opens, provide a freeway connection for Columbus to mainline Interstate 85 and Atlanta.
* 1980 - Population: 169,441.
* 1983 - Richard Ray becomes U.S. representative for Georgia's 3rd congressional district.
* 1988 - Columbus Ledger-Enquirer newspaper in publication.
* 1990 - Population: 178,681.
* 1993 - Sanford Bishop becomes U.S. representative for Georgia's 2nd congressional district.
* 1996
** First ever Olympic Softball competition held at South Commons complex July 21–30.
** Columbus Civic Center (arena) opens.
** City website online (approximate date).

## 21st century

* 2009 - National Infantry Museum founded.
* 2010 - Population: 189,885.
* 2011 - Teresa Tomlinson becomes mayor.