Columbus Georgia
History of Columbus

Columbus was founded in 1828, located at a strategic point along the Chattahoochee River, near the border with Alabama. The city is named after the Spanish explorer, Christopher Columbus. Being located along the Chattahoochee, Columbus has always been a vital point of trade for the entire South. Columbus serves as a central hub of trade, shipping goods along the Chattahooche and down to New Orleans, from which goods are shipped internationally.
The city was reached primarily by river during its early years. Columbus was very important to the cotton industry, allowing the chief export of the South to reach customers around the world, and particularly in Britain. When the railroad came into the region in the 1850s, Columbus became even more important. The arrival of the railroad increased the amount of trade coming through the city, making it vitally important to the South.
The arrival of the railroad also made Columbus an important center of industrial activity. This trend would be further bolstered by the Civil War. Columbus became the industrial heart of the Confederacy during the
Civil War, producing munitions for the war effort. Columbus was also the home of the Confederate naval works. Columbus survived the war without suffering total destruction, as Atlanta did.
The industrialization seen before the Civil War continued afterward, making it one of the most economically active cities in the South. The military also continued to be major source of support for the city, with Fort Benning coming into the area shortly after the Spanish American War. The city has become a major center of commerce, and many national companies have their headquarters there, such as Aflac and Synovus. The city suffered from urban blight and racial tension during the 1960s, but efforts were taken to maintain the classic downtown appeal.
The downtown area is now home to many great tourism attractions, with a host of businesses that have sprung up to support that market. The Springer Opera House was restored in 1965 and remains one of the most active tourism attractions in the South today. The National Civil War Naval Museum also draws a considerable crowd every year. The presence of Fort Benning nearby has also stimulated growth for the Columbus area.
Economy of Columbus
Columbus is located along the important Chattahooche River, making it a vital hub of trade throughout the South. For many years, Columbus has acted as a conduit for the South, distributing goods to the rest of the world via the Chattahooche and its connection with New Orleans. In its earliest years, Columbus served primarily as a shipping center for the cotton crop of the South. Although this has continued into more modern times, Columbus has also developed an industrial infrastructure of its own in recent years.
The military and the tourism business provide a great deal to the wealth of Columbus. Fort Benning is an ever growing military presence nearby, and civilian employment at the base is a major factor in the local economy. Plans to expand Fort Benning in the coming years bode well for the economy of Columbus. The I-185 corridor provides another important conduit for trade through the city. Rail lines are also an important part of the Columbus economy. With the combination of easy river, road, and rail access, the city enjoys its status as a critical hub of trade for the South.
As an important city during the Civil War, Columbus has a number of tourist attractions focused on the war. Columbus attracts thousands of tourists every year to its old Civil War iron and naval works. This tourism generates a great deal of money for the service industry, making restaurants, hotels, and other services very successful in the area. The boost in tourism over the past few years has also helped out the downtown area.
Columbus Tourist Attractions
The Columbus Museum is a great introduction to the storied history of the region, including the important role that the city played during the turbulent Civil War years. The Port Columbus Civil War Naval Museum will give you an up close look at the most important Confederate naval yard during the Civil War. Columbus is also home to a number of beautiful parks that are always worth visiting. The Coca-Cola Space Science Center can also be found in Columbus, which is a great place to see some of the greatest exhibitions of science in the country. The National Infantry Museum is also located near Columbus, so be sure to visit that as well.
If you are planning to move to the Columbus Georgia area or have recently relocated to Columbus and you are looking for a good Columbus Family Dentist, the best way is to ask your old dentist to see if he or she has a colleague in Columbus. Many family dentists will typically keep in contact with many dentists all over the US when they are attending dental seminars and conventions.