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Columbus, Georgia

"The Fountain City"

Built on the fall line of the Chattahoochee River, Columbus is one of the largest cities in the South and home to the U.S. Army's Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), which has trained millions of soldiers since 1918.

Founded 1828 | Population 199,237 | Peak 199,237 (2020) | County Muscogee

Top 10 Most Important Events for Columbus, Georgia

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1828City Founded on Fall Line:

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1865Last Civil War Naval Battle:

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1918Camp Benning Established:

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1926Bibb Manufacturing Peak:

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1970City-County Consolidation:

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1977Stocking Strangler Terrorizes City:

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2005BRAC Expands Fort Benning:

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2012Whitewater Course Opens:

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2023Fort Benning Renamed Fort Moore:

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Complete Historical Timeline

1828

Columbus founded by Georgia legislature at Chattahoochee fall line

1855

Eagle and Phenix Mills becomes one of South's largest textile operations

1865

Union forces capture Columbus in last Civil War naval battle

1918

Camp Benning established as infantry school

1926

Textile mills employ thousands; city is major industrial hub

1970

Columbus and Muscogee County consolidate governments

1977

Stocking Strangler murders terrorize Wynnton neighborhood

1986

Carlton Gary convicted of Stocking Strangler murders

2005

BRAC moves Armor School to Fort Benning from Fort Knox

2012

World's longest urban whitewater course opens on Chattahoochee

2023

Fort Benning renamed Fort Moore

Did You Know?

Columbus's Springer Opera House was designated the State Theater of Georgia by then-Governor Jimmy Carter in 1971.

The city hosted the softball events for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics at Golden Park.

Dr. John Pemberton, inventor of Coca-Cola, was from Columbus and first experimented with the formula here before moving to Atlanta.

Famous People from Columbus, Georgia

Carson McCullers

Screenwriter, Writer · Born Feb 19, 1917 · Died Sep 29, 1967 (age 50)

Wayne Brady

Screenwriter, Singer · Born Jun 2, 1972 · Age 53

Nolan Gould

Actor, Child Actor · Born Oct 28, 1998 · Age 27

Ma Rainey

Singer, Songwriter · Born Apr 26, 1886 · Died Dec 22, 1939 (age 53)

Robert Cray

Singer, Songwriter · Born Aug 1, 1953 · Age 72

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