1810History
However, the site does not enter the main continuity of United States history until December 1810, when John Pitchlynn, the U.S.
1817Architecture
In 1817 Jackson ordered a road be built to provide a direct route from Nashville to New Orleans.
1819Government
=== Founding ===
Columbus was founded in 1819, and, as it was believed to be in Alabama, it was first officially recognized by an Alabama Legislative act as the Town of Columbus...
1820History
In 1820 the post office that had been at Pitchlynn's relocated in Columbus.
1821Government
Columbus is also home to the oldest public elementary school in Mississippi, Franklin Academy Elementary, founded in 1821.
1863Architecture
One of the hospitals was located at Annunciation Catholic Church, built in 1863 and still operating in the 21st century.
1866Military
The decision of a group of ladies to decorate the Union and Confederate graves with flowers together on April 25, 1866, is an early example of what became known as Memorial Day.
1900History
In 1900, 6,484 people lived in Columbus; in 1910, 8,988; in 1920, 10,501; and in 1940, 13,645.
1934History
Murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through "the Section" of the U.S.
1939Architecture
=== WPA mural ===
The mural Out of the Soil was completed in 1939 for the Columbus post office by WPA Section of Painting and Sculpture artist Beulah Bettersworth.
1970Civil Rights
Desegregated in 1970, Lee High School received a state award for the high school with the best race relations.
1990Disaster
=== Recent history ===
On June 12, 1990, a fireworks factory in Columbus exploded, detonating a blast felt as far as 30 miles away from Columbus.
1992Education
Lee) and Caldwell High School; the schools were merged in 1992 and the campuses in 1997.
2000History
Most of these had closed by 2000.
2001History
On February 16, 2001, straightline winds measured at 74 miles per hour destroyed many homes and trees but resulted in no fatalities.
2002Disaster
On November 10, 2002, a tornado hit Columbus and caused more damage to the city, including the Mississippi University for Women.
2010Military
In 2010, Columbus won a Great American Main Street Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
2014Military
Bellware and Gardiner noted this observance of the holiday in The Genesis of the Memorial Day Holiday in America (2014).
2019Disaster
In February 2019, Columbus took a direct hit from an EF-3 tornado that caused devastating damage to homes and businesses and killed one woman after a structure fell on her.
2020History
=== Climate ===
== Demographics ==
=== 2020 census ===
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 24,084 people, 9,572 households, and 5,348 families residing in the c...
2025Government
== Government ==
In 2025, city councilman Stephen Jones, a Democrat, was elected mayor.