Columbiana

Columbiana is a city of 3,316 and the seat of Shelby County. It was founded by C. B. Churchill as the site of his iron foundry, which was destroyed by Wilson's Raiders in April 1865. The settlement was named Columbia until the name was changed by the Alabama legislature on January 13, 1832. The City of Columbiana was incorporated in 1837 with its limits extending a quarter mile in each cardinal direction from the town square. The square is dominated by the Shelby County Courthouse, erected in 1854, which now contains the Shelby County Historical Society Museum.

Columbiana's Mildred B. Harrison Regional Library houses the Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington. Columbiana City Park, with picnic tables and a playground, is located near Elvin Hill Elementary School. The Columbiana Sports Complex, with four baseball fields, batting cages, a football field and walking track, is on McDow Road.

The Mayor of Columbiana is Allan Lowe, first elected in 2000. His second term expires in October 2008. The five-member city council is composed of Frieda Abrams (District 1), Danny Kelley (District 2), Tim Billingsley (District 3), Tom Seale (District 4 and Mayor Pro Tem), and Ouida Mayfield (District 5). The council meets twice a month in the Columbiana City Hall on Mildred Street on the first and third Tuesday.

The Chief of the Columbiana Police Department is Lamar Vick. The Columbiana Municipal Court is presided over by City Judge Mike Atchison.

Since 1986 Columbiana has celebrated Liberty Day on the last Saturday in June in honor of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. There is also an annual Columbiana Tour of Homes.

Geography

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The city claims 16.86 square miles within its corporate limits.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,316 people, 1,260 households, and 868 families residing in the city. The population density was 218.5/mi². There were 1,372 housing units at an average density of 90.4/mi². The racial makeup of the city was 78.59% White, 19.60% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,260 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,034, and the median income for a family was $44,798. Males had a median income of $34,350 versus $21,193 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,086. About 8.2% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.

External links

• City of Columbiana website