Columbia, Mississippi

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{distinguish|Columbus, Mississippi}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Columbia, Mississippi
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Marion County Mississippi Courthouse.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Marion County courthouse in Columbia
|image_flag               = Flag of Columbia, Mississippi.png
|image_seal               = Seal of Columbia, Mississippi.png

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Marion_County_Mississippi_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Columbia_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in Marion County and the state of Mississippi
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|pushpin_map              = USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Mississippi]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Mississippi|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Marion County, Mississippi|Marion]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Justin McKenzie<ref name="Mayor">{{cite web | title = Government Officials | publisher = City of Columbia | url = http://www.cityofcolumbiams.com/our-community/government-officials/ | access-date = September 10, 2017}}</ref>
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web |title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Mississippi |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_28.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 17.50
|area_land_km2            = 17.49
|area_water_km2           = 0.01
|area_total_sq_mi         = 6.76
|area_land_sq_mi          = 6.75
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US2815340&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Columbia city, Mississippi: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=February 22, 2024}}</ref>
|population_total         = 5864
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|population_density_km2   = 335.20
|population_density_sq_mi = 868.23

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 45
|elevation_ft             = 148
|coordinates              = {{coord|31|15|24|N|89|49|44|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 39429
|area_code                = [[Area code 601|601]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 28-15340
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0668715
|website                  = {{URL|www.cityofcolumbiams.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Columbia''' is a U.S. city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Marion County, Mississippi|Marion County]], [[Mississippi]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=2011-05-31}}</ref> United States. Formed six years before Mississippi was admitted to statehood, Columbia was named for [[Columbia, South Carolina]], from which many of the early settlers had migrated. The population was 5,864 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> down from 6,582 in [[2010 United States census|2010]].

==History==
{{Refimprove section|date=February 2024}}
Columbia is the county seat of Marion County, which was created out of [[Amite County, Mississippi|Amite County]] in 1811, encompassing the southwest quarter of the current state of Mississippi. Before statehood in 1816, there were three territorial census/poll tax records taken of what was deemed Marion County at the time. These records reveal that during 1813, several Lott men arrived and settled on the [[Pearl River (Mississippi–Louisiana)|Pearl River]] in what is now Columbia. In 1813, William Lott was the largest slave holder near present-day Columbia, owning 28 people. There were five men, who settled south of present-day Columbia on {{convert|2789|acre}} of land with 65 enslaved people. North of present-day Columbia, on what was the earliest attempt at a town, was Timothy Terrell on {{convert|3151|acre}} with 32 slaves.

The land on which the current city of Columbia resides was first purchased for cash on April 18, 1820, by William Lott and John Lott. This land is Township 3 East, Range 18 West, Section 5 (640 acres), which is now the center of Columbia. Other early patent holders of Columbia include James Phillips, Jr., and John Cooper (1825), in Section 4 next to John and William Lott.<ref>Mississippi State and Territorial Census</ref><ref>Bureau of Land Management</ref>

Columbia was officially incorporated on June 25, 1819, becoming the fourth municipality in the state of Mississippi. It served as the temporary capital of Mississippi from November 1821, when the 5th session of the Mississippi Legislature first met there, until 1822. In that year, a special session of the legislature met in Columbia, inaugurating Governor [[Walter Leake]], and selecting LeFleur's Bluff (now [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]]) as the permanent capital.

Columbia, "The City of Charm on the River Pearl", has always been in danger of flooding, due to its bordering the Pearl River. The county courthouse, with its records dating back to pre-statehood, has managed to survive war, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes. In its first 100 years, Columbia relied on the Pearl River for transportation of goods. The river was much deeper and wider than it is now. Steamboat captains, such as John Black, lived in Columbia.<ref>1880 US Federal Census, Columbia, Marion Co, MS</ref>

During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], [[Union Army|Union]] troops under the command of General [[John Wynn Davidson]] camped outside Columbia, taking provisions from the local population. The courthouse was spared. The Southern Claims Commission Files detail these events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msmarion.com/history1863.html |title=Marion County Mississippi History Index |website=Msmarion.com |date=2008-10-30 |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref>

In 1935, Mississippi's first [[rodeo]] was held in Columbia. In 2016, the Mississippi Rodeo Hall of Fame was founded and headquartered in Columbia.

