The following is a timeline 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.Olympic Games, 1996 Atlanta 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 Timelines 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).