# Columbia, Louisiana

Columbia is a town in and the parish seat of Caldwell Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 277 in 2020.

## History

The land that became Columbia was first cleared by Daniel Humphries in 1827. A store was built a few years later the only settlement between Monroe, Louisiana, and the settlements of the Black River was formed. The harbor became a busy port for shipping cotton by steamboats and Packet boats until the arrival of the railroad. In February 1864 Columbia was the location of a skirmish between Federal and Confederate troops during the Civil War and there are several plantations in the area.

## Geography

Columbia is located just east of the center of Caldwell Parish at 32°6′15″N 92°4′37″W﻿ / ﻿32.10417°N 92.07694°W﻿ / 32.10417; -92.07694 (32.104042, -92.076921), on the southwest bank of the Ouachita River. U.S. Route 165 passes through the center of town and bridges the river, leading north 32 miles (51 km) to Monroe and south 64 miles (103 km) to Alexandria.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.77 square miles (2.00 km$^2$), of which 0.76 square miles (1.96 km$^2$) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km$^2$), or 1.75%, is water.

## Demographics

Columbia racial composition as of 2020 :
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 202 | 72.92% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 48 | 17.33% |
| Asian | 2 | 0.72% |
| Other/Mixed | 10 | 3.61% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15 | 5.42% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 277 people, 152 households, and 107 families residing in the town.

## Government and infrastructure

Law enforcement services are provided by the Columbia Police Department and the Caldwell Parish Sheriff's Office. Fire protection services are provided by the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department, and by other Volunteer Fire Departments across the parish when needed.

## Notable people

* Buddy Caldwell, Attorney General of Louisiana, elected in 2007
* Graves B. Erskine, U.S. Marine Corps general; combat officer in World War I, having received the Silver Star and Purple Heart; U.S. Commander of the 3rd Marine Division in World War II in the Battle of Iwo Jima, having earned the Distinguished Service Medal
* J. D. DeBlieux, Louisiana State Senator representing East Baton Rouge Parish, 1956-1960 & 1964-1976
* Pam Kelly, recipient of the Wade Trophy in 1982; the title is awarded to the most valuable women's collegiate basketball player in the nation
* Lelon Kenney, Louisiana state representative, farmer, and businessman
* John J. McKeithen, governor of Louisiana (1964–1972); Louisiana Public Service Commissioner (1955–1964); state representative (1948–1952); U.S. Army combat officer (1942–1945) in the 77th Infantry Division having received two Bronze Stars in the battles of Guam, Leyte, Okinawa and Ie Shima
* W. Fox McKeithen, Louisiana House of Representatives, 1984–1988; five-term Louisiana Secretary of State, 1988–2005; former teacher at Caldwell Parish High School
* Clay Parker, former pitcher for the New York Yankees & Seattle Mariners
* Neil Riser, state senator elected in 2007 from the 32nd District, which includes Caldwell Parish; the first Republican from this district since Reconstruction
* Chet D. Traylor, Louisiana Supreme Court, 1997–2009

## Gallery

* Homeland Federal Savings Bank is located off U.S. Highway 165 in Columbia
* A portion of the hillside graves at the large but dispersed Columbia Hill Cemetery in Columbia. The cemetery was launched just prior to the American Civil War during a yellow fever epidemic.
* Riser and Son Funeral Home in Columbia is owned by State Senator Neil Riser.
* At this site First United Methodist Church in Columbia dates to 1838. The current building was constructed in 1911. Previously, circuit riders served Caldwell Parish.
* First Baptist Church in Columbia
* Columbia Heights Baptist Church off Highway 165 calls itself "The Lighthouse on the Hill".
* United States portal