During the [[civil rights movement]], Columbia and Marion County were the site of peaceful demonstrations, due to the diligent insistence of non-violence by Sheriff John Homer Willoughby. The town is known for its citizens ability to work together.<ref>Columbian-Progress newspaper, 1960-1964,</ref>

In 2005, Columbia suffered extensive damage from [[Hurricane Katrina]]. Once again, the courthouse survived. There was very limited looting, and citizens worked together with local churches, civic officials, and law enforcement to provide for citizens during the extensive power loss. Individuals immediately began helping their neighbors clear roads and escape being trapped in debris.

The day after Hurricane Katrina struck, several inmates took advantage of the storm damage and escaped from the Marion County Jail (some of whom had been charged with murder). Marion County deputies along with the help of the [[Mississippi National Guard]] and Kentucky State Police, captured all but one escapee, who was later apprehended in Texas just before he could get to the Mexican border.

Former Mississippi governor and Columbia native [[Hugh L. White]] introduced [[white squirrel]]s to the area, and they are still common in Columbia City Park. White's home still stands today, a stately reminder of architecture of the past.

In 2014, a tornado measuring EF3 on the [[Enhanced Fujita scale]] struck Columbia, causing widespread damage.<ref>{{cite news | last = Breslin | first = Sean | date = December 24, 2014 | title = Tornadoes Kill 5 in Mississippi; 50 Injured During Deep South Severe Weather | url = https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/severe-weather-latest-news | work = The Weather Channel}}</ref> Mutual aid took place between Columbia, Mississippi, and Columbia, South Carolina, following this natural disaster and the 1,000 year flood in South Carolina,<ref>"Resolution R-2016-053 To Honor the City of Columbia, Mississippi With Official Sisterhood for its Assistance during the October 2015 Flood" (PDF). City of Columbia SC. August 16, 2016.</ref>

==Geography==
Columbia is in southern Mississippi, on the east bank of the [[Pearl River (Mississippi-Louisiana)|Pearl River]]. It is in north-central Marion County, {{convert|84|mi}} by highway south of [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]], the state capital, and {{convert|118|mi}} north of [[New Orleans]]. [[U.S. Route 98]] passes through the south side of the city, leading east {{convert|33|mi}} to [[Hattiesburg, Mississippi|Hattiesburg]] and west {{Convert|41|mi}} to [[McComb, Mississippi|McComb]]. [[Mississippi Highway 13]] passes through the center of Columbia, leading north {{convert|25|mi}} to [[Prentiss, Mississippi|Prentiss]] and southeast {{convert|31|mi}} to [[Lumberton, Mississippi|Lumberton]]. [[Mississippi Highway 44|State Highway 44]] leads northeast from Columbia {{convert|21|mi}} to [[Sumrall, Mississippi|Sumrall]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city of Columbia has a total area of {{convert|6.8|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|0.004|sqmi|3}}, or 0.06%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/>

==Climate==
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Columbia has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Columbia was {{convert|113|F|C|1}} on June 7, 1915, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|4|F|C|1}} on January 11, 1982 and January 21, 1985.<ref name = NOWData />

