Timeline of Columbus, Georgia

The following is a 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.

See also

• Columbus, Georgia history
• List of mayors of Columbus, Georgia
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Muscogee County, Georgia
• of other cities in Georgia: Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Macon, Savannah

References

Bibliography

External links

• Items related to Columbus, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America).