Columbia is a city in
Maury CountyMaury County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 69,498. Its county seat is Columbia. It was formed in 1807 from Williamson County and Indian lands.-Geography:According to the U.S...
,
TennesseeTennessee is a state located in the Southeastern United States. According to the 2008 census, it has a population of 6,214,888, an increase of nearly 9.5% since 2000. Tennessee is the 14th fastest growing state in the US and is ranked 17th by population. It is ranked 36th by total land area. In...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The 2008 population was 34,402 according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. It is the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
of
Maury CountyMaury County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 69,498. Its county seat is Columbia. It was formed in 1807 from Williamson County and Indian lands.-Geography:According to the U.S...
.
The town is notable for being the self-proclaimed "
MuleA mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
capital of the world" and honors this fact with
Mule DayMule Day, an annual celebration of all things related to mules, is held in Columbia, Tennessee, the self-proclaimed "Mule Capital" of the world...
, a large celebration held annually every April. Columbia is also the home of the national headquarters for the
Sons of Confederate VeteransSons of Confederate Veterans is an organization of male descendants of soldiers or sailors who served the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. SCV membership is open to all male descendants age 12 and over of soldiers who fought for the Confederate States of America...
.
Columbia is located at (35.615022, -87.044464).
Columbia is a city in
Maury CountyMaury County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 69,498. Its county seat is Columbia. It was formed in 1807 from Williamson County and Indian lands.-Geography:According to the U.S...
,
TennesseeTennessee is a state located in the Southeastern United States. According to the 2008 census, it has a population of 6,214,888, an increase of nearly 9.5% since 2000. Tennessee is the 14th fastest growing state in the US and is ranked 17th by population. It is ranked 36th by total land area. In...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The 2008 population was 34,402 according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. It is the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
of
Maury CountyMaury County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 69,498. Its county seat is Columbia. It was formed in 1807 from Williamson County and Indian lands.-Geography:According to the U.S...
.
The town is notable for being the self-proclaimed "
MuleA mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
capital of the world" and honors this fact with
Mule DayMule Day, an annual celebration of all things related to mules, is held in Columbia, Tennessee, the self-proclaimed "Mule Capital" of the world...
, a large celebration held annually every April. Columbia is also the home of the national headquarters for the
Sons of Confederate VeteransSons of Confederate Veterans is an organization of male descendants of soldiers or sailors who served the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. SCV membership is open to all male descendants age 12 and over of soldiers who fought for the Confederate States of America...
.
Geography
Columbia is located at (35.615022, -87.044464). It is nestled along the banks of the Duck River at the southern edge of the Nashville Basin with the higher elevated ridges of the Highland Rim located to the south and west of the city.
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of 29.6 square miles (76.7 km²), of which, 29.6 square miles (76.7 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.
History
A year after the organization of Maury County in 1807, Columbia was laid out in 1808 and lots were sold. The original town, on the south bank of the Duck River, consisted of only four blocks. The town was incorporated in 1817. For years, it was the county seat of the richest county in agricultural wealth in the state. Today, it is an important tourist destination, most of whom are drawn by the numerous historic sites in the area. Attractions include the James K. Polk Home, the Columbia Athenaeum, Mule Day, and nearby plantation homes.
Famous natives of Columbia include
James K. PolkJames Knox Polk was the 11th President of the United States .Polk was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, but mostly lived in and represented the state of Tennessee...
, Governor, Congressman, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and eleventh President of the United States; A.O.P. Nicholson, state senator, U.S. Senator, and Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court;
Sterling MarlinSterling Marlin is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #09 Finch Racing car on a part time basis. He is the son of former NASCAR driver Coo Coo Marlin. Outside of racing he enjoys watching Tennessee Volunteers football and collecting Civil War artifacts...
,
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver; Dr. Marion Dorsett, inventor of the serum to control hog cholera;
Fran McKeeFran McKee was the first female line officer to hold the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. She was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral on June 1, 1976 and earned her second star in November 1978...
, first female line
admiralAdmiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above Vice Admiral and below Admiral of the Fleet/Fleet Admiral. It is usually abbreviated to "Adm." or "ADM"...
in the U.S. Navy; and Raphael Benjamin West former Nashville major, noted Civil Rights ally.
Columbia Race Riot of 1946
In 1946, a race riot dubbed 'The Columbia Race Riot' occurred in the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
, Columbia, TN.