{{Weather box
|location = Columbia, Mississippi, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1903–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 85
|Feb record high F = 86
|Mar record high F = 90
|Apr record high F = 98
|May record high F = 102
|Jun record high F = 113
|Jul record high F = 107
|Aug record high F = 107
|Sep record high F = 108
|Oct record high F = 99
|Nov record high F = 91
|Dec record high F = 85

|Jan avg record high F = 76.2
|Feb avg record high F = 79.7
|Mar avg record high F = 84.0
|Apr avg record high F = 86.8
|May avg record high F = 92.3
|Jun avg record high F = 96.2
|Jul avg record high F = 97.3
|Aug avg record high F = 97.8
|Sep avg record high F = 95.5
|Oct avg record high F = 90.2
|Nov avg record high F = 82.7
|Dec avg record high F = 78.1
|year avg record high F = 99.1

|Jan high F = 59.9
|Feb high F = 64.1
|Mar high F = 71.3
|Apr high F = 77.5
|May high F = 84.6
|Jun high F = 90.0
|Jul high F = 91.6
|Aug high F = 91.8
|Sep high F = 88.1
|Oct high F = 79.7
|Nov high F = 69.1
|Dec high F = 61.9
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 48.8
|Feb mean F = 52.8
|Mar mean F = 59.6
|Apr mean F = 66.1
|May mean F = 73.9
|Jun mean F = 80.1
|Jul mean F = 82.0
|Aug mean F = 81.9
|Sep mean F = 77.7
|Oct mean F = 67.7
|Nov mean F = 56.9
|Dec mean F = 51.0
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 37.6
|Feb low F = 41.5
|Mar low F = 47.9
|Apr low F = 54.6
|May low F = 63.2
|Jun low F = 70.2
|Jul low F = 72.4
|Aug low F = 72.0
|Sep low F = 67.2
|Oct low F = 55.6
|Nov low F = 44.7
|Dec low F = 40.0
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 21.9
|Feb avg record low F = 26.3
|Mar avg record low F = 30.6
|Apr avg record low F = 38.6
|May avg record low F = 48.9
|Jun avg record low F = 61.7
|Jul avg record low F = 67.0
|Aug avg record low F = 65.5
|Sep avg record low F = 54.4
|Oct avg record low F = 38.8
|Nov avg record low F = 29.6
|Dec avg record low F = 26.1
|year avg record low F = 20.1

|Jan record low F = 4
|Feb record low F = 11
|Mar record low F = 16
|Apr record low F = 23
|May record low F = 37
|Jun record low F = 46
|Jul record low F = 53
|Aug record low F = 54
|Sep record low F = 36
|Oct record low F = 22
|Nov record low F = 17
|Dec record low F = 5

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 6.52
|Feb precipitation inch = 5.21
|Mar precipitation inch = 5.72
|Apr precipitation inch = 5.22
|May precipitation inch = 4.35
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.77
|Jul precipitation inch = 6.05
|Aug precipitation inch = 6.04
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.60
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.75
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.86
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.79
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 11.2
|Feb precipitation days = 10.1
|Mar precipitation days = 9.8
|Apr precipitation days = 8.0
|May precipitation days = 8.7
|Jun precipitation days = 11.1
|Jul precipitation days = 12.5
|Aug precipitation days = 10.9
|Sep precipitation days = 7.9
|Oct precipitation days = 6.9
|Nov precipitation days = 8.1
|Dec precipitation days = 10.1

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00221865&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Columbia, MS
|access-date = February 24, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=jan
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Jackson
|access-date = February 24, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 66
|1900= 507
|1910= 2029
|1920= 2826
|1930= 4833
|1940= 6064
|1950= 6124
|1960= 7117
|1970= 7587
|1980= 7733
|1990= 6815
|2000= 6603
|2010= 6582
|2020= 5864
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Columbia racial composition as of 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2815340&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-16|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|3,042
|51.88%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|2,483
|42.34%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|15
|0.26%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|26
|0.44%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|154
|2.63%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|144
|2.46%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 5,864 people, 2,080 households, and 1,155 families residing in the city.

