Columbiana, Ohio Explained

Columbiana, Ohio
Settlement Type:City
Motto:"The City with the Small-Town Heart"
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Point:none
Pushpin Map:Ohio#USA
Pushpin Relief:yes
Pushpin Label:Columbiana
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Ohio
Subdivision Type2:Counties
Subdivision Name2:Columbiana, Mahoning
Subdivision Type3:Townships
Subdivision Name3:Fairfield, Beaver, Unity[1]
Government Type:Council–manager
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Rick Noel
Leader Title1:City manager
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1805
Named For:Christopher Columbus
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:15.94
Area Land Km2:15.75
Area Water Km2:0.19
Area Total Sq Mi:6.15
Area Land Sq Mi:6.08
Area Water Sq Mi:0.07
Population As Of:2020
Population Est:6757
Pop Est As Of:2023
Pop Est Footnotes:[3]
Population Total:6559
Population Density Km2:416.45
Population Density Sq Mi:1078.61
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation Ft:1125
Coordinates:40.8806°N -80.675°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:44408
Area Codes:330, 234
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:39-17036[4]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2393608
Blank2 Name:School District
Blank2 Info:Columbiana Exempted Village SD

Columbiana is a city in Columbiana and Mahoning counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 6,559 at the 2020 census.[5] It is part of the Youngstown–Warren metropolitan area.

History

Columbiana was laid out by Joshua Dixon and William Heald in 1805.[6] The city takes its name from Columbiana County, which itself is named in honor of 15th-century Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, combining his surname with the mass noun suffix -iana.[7] Columbiana was incorporated as a village in 1837[8] and elevated to a city in 2000.

The Jones–Bowman House, built in 1842, is believed to have been part of the Underground Railroad.[9] Businessman Harvey S. Firestone, who founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, was born and raised in Columbiana in the late 19th century. In 1933, he and his wife Idabelle Smith Firestone donated 53 acres in the city to develop Firestone Park, which opened in 1935.[10] The Firestone Farms shopping center, housing development and golf course are named after him.[11]

Geography

Most of the city is located in Fairfield Township, Columbiana County, which in turn includes most of Columbiana's incorporated land in Columbiana County. A district of northern Columbiana lies in Beaver Township, Mahoning County, and another small portion to the east lies in Unity Township, Columbiana County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.14sqmi, of which 6sqmi is land and 0.14sqmi is water.[12]

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Columbiana had a population of 6,559. The median age was 52.1 years. 16.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 32.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.9 males age 18 and over.[13]

98.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.0% lived in rural areas.[14]

There were 3,113 households in Columbiana, of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.8% were married-couple households, 18.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]

There were 3,365 housing units, of which 7.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.1% were owner-occupied and 32.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.6%.[13]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[15] ! Race !! Number !! Percent
6,208 94.6%
22 0.3%
7 0.1%
43 0.7%
1 <0.1%
Some other race 30 0.5%
248 3.8%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 134 2.0%

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 6,384 people in 2,881 households, including 1,763 families, in the city. The population density was 1064PD/sqmi. There were 3,181 housing units at an average density of 530.2/mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 97.7% White, 0.6% African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.0%.[16]

Of the 2,881 households 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.8% were non-families. 34.5% of households were one person and 18.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.74.

The median age was 49.4 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.9% were from 25 to 44; 27.7% were from 45 to 64; and 27.4% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 5,635 people in 2,534 households, including 1,576 families, in the city. The population density was 930.4sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 2,707 housing units at an average density of 446.9/mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 98.86% White, 0.11% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.07% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.32%.

Of the 2,534 households 22.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 34.9% of households were one person and 17.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.76.

The age distribution was 19.0% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.3% 65 or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.

