What began as a Muscogee Creek village was founded by an act of the Georgia Legislature in 1828 as Columbus, a trading post at the northernmost navigable part of the Chattahoochee River. Industry soon moved in, most notably textile mills, which used the Chattahoochee's powerful fall line currents to run their looms. Driven by the mills and the establishment of Fort Benning in 1922, Columbus continued to spread out across Muscogee County. After a mid-century economic downturn saw most of Columbus's mills close, the Fountain City has enjoyed a resurgence. Major employers like Aflac and Columbus State University (CSU) have expanded their footprint in recent decades. In addition to a growing main campus in the center of Columbus, CSU has developed a downtown campus by buying abandoned warehouses and repurposing them into offices, student housing and instructional space. "CSU invested in the city by putting their visual and performing arts campus near the river, and it's still transforming Columbus," says Realtor Michael Terrell with Keller Williams Realty, a former Columbus business owner with four years of real estate experience. "The young energy brought in by the students really helped to shape the town into what it is today." In addition to the new businesses, restaurants and amenities that are popping up across the city, home and retail developments continue to spread east and north. This revitalization, seen in festivals and whitewater rafting on the Chattahoochee, draws visitors and buyers to Georgia's second-largest city.
Columbus State University has expanded the campus along the Chattahoochee Riverfront.
Residents of East Highlands love to visit Rushsouth Whitewater to raft down the river.
Columbus is know to be the Fountain City due to artistic fountains spread across the city.
The Chattahoochee River was a busy industrial waterway supplying industries along the river.
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Restaurants, museums and summer concerts in Columbus
The heart of Columbus is Uptown . The district is lined with small boutiques, ice cream shops and restaurants. Tree-shaded benches are on every corner of Broadway, where residents are often found laughing, talking or playing music. There are more than 50 locally owned eateries here, some set within Banks Food Hall, a popular food court across from the RiverWalk that opened in 2020. The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts hosts musicals and concerts, and the Springer Opera House, opened in 1871, is the State Theatre of Georgia. Nearby, visitors can explore space shuttle artifacts and more at the Coca-Cola Space Science Center.
Uptown hosts many events, including an annual food truck festival and Toast of the Town, a charity event. “Concerts on Fridays [in the spring and fall] are a personal favorite,” says Terrell. “They close down Broadway, and you bring up a picnic chair and enjoy the music.” The music scene is important in Columbus, notes musician and local business owner Tim O’Brien. “The music scene took a dive during the pandemic and has been slow to come back, but we’re steadily getting back there,” O’Brien says. “Columbus is such a rich area for music — it’s been hugely influential in the history of blues, R&B and country music.”
Other popular Columbus neighborhoods include MidTown, home to the Columbus Museum, the Wynn House, Napier’s MidTown Market and Dinglewood Pharmacy. Since 1918, the pharmacy has been serving prescriptions and its signature scrambled dogs to generations of Columbus residents. MidTown also has its share of events, like the MidTown Mingle, which supports local businesses.
The development of Columbus Park Crossing, an outdoor mall with more than 50 vendors, in the early 2000s coincided with residential growth in north Columbus. More recently, commercial developments on the east side of Columbus and Midland areas have followed the growth of new subdivisions.
Columbus's RiverCenter for the Performing Arts hosts concerts and events.
The Wynn House hosts weddings, receptions, and dinners for the Columbus area.
The Springer Opera House is a historic theater located in the heart of downtown Columbus.
The Columbus Museum celebrates art collected throughout the Chattahoochee Valley.
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Woodruff Park and Lakebottom Park are local favorites
Columbus Parks and Recreation oversees a variety of public facilities, including Lake Oliver Marina, three tennis facilities, three public golf courses, and four outdoor swimming pools. One of Columbus’s favorite green spaces is Woodruff Park, which sits on the banks of the Chattahoochee. The park has a popular playground and splash pad connected to RushSouth Whitewater Park, the longest urban whitewater course in the country. RushSouth has a mix of higher-intensity rapids and low-intensity floating areas. There's also ziplining from Columbus across the river to Phenix City, Alabama. The Chattahoochee RiverWalk, a 15-mile waterfront trail, where visitors can jog or bike along the river to Fort Benning. The Dragonfly Trail extended the city's trail network east through CSU's main campus and past Flat Rock Park in east Columbus. Lakebottom Park, one of the city's oldest, sits at the heart of MidTown. The park has pickleball courts, a track, a playground, shady trails and picnic areas. Residents may be found at Lakebottom at Peach Little League games, walking their dogs, doing yoga in the park or attending events like the family-friendly MidTown GetDown.
Lake Oliver Marina is a 2,150 acre lake connected to the Chattahoochee River.
Rushsouth Whitewater Park near Downtown Columbus has a zip lining park to enjoy.
Rushsouth Whitewater Park has a state of the art playground for the children to enjoy.
Lakebottom Park Park draws Briarwood residents for sports and after school activities.