==Government and infrastructure==
The [[Mississippi Department of Human Services]]'s Division of Youth Services operated the Columbia Training School in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[Marion County, Mississippi|Marion County]], near Columbia.<ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US2815340&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Columbia city, Mississippi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608034758/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US2815340&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |date=2011-06-08 }}." ''[[U.S. Census Bureau]]''. Retrieved on July 21, 2010.</ref><ref>"[http://mdah.state.ms.us/arrec/digital_archives/musgrove/pdfs/17529.pdf Public Appearance Calendar Governor Ronnie Musgrove For the Week of December 31, 2001] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016232540/http://mdah.state.ms.us/arrec/digital_archives/musgrove/pdfs/17529.pdf |date=October 16, 2010 }}." [[Mississippi Department of Archives and History]]. Retrieved on July 21, 2010. "Columbia Training School 1730 Highway 44 Columbia, MS."</ref>

The mayor of Columbia is Justin McKenzie.<ref name="Mayor"/>

==Education==
[[File:Columbia High School MS.jpg|thumb|[[Columbia High School (Mississippi)|Columbia High School]]]]
The city of Columbia is served by the [[Columbia School District (Mississippi)|Columbia School District]], with [[Columbia High School (Mississippi)|Columbia High School]] as the public high school. Prior to January 1970, black students were [[School integration in the United States|educated in a separate system]] with sub-par facilities, including John J. Jefferson High school, which became the middle school in January 1970 when the schools were integrated. White politicians called for a public boycott of the school system.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74549882/school-boycott-expected-in-marion-county/|title = School boycott expected in Marion County, Mississippi. Columbia Academy|newspaper = Hattiesburg American|date = 3 January 1970|page = 1}}</ref> At that time, around 100 white students left the public school system to attend the newly founded whites-only [[Columbia Academy (Mississippi)|Columbia Academy]], which was created in September 1969 as a [[segregation academy]] to avoid racial integration.<ref name="Integration along the Pearl">{{cite news |last1=Batten |first1=James K |title=Integration comes quietly along the Pearl |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74548831/columbia-academy-segregation-integration/ |access-date=28 March 2021 |publisher=Miami Herald |date=January 7, 1970}}</ref> A few students also left to attend Improve Academy, another segregation academy founded by the Improve Baptist Church.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74550024/|title = Clipped from Hattiesburg American|newspaper = Hattiesburg American|date = 3 January 1970|page = 6}}</ref> There are also two other public schools that are in Columbia, [[East Marion High School]] and [[West Marion High School]]. Both of these schools are under the same district called [[Marion County School District (Mississippi)|Marion County Schools]]. East Marion High school is located just outside of town on the East side of the [[Pearl River (Mississippi–Louisiana)|Pearl River]], while West Marion is located on the West side of the Pearl River in [[Foxworth, Mississippi|Foxworth]]. East Marion is one largely connected building that houses grades K-12, but West Marion has a primary school as well as a high school.

