# Columbus–Auburn–Opelika combined statistical area

The Columbus–Auburn–Opelika, GA–AL Combined Statistical Area is a trading and marketing area made up of six counties in Georgia and three in Alabama. The statistical area includes two metropolitan areas: the Columbus metropolitan area and the Auburn–Opelika metropolitan area. As of 2023, the CSA had a population of 566,030.
The Combined Statistical Area consists of the:
* Columbus metropolitan area, population 323,768.
* Auburn–Opelika metropolitan area, population 201,585.
* Alexander City Micropolitan area, population 40,677

## Counties
### In Georgia

* Chattahoochee County pop. 9,565
* Harris County pop. 34,668
* Marion County pop. 7,498
* Muscogee County pop. 206,922
* Stewart County pop. 5,314
* Talbot County pop. 5,733

### In Alabama

* Lee County pop. 163,461
* Russell County pop. 57,938
* Tallapoosa County pop. 40,677

## Communities

The communities (both incorporated and unincorporated) in the combined statistical area are as follows. Bold name indicates the principal cities in the CSA:

### In Alabama

* Auburn pop. 80,006
* Beauregard pop. 5,234
* Bee Hive pop. unknown
* Beulah pop. 6,173
* Fort Mitchell pop. 3,11
* Glenville pop. unknown
* Gold Hill pop. unknown
* Holy Trinity pop. unknown
* Hurtsboro pop. 592
* Ladonia pop. 1,943
* Loachapoka pop. 165
* Marvyn pop. 5,235
* Notasulga pop. 916
* Opelika pop. 26,477
* Phenix City pop. 38,816
* Roxana pop. 1,942
* Salem pop. 6,428
* Seale pop. 2,382
* Smiths Station pop. 21,756
* The Bottle pop. unknown
* Waverly pop. 180

### In Georgia

* Buena Vista pop. 1,664
* Cataula pop. 3,784
* Columbus pop. 206,922
* Cusseta pop. 1,196
* Ellerslie pop. 3,292
* Fort Benning South pop. 11,737
* Hamilton pop. 307
* Hopewell pop. unknown
* Juniper pop. 2,830
* Mountain Hill pop. unknown
* Mulberry Grove pop. unknown
* Pine Mountain pop. 1,141
* Rehobeth pop. unknown
* Ridgeway pop. unknown
* Shiloh pop. 423
* Waverly Hall pop. 790
* West Point pop. 3,487
* Whitesville pop. 150

## Education institutes
### Higher education
#### Public

* Auburn University
* Columbus State University
* Columbus Technical College
* Chattahoochee Valley Community College (Phenix City)
* Georgia Military College - main campus in Milledgeville, Georgia
* Southern Union State Community College (Opelika)
* Troy University - campuses in Columbus, Fort Benning, and Phenix City, main campus in Troy, Alabama

#### Private, for profit

* Christian Life School of Theology (Columbus)
* Miller-Motte Technical College - main campus in Wilmington, North Carolina
* Rivertown School of Beauty (Columbus)
* Southeastern Beauty School (Columbus)
* Strayer University - main campus in Baltimore, Maryland

### Primary and secondary education
## Transportation
### Airports

Below is a list of the airports in the greater area, followed by their number of enplanements (commercial passenger boardings) that occurred at the airport in calendar year 2008.

#### Public

* Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport (IATA: AUO, ICAO: KAUO, FAA LID: AUO), 68
* Columbus Airport (IATA: CSG, ICAO: KCSG, FAA LID: CSG), 51,288

#### Private

* Harris County Airport (IATA: PIM, ICAO: KPIM, FAA LID: PIM), 116
* Jones Light Aviation Airport (FAA LID: AL56), n/a
* Lawson Army Airfield (IATA: LSF, ICAO: KLSF, FAA LID: LSF), 13,702
* Marion County Airport (FAA LID: 82A), n/a

### Interstates

* Interstate 85
* Interstate 185

### Principal Highways

* U.S. Route 27
* U.S. Route 29
* U.S. Route 80
* U.S. Route 280
* U.S. Route 431

### State Highways

* Alabama State Route 14
* Alabama State Route 26
* Alabama State Route 51
* Alabama State Route 147
* Alabama State Route 165
* Alabama State Route 169
* Alabama State Route 267
* Georgia State Route 18
* Georgia State Route 22
* Georgia State Route 26
* Georgia State Route 27
* Georgia State Route 30
* Georgia State Route 36
* Georgia State Route 39
* Georgia State Route 41
* Georgia State Route 85
* Georgia State Route 90
* Georgia State Route 96
* Georgia State Route 103
* Georgia State Route 116
* Georgia State Route 127
* Georgia State Route 137
* Georgia State Route 190
* Georgia State Route 208
* Georgia State Route 219
* Georgia State Route 240
* Georgia State Route 315
* Georgia State Route 352
* Georgia State Route 354
* Georgia State Route 355
* Georgia State Route 520
* Georgia State Route 540

## Sports

| Club | League |
| Auburn Tigers | NCAA Division I (Southeastern Conference) |
| Columbus River Dragons | Federal Prospects Hockey League |
| Columbus Lions | National Arena League |
| Columbus State University Cougars | NCAA Division II (Peach Belt Conference) |

## Shopping

Below are some notable shopping centers in the area:
* Columbus Park Crossing (Columbus)
* Peachtree Mall (Columbus)
* The Landings (Columbus)
* The Shoppes at Bradley Park (Columbus)
* TigerTown (Opelika)
* Auburn Mall (Auburn)