The Columbus metropolitan area, officially the Columbus, GA–AL Metropolitan Statistical Area, and colloquially known as the Chattahoochee Valley, is a metropolitan statistical area consisting of six counties in the U.S. state of Georgia and one county in Alabama, anchored by the city of Columbus. It is the fourth most populous metro area in Georgia.
At the 2020 U.S. census, the Columbus area had a population of 328,883; in 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the Columbus MSA's population to be 324,830.
The Columbus metropolitan area is a component of the Columbus–Auburn–Opelika, GA–AL Combined Statistical Area, a trading and marketing region. It is split between the eastern time zone (the time zone of the Georgia metropolitan counties) and central time zone (the time zone of Russell County, Alabama). The Columbus metropolitan area is one of two metropolitan areas split between multiple time zones, with the other being the Chattanooga metropolitan area in Tennessee.
Geography
Located in West Georgia, the metropolitan area consists of counties in both Georgia and Alabama: Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Stewart, and Talbot counties in Georgia; and Russell County, Alabama. Stewart and Talbot counties were added to the MSA in 2018, when the Office of Management and Budget revised the official area definition of the Columbus metropolitan area.
Communities
Places with more than 180,000 inhabitants Columbus, Georgia (principal city)
Places with 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants Cusseta, Georgia (includes Fort Benning) Phenix City, Alabama
Places with 1,000 to 10,000 inhabitants
Buena Vista, Georgia Hamilton, Georgia Ladonia, Alabama (census-designated place) Lumpkin, Georgia Manchester, Georgia (partial) Pine Mountain, Georgia (partial) Richland, Georgia West Point, Georgia (partial)
Places with less than 1,000 inhabitants
Geneva, Georgia Hurtsboro, Alabama Junction City, Georgia Shiloh, Georgia Talbotton, Georgia Waverly Hall, Georgia Woodland, Georgia
Unincorporated places
Box Springs, Georgia Cataula, Georgia Ellerslie, Georgia Fortson, Georgia Glenville, Alabama Juniper, Georgia Louvale, Georgia Midland, Georgia Omaha, Georgia
Demographics According to the 2000 United States census, there were 281,768 people, 103,982 households, and 72,632 families residing within the MSA. In 2010, its population grew to 296,506, and at the 2020 census, its population was 328,883; the 2022 U.S. census estimates numbered 324,110.
In 2000, the racial and ethnic makeup of the Columbus metropolitan area was 54.56% White, 40.21% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.02% of the population. According to the 2022 American Community Survey, the metropolitan area's racial and ethnic makeup was 43% White, 41% Black or African American, 2% Asian, 5% multiracial, and 8% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the MSA was $35,262, and the median income for a family was $40,065. Males had a median income of $29,196 versus $22,834 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $16,410. In 2022, the median household income was $54,106 with a per capita income of $30,287. An estimated 18.5% of the metropolitan population lived at or below the poverty line.
CountyStateSeat2025 estimate2020 censusChangeAreaDensityMuscogeeGeorgiaColumbus RussellAlabamaPhenix City HarrisGeorgiaHamilton ChattahoocheeGeorgiaCussetaMarionGeorgiaBuena VistaTalbotGeorgiaTalbottonStewartGeorgiaLumpkinTotal
Combined statistical area
Transportation Air Columbus Airport
Interstate Interstate 85 Interstate 185
U. S. routes U.S. Route 27 U.S. Route 27 Alternate U.S. Route 80 U.S. Route 280 U.S. Route 431
See also Georgia census statistical areas Alabama census statistical areas
References