The median household income was $34,560 and the median family income was $42,363. Males had a median income of $33,693 versus $21,648 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,727. About 4.9% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Columbiana is home to the 1930s-themed Firestone Farms shopping and business park.[17]

Arts and culture

The city hosts the annual Shaker Woods Arts & Crafts Festival, which brings national attention to the city in the summer and fall seasons.[18] Other seasonal festivals include the Columbiana Wine Festival, a Fourth of July fireworks festival, the Harvey S. Firestone Festival of the Arts, American Legion Street Fair, and the Joy of Christmas Holiday Light Festival.[19]

The city contains a public library, which was established in 1933. The initial Public Works Administration-built library opened in 1939; the library moved to a second building in 1990.[20]

Government

Columbiana operates under a chartered council–manager government, where there are six council members elected as a legislature for 4-year terms in addition to a mayor, who serves as an executive.[21] The council employs a city manager for administration. As of 2021, the mayor is Rick Noel[21] and the city manager is Lance Willard.

Education

Children in Columbiana are served by the public Columbiana Exempted Village School District, which includes one elementary school, one middle school, and Columbiana High School.[22] The city shifted from one-room schoolhouses to an organized district in 1861 and opened its first modern high school in 1864, with its first class graduating in 1881.[23] The current high school was built in 2000.[24] Columbiana also has one private school, Heartland Christian School, which opened in 1996.[25]

Transportation

State Route 14 and State Route 46 run east–west through the northern part of the city as a concurrency from East Palestine before meeting an intersection with State Route 164, from which point SR 14 continues westbound to Salem and SR 46 continues northbound to Canfield. SR 164 enters Columbiana as an east–west route concurrent with State Route 344 from Leetonia and switches to running north–south downtown; SR 344 terminates downtown. Finally, State Route 7 passes through western Columbiana near Firestone Farms. The city lies along portions of the Norfolk Southern Railway Fort Wayne Line and the Youngstown and Southeastern Railroad.

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Governmental Unit Reference Map (2021): Fairfield township, OH. United States Census Bureau. Washington, D.C.. 2021. March 25, 2022. 1. 1:18,173.
  2. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. September 20, 2022.
  3. Web site: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Ohio: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 . United States Census Bureau . 13 June 2024.
  4. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  5. Web site: QuickFacts: Columbiana city, Ohio. September 13, 2021 . census.gov .
  6. Book: History of Columbiana County, Ohio and Representative Citizens . Biographical Publishing Company . McCord, William B. . 1905 . 277.
  7. Book: Overman, William Daniel. Ohio Town Names. 1958. Atlantic Press. Akron, OH. 32.
  8. Book: History of Columbiana County, Ohio: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers . Unigraphic . Mack, Horace . 1879 . 144.
  9. Book: Ohio Places Dictionary. 2008. North American Book Dist LLC. 9781878592705. 162.
  10. Web site: Preserving Columbiana, Ohio . Restore Columbiana . July 19, 2021 . August 23, 2025.
  11. Web site: History – Firestone Farms . Firestone Farms . March 20, 2025 . August 23, 2025.
  12. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . January 6, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . July 2, 2012 .
  13. Web site: 2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1). United States Census Bureau. 2021. January 31, 2026. mdy.
  14. Web site: 2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC). United States Census Bureau. 2023. January 31, 2026. mdy.
  15. Web site: 2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171). United States Census Bureau. 2021. January 31, 2026. mdy.
  16. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 6, 2013.
  17. Web site: Firestone Farms. June 26, 2018. Firestone Farms.
  18. Web site: City of Columbiana History. June 26, 2018. City of Columbiana.
  19. Web site: History - ColumbianaOhio.gov . October 15, 2019. City of Columbiana.
  20. Web site: History . Columbiana Public Library . August 31, 2023 . August 23, 2025.
  21. Web site: 2020 General Election Results for Columbiana County. https://web.archive.org/web/20210608124934/https://www.columbiana.boe.ohio.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Columbiana-County-Elected-Officials-2.11.21.pdf. dead. June 8, 2021. February 19, 2021.
  22. Web site: 2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Columbiana County, OH. U.S. Census Bureau. February 18, 2023.
  23. Web site: COLUMBIANA SCHOOLS TRADITION . Columbiana Exempted Village School District . April 7, 2021 .
  24. Web site: Columbiana Exempted Village . April 27, 2023 . National Center for Education Statistics.
  25. http://www.heartland.k12.oh.us/About%20Us.htm About Us