A fight between James Stephenson, an
blackBlack is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
NavyThe United States Navy is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. As of 31 December 2008, the U.S. Navy had about 331,682 personnel on active duty and 124,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 283 ships in active service and more than...
veteran, and a white shopkeeper apparently ignited the event, and later that same day there was shooting, fighting, and rioting between whites and blacks in a part of Columbia known as "Mink Slide", a name for the
blackBlack is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
business district. Several people were eventually charged with rioting and attempted murder; the main attorney who arrived in Columbia to defend Stephenson in the case was
Thurgood MarshallThurgood Marshall was an American jurist and the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. Before becoming a judge, he was a lawyer who was best remembered for his high success rate in arguing before the Supreme Court and for the victory in Brown v. Board of...
, who would later become the first black
United States Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States, and leads the federal judiciary. It consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed with the "advice and consent" of the Senate...
justice.
Columbia State Community College
Columbia State Community CollegeColumbia State Community College is a two-year college located in Columbia, Tennessee. Founded in 1966, it serves nine counties in middle Tennessee through five campuses...
was the first community college in Tennessee. It was dedicated by First Lady
Lady Bird JohnsonClaudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson was First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969 during the presidency of her husband Lyndon B. Johnson. Throughout her life, she was an advocate for beautification of the nation's cities and highways and conservation of natural resources and she made...
.
Movies Filmed in Columbia
- Parts Of The Film Green Mile, Filmed In The Country Side Of Columbia TN
- The film Daltry Calhoun
Daltry Calhoun is a 2005 film, written and directed by Katrina Holden Bronson and starring Johnny Knoxville as the lead character Daltry Calhoun and Sophie Traub as his estranged daughter...
, starring Johnny KnoxvillePhilip John Clapp , known by his stage name Johnny Knoxville, is an American actor, comedian and daredevil. He has been featured in a number of films, but is best known as the co-creator and principal star of the MTV series Jackass and its subsequent films.-Career:Knoxville credits a copy of Jack...
, was filmed in Columbia and Spring Hill in 2004.
- In 2009, Hannah Montana: The Movie
Hannah Montana: The Movie is a American musical film adaptation of American teen sitcom Hannah Montana. The film was directed by Peter Chelsom with screenplay penned by Daniel Berendsen. The film was produced by David Blocker, Billy Ray Cyrus, Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Steven Peterman and...
was filmed in downtown Columbia.
- The Film, Stuey, Filmed In Columbia And Nashville Tennessee In 2002.
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 33,055 people, 13,059 households, and 8,801 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 1,116.8 people per square mile (431.2/km²). There were 14,322 housing units at an average density of 483.9/sq mi (186.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.63% White, 21.13% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.06% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.70% of the population.
There were 13,059 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,879, and the median income for a family was $42,822. Males had a median income of $34,898 versus $22,093 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city was $18,004. About 10.9% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Lynnette Cole
Lynnette Cole , won the title Miss Tennessee USA in 2000. She went on to become the first woman from that state to win the Miss USA pageant, which was held in Branson, Missouri on February 4, 2000....
, Miss USAThe Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA.-History:...
2000
- Phil Everly, of the Everly Brothers, noted country
Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains...
-influenced rock and rollRock and roll is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States after World War II in the late 1940s, from a combination of the rhythms of the blues, from the African American culture, and from America's country music and gospel music scenes...
performer
- Joe Knight, Professional Basketball Player. Played in Turkey and Austria. State Champion Long Jumper at Columbia Central High School
- Coo Coo Marlin
Clifton "Coo Coo" Marlin was a NASCAR Winston Cup driver who spent 14 years in the series.-Local track history:...
, NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver
- Steadman Marlin
Steadman Marlin is a part-time NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #95 Sadler Brothers Dodge in select races in the Busch Series. Marlin, the son of Sterling Marlin and grandson of the late Coo Coo Marlin, was born in Columbia, Tennessee on October 29, 1980. He made his NASCAR debut in 2000...
, NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver
- Sterling Marlin
Sterling Marlin is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #09 Finch Racing car on a part time basis. He is the son of former NASCAR driver Coo Coo Marlin. Outside of racing he enjoys watching Tennessee Volunteers football and collecting Civil War artifacts...
, NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver and Daytona 500The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule. Matt Kenseth is the defending champion of the race....
winner
- Dan Uggla
Daniel Cooley Uggla is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Florida Marlins. Uggla finished third in the 2006 National League Rookie of the Year voting behind teammate and winner Hanley Ramirez, and Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals, but won the Players Choice and...
, Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
player and All-Star for the Florida MarlinsThe Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
External links