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A mix of historical homes and inspired subdivisions across Columbus
The median home value here is $168,400, about half the national average of $281,900, according to Niche. Columbus’s oldest homes are downtown, where buyers also find contemporary lofts in renovated textile mills. MidTown is a mix of pre-and-post-war homes centered around Lakebottom Park. Farther away from the river, buyers find post-war homes and suburban subdivisions. Across the city, homes typically list between $75,000 and $300,000. New construction is also happening in North Columbus, with subdivisions like Old Town Columbus , a southern living-inspired development, offering homes priced between $465,000 and $1 million. On the outskirts of town are acres of farmland dotted with farmhouses, lakeside homes and suburban subdivisions, priced between $250,000 and $500,000.
Tudor style homes are common in Saint Elmo Weracoba featuring beautiful red brick.
Many of the Downtown Columbus homes are protected by the historic society of Columbus.
Old Town Columbus homes are designed with classic American architecture in mind.
Most homes along the shores of lake harding in Antioch are raised in case of flooding.
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Muscogee County Public Schools
Encompassing 56 schools, the Muscogee County School District serves over 30,000 Columbus-area students and is rated B by Niche. There are seven public high schools, and four have magnet programs to help students prepare for careers or post-secondary education. Niche ranks A-plus-rated Columbus High as the best magnet school in Georgia and the second-best public high school in the state.
Carver Heights students can finish their primary education at Carver High School.
Wyntonn Elementary takes pride in the education of its students.
Eddy Middle School is well rated school for Downtown Columbus residents.
Columbus High is located in the heart of Saint Elmo Weracoba, great for walking to school.
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Fort Benning is the city's biggest employer
Columbus's major employer is Fort Benning, the third largest employer in Georgia, which employs nearly 45,000 active military members and civilians. Other major employers include Muscogee County Schools, which employs 5,500 people; Piedmont Columbus Regional, which employs 3,080; and Aflac, which employs 2,900 people. The city aims to invest in its economic development by increasing jobs, supporting entrepreneurship and advocating for equity in education and workforce initiatives, according to Columbus 2025.
Columbus's AFLAC, is a leading provider of supplemental insurance in the state of Georgia.
Piedmont Columbus Regional is a leading healthcare provider for Columbus and west Georgia.
Fort Benning is the third largest employer in the entire state of Georgia.
Muscogee County Schools employs 5,500 people in the city of Columbus.
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Crime across Columbus
According to FBI data, Columbus experienced a significant drop in property and violent crime incidents during 2022. The Columbus Police Department plans to keep numbers down by increasing camera surveillance, using new cybersecurity software and increasing hires within the department.
Commuting options and weather in Columbus
Most locals are car-dependent, and commuters have easy access to Interstate 185, Highway 280 and Veteran’s Parkway, a major thoroughfare. Columbus is 15 miles from Fort Benning, 40 miles from Auburn and 110 miles from Atlanta. Many Columbus locals use the bike lanes and trails to get around Uptown and its adjacent neighborhoods, while the METRA Transit System provides bus services throughout the city. There’s also the Groome shuttle service, which connects to Fort Benning and Atlanta. Piedmont Columbus Regional-Midtown, Piedmont Columbus Regional-Northside and St. Francis-Emory Healthcare are the local medical centers. Columbus Airport connects to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. According to Terrell, some residents choose to drive directly to Atlanta. The airport is 110 miles from the city but offers direct flights worldwide.
Columbus is known for having hot, humid summers and mild winters. During the winter, temperatures may often reach the 70s and 80s. The community is also prone to summer thunderstorms, as is much of the southeast. Some areas of Columbus are low-lying and may be at risk of flooding over time. While there have not been any major floods in the last five years, homeowners in flood zones may still want to purchase flood insurance as climate change continues to alter traditional weather systems.
I have lived in Dekalb County, which borders Gwinnett, Fulton, Rockdale, Henry and Clayton County since 1979. For thirteen years, I worked in the Sandy Springs/Dunwoody area and in the City of Atlanta over fourteen years. As a result, I have a vast knowledge of Dekalb County and the Metropolitan Atlanta Area. My willingness to assist you with your real estate goals; however, is unlimited. Education is fundamental. I have a bachelor's in professional studies with an emphasis in Marketing and a master's in business administration. I obtained both degrees while working and raising a family. This prepared me for a career in Real Estate, which is a time sensitive market. My educational background in conjunction with Engel & Voelker's equips me with the necessary tools to provide you excellent service in selling or buying your home and/or commercial property. As the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran, with parents who were happily married over 50 years, the importance of family and service was an integral part of my upbringing. The cornerstone of Engel & Voelker's is their commitment to premium service, exclusivity, and competence in real estate. Whether you are looking to purchase a home traditionally or rent-to-own, I can assist you with finding your dream home. My service areas are all great places to live! I would love the opportunity to earn your business and partner with you in regard to your Real Estate needs. Now that you know a little about me…let’s ROCK OUT in Real Estate together!!!
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