==Notable people==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Johnathan Abram]], [[National Football League]] (NFL) safety for the [[Las Vegas Raiders]]
* [[Anthony Alford]], former [[Major League Baseball]] player<ref>{{cite web |title=Anthony Alford Stats |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/anthony-alford-546990 |website=MLB.com |access-date=May 24, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Ted Alford]], former [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL) player<ref>{{cite web |title=Ted Alford |url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playera/alfo01950.html |website=profootballarchives.com |access-date=May 24, 2023}}</ref>
* [[James W. Ball]], [[Chief of Ordnance of the United States Army|24th Chief of Ordnance]] for the [[United States Army Ordnance Corps]]<ref>{{cite web |title=MG James W. Ball |url=https://www.armyrotc.msstate.edu/alumni/distinguished-alumni/mg-james-w-ball |website=armyrotc.msstate.edu |access-date=May 24, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Earl W. Bascom]], rodeo champion, Hollywood actor, artist/sculptor, inventor, Mississippi Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee<ref>https://www.columbianprogress.com/most-recent/history-mississippi-rodeo-shared {{bare URL inline|date=February 2024}}</ref><ref>http://cowboyandarenachampions.com/Resumes/Bascom_Family_Bio.pdf {{bare URL PDF|date=February 2024}}</ref><ref>https://www.yazooherald.net/features-press-releases-state/mississippi-cowgirl-cowboys-spotlighted-and-honored {{bare URL inline|date=February 2024}}</ref>
* [[Rose Bascom|Texas Rose Bascom]], rodeo performer, trick roper, Hollywood actress, Mississippi Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mormonwiki.com/Texas_Rose_Bascom|title = Texas Rose Bascom - Mormonism, the Mormon Church, Beliefs, & Religion - MormonWiki}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/cherokee-choctaw-cowgirl-texas-rose-bascom-first-female-mi-rodeo-hall-fame|title = Cherokee-Choctaw Cowgirl, Texas Rose Bascom, First Female in MS Rodeo Hall of Fame| date=September 13, 2018 }}</ref>
* [[Weldon Bascom]], rodeo champion, Mississippi Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee<ref>https://www.yazooherald.net/features-press-releases-state/mississippi-cowgirl-cowboys-spotlighted-and-honored {{bare URL inline|date=February 2024}}</ref><ref>http://cowboyandarenachampions.com/Resumes/Bascom_Family_Bio.pdf {{bare URL PDF|date=February 2024}}</ref>
* [[Buddy Blair]], former Major League Baseball player<ref>{{cite web |title=Buddy Blair Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blairbu01.shtml |website=baseball-reference.com |access-date=May 24, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Terrell Buckley]], American football coach and former player<ref name="Magee">{{cite news |last1=Magee |first1=Patrick |title=Coast football legend elected to the College Football Hall of Fame |url=https://www.sunherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/patrick-magee/article224024155.html |access-date=30 March 2019 |newspaper=Sun Herald |date=January 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203230437/https://www.sunherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/patrick-magee/article224024155.html |archive-date=3 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[L. Russ Bush]], theologian and author<ref>{{cite web |title=L. Bush Obituary |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/clarionledger/name/l-bush-obituary?pid=161862167 |website=legacy.com |access-date=May 24, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Gil Carmichael]], businessman and political candidate<ref>{{cite web |title=Gilbert Carmichael Obituary |url=https://obituaries.meridianstar.com/obituary/gilbert-carmichael-754353331 |website=Meridian Star |access-date=May 25, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Logan Cooke]], NFL punter for the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]]<ref name="Logan Cooke">{{cite web |last1=O'Bleness |first1=Ryan |title=2018 NFL Draft Q&A: For Whom The Cowbell Tolls on Logan Cooke |url=https://www.bigcatcountry.com/2018/5/3/17314622/2018-nfl-draft-q-a-for-whom-the-cowbell-tolls-on-logan-cooke |access-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330114013/https://www.bigcatcountry.com/2018/5/3/17314622/2018-nfl-draft-q-a-for-whom-the-cowbell-tolls-on-logan-cooke |archive-date=30 March 2019 |date=May 3, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Maurice Dantin]], attorney and political candidate<ref>{{cite news |title=Former prosecutor Dantin dead at 82 |url=https://www.wlbt.com/story/16496359/former-prosecutor-dantin-dead-at-82/ |access-date=May 25, 2023 |work=WLBT |date=January 11, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Eagle Day]], former NFL and CFL quarterback<ref>{{cite web |title=Eagle Day |url=https://msfame.com/inductees/eagle-day/ |website=msfame.com |access-date=May 24, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Peggy Dow]], film actress and philanthropist
* [[Jim Dunaway]], former NFL defensive tackle
* [[Joey Gathright]], former Major League Baseball player<ref>{{cite news |title=Smith Drug Co. celebrated 1st anniversary by highlighting 'Let's Play Ball' exhibit |url=https://www.wdam.com/2023/04/02/smith-drug-co-celebrated-1st-anniversary-by-highlighting-lets-play-ball-exhibit/ |access-date=May 24, 2023 |work=WDAM}}</ref>
