Columbia, Kentucky
 City of Columbia, Kentucky  | |
|---|---|
 Location of Columbia, Kentucky | |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| • Mayor | Patrick R. Bell |
| • City Attorney | Marshall Loy |
| • Governing body | Columbia Council |
Columbia is a city in Adair County, Kentucky, just above Russell Creek. The area was settled around 1802 by Daniel Trabue. The post office was opened on April 1, 1806 by John Field, who also ran a local store. It is alleged that he named the community in honor of Christopher Columbus. The population was 4,014 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Adair CountyTemplate:GR.
The Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway runs through Columbia as it extends from Bowling Green, KY to Somerset, KY. This Parkway is a future Corridor of Interstate 66. The addition of an interchange with a 2006 reconstruction of Highway 61 South, Columbia now has two exits on the Parkway.
Exit 49, the original exit on the parkway, merges onto Highway 55 South (also known as Jamestown Street) bringing drivers through the middle of Columbia.
Exit 46, the new exit, merges onto Highway 61 South (also known as Burkesville Street/Road) and drivers can choose to go to Burkesville, KY or drive north to the City Square, where the County Courthouse (pictured to the top-right) is a center piece.
Currently a Highway 55 Bypass is being constructed, for more information see below.
Columbia is also the home of Lindsey Wilson College, a private four year college.
Geography
Columbia is located at 37°6′2″N 85°18′22″W / 37.10056°N 85.30611°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (37.100652, -85.306056)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.9 km² (3.4 mi²), all land. Official revisions have been made to the total area of the city as at least eight annexations have occurred since November 4th, 2004.
The eight annexations since November 4th, 2004 are as follows:
Tony and Orvis Grider, .58 acres
Ronnie Janes, Jamestown ST, 1.51 acres
Highway 55 North, from Day & Day Feed Mill to and including the new Adair County Regional Jail minimum security facility, 5.04 acres
Adair County Board of Education, 6.94 acres
Adair County Board of Education, 20.00 acres
Adair County Board of Education, 25.00 acres
Highway 55 North & Grant Lane, 26.46 acres (the new Bank District on North 55 near Columbia Bypass route)
Highway 61 South, 185.19 acres (the new Holladay Place Shopping Center, future home of Wal-Mart Supercenter)
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 4,014 people, 1,554 households, and 893 families residing in the city. The population density was 450.5/km² (1,167.9/mi²). There were 1,789 housing units at an average density of 200.8/km² (520.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.38% White, 7.37% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.02% of the population.
There were 1,554 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 18.0% under the age of 18, 19.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,861, and the median income for a family was $31,344. Males had a median income of $23,906 versus $21,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,836. About 19.9% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.4% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Schools in Columbia include:
Adair County Elementary School (Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Students from County)
Colonel William Casey School (Pre-School, Kindergarten, 1st, & 2nd Grade Students from City)
John Adair Intermediate School (3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Students from City)
Adair County Middle School (6th, 7th, & 8th Grade Students)
Adair County High School (9th-12 Grade Students)
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Colonel William Casey
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John Adair Intermediate School
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Adair County Middle School
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Adair County High School
The higher education presence is Lindsey Wilson College.
Media
Media in Columbia, KY, include:
- The Adair Progress, a local 2x weekly newspaper
- WHVE, a contemporary radio station
- WAIN, a country radio station
- Columbia Magazine, an online-only magazine updated daily with local news and history.
Columbia Bypass
After years of promises by various Governors and other Kentucky Officials, Governor Ernie Fletcher finally made construction of the Columbia Bypass a reality. Construction began early in May 2007, which culminated in an offical ground breaking ceremony by the Governor himself on May 15th, 2007[1] near the front of the newly constructed Adair County Elementary School, which faces the direction of the bypass.
While the completion date of the Columbia Bypass is not know, construction is ahead of schedule and making progress.
Columbia Bypass in Pictures