* [[Bobby Hamilton (American football)|Bobby Hamilton]], former NFL defensive end, two-time Super Bowl winner with [[New England Patriots]]
* [[S. J. Hathorn]], member of the [[Mississippi House of Representatives]] from 1904 to 1908 and the [[Mississippi Senate]] from 1917 to 1918<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rowland |first=Dunbar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V1WjAAAAMAAJ |title=The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi |date=1904 |publisher=Department of Archives and History |pages=549 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Terry Irvin]], former CFL [[cornerback]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Looking Back: Irvin one of best cornerbacks in Canadian Football League |url=https://www.columbianprogress.com/features/looking-back-irvin-one-best-cornerbacks-canadian-football-league |access-date=May 24, 2023 |work=The Columbian-Progress |date=July 13, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Claudis James]], former NFL player
* [[Kenny Johnson (American football)|Kenny Johnson]], former NFL player<ref>{{cite web |title=Kenny Johnson Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnKe26.htm |website=Pro-Football-Reference |access-date=May 25, 2023}}</ref>
* [[General Benjamin Lee]], military leader and early political figure
* [[Carey B. Maddox-Preston]], social worker<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vogell |first1=Heather |title=CAREY PRESTON, 85, MEMBER OF TROUBLED '70S SCHOOL BOARD |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-12-08-0012080282-story.html |access-date=May 25, 2023 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=December 8, 2000}}</ref>
* [[Sylvester Magee]], reputedly the last living American slave, died in Columbia in 1971<ref name="Wolfe">{{cite news |last1=Wolfe |first1=Buster |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30073992/magee_to_receive_marker_forty_years/ |access-date=March 30, 2019 |title=Last Slave to Receive Marker |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330115619/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30073992/magee_to_receive_marker_forty_years/ |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |newspaper=Columbian Progress |date=December 3, 2011 |pages=1, 3 |quote=Forty years after his funeral, Sylvester Magee of Columbia - who is considered the last American slave - will be getting a headstone on his grave because the Marion Historical Society and Stacy Nolan of Southern Monument in Foxworth. |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Ken Morgan (politician)|Ken Morgan]], member of the Mississippi House of Representatives<ref>{{cite web |title=Ken Morgan's Biography |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/20648/ken-morgan |website=Project Vote Smart |access-date=May 25, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Jaheim Oatis]], American football defensive tackle<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newsome |first1=Langston |title=2022 four-star DL Jaheim Oatis firm in commitment to Alabama football, plans to enroll early |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2021/07/17/coumbias-jaheim-oatis-firm-commitment-alabama/7976605002/ |access-date=May 25, 2023 |work=Clarion-Ledger |date=July 17, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Joe Owens|Joseph T. "Joe" Owens]], former NFL defensive end
* [[Eddie Payton]], former NFL running back
* [[Walter Payton]], former NFL player in [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]], born in Columbia
* [[Johnny Sims]], former [[Arena Football League]] player<ref>{{cite web |title=Johnny Sims Football Statistics |url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-simsjoh001 |website=Stats Crew |access-date=May 25, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Ethelbert I. Singley]], member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1916 to 1920<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rowland|first=Dunbar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b8sGAQAAIAAJ |title=The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi|year=1917|publisher=Department of Archives and History|pages=893}}</ref>
* [[Jackie Smith]], former NFL [[tight end]] and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame<ref>{{cite web |title=Jackie Smith |url=https://nsudemons.com/sports/general/roster/jackie-smith/2491 |website=Northwestern State University Athletics |access-date=May 25, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Ruby Terry]], gospel musician<ref>{{cite web |title=Ruby Terry |url=https://justgospel.weebly.com/ruby-terry.html |website=justgospel.weebly.com |access-date=May 25, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Hugh L. White]], former Columbia mayor and two-term Governor of Mississippi
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{Portal|Mississippi}}
*{{Official website|http://www.cityofcolumbiams.com/}}

{{Marion County, Mississippi}}
{{Mississippi county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Columbia, Mississippi| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Cities in Marion County, Mississippi]]
[[Category:County seats in Mississippi]]