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Columbia City, Indiana
Columbia City is a city of 9,897 people in Whitley County, Indiana, founded in 1839.
Why visit Columbia City
Townapedia lists 34 museums and landmarks, 16 parks and trails, 40 places to eat, 4 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Bones Theatre, Columbia City Historic District, Whitley County Courthouse and Russel and Evelyn Fahl Aquatics Center.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 16°F, and about 21 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Columbia City
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Columbia City
Columbia City is a city in Columbia Township, Whitley County, Indiana, United States. The population was 9,892 at the 2020 Census, up from 8,750 at the 2010 Census, estimated to be 10,064 in 2023. The city is the county seat of Whitley County, and is the largest community therein. It is part of the Fort Wayne MSA.
From the Wikipedia article Columbia City, Indiana (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Columbia CIty Performing Arts Center
Cinema and theater · 1.7 mi
1600 South State Road 9, Columbia City
Museums and landmarks34
Columbia City Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Whitley County, Indiana
Whitley County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Courthouse in Indiana, United States
Thomas R. Marshall House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic house in Indiana
Eel River Battlefield War of 1812
Monument and historic site · 2.0 mi
22 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds16
Russel and Evelyn Fahl Aquatics Center
Sports field and stadium
452 North Whitley Street, Columbia City
Mo-Sa 12:00-19:00, Su 12:00-17:00
Morsches Park
Park · 0.5 mi
Morsches Park, located on the east side of Columbia City, IN. This 117 acre park offers a lot of different recreational activities for...
1035 IN-205, Columbia City
Eagles Stadium
Sports field and stadium · 1.9 mi
1600 South State Road 9, Columbia City
4 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes40
Brewha Coffee House
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.6 mi
120 North Main Street, Columbia City
Mo-Th 06:00-21:00; Fr 06:00-22:00; Sa 06:00-21:00; Su 08:00-20:00
Pizza Hut
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.6 mi
101 Frontage Road, Columbia City
Su-Th 10:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-00:00
Richards Restaurant Columbia City
Diner · American · 0.7 mi
252 Frontage Road
Mo-Fr 07:00-19:00; Sa 07:00-14:00; Su 07:00-15:00
Wings Etc.
Restaurant · Grill · 1.3 mi
496 West Plaza Drive
Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-00:00; Su 11:00-22:00
Blue River Café
Diner · American · 1.7 mi
1600 South State Road 9, Columbia City
Mo-Fr 10:30-13:00
CJ's Drive In
Restaurant · 1.0 mi
502 East Chicago Street
Mo-Fr 11:00-20:00; Sa 11:00-19:00; Su 12:00-17:00
Casa Balbina
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.7 mi
118 West Van Buren Street, Columbia City
Tokyo Steak of Japan
Restaurant · Japanese · 0.7 mi
116 West Van Buren Street, Columbia City
28 more on the map.
History
The first European ancestry settlers arrived in 1837 as a result of the end of the Black Hawk War and the Erie Canal. They were from New England - "Yankee" Settlers, descendants of the English Puritans who settled New England in the colonial era. They were primarily members of the Congregational Church though due to the Second Great Awakening many of them had converted to Methodism and some had become Baptists before coming to what is now Columbia City.
Columbia City was founded in 1839, originally just being called "Columbia". The name was later changed in 1854 since there was already a city named Columbia in the state. Many public debates were held to discuss different names for the city, but it was later only reduced to two: "Beaver" and "Columbia City." Eventually, the name Columbia City was selected.
The completion of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, & Chicago Railway in 1856 brought rapid growth to the small town, and from 1865 to 1875 the population would have tripled. Columbia City was incorporated in the state of Indiana in 1888.
The city's historic jailhouse was built in 1875 with an old second empire-style. It is known to be haunted. A new county jail was inaugurated in 2024.
From the History section of Columbia City, Indiana on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay4
Churches and places of worship14
Church of the Nazarene
Church · Nazarene · 0.4 mi
506 North Main Street, Columbia City
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Healthcare3
Parkview Whitley First Care Walk-In Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.6 mi
885 Connexion Way, Columbia City
Map of Columbia City
133 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 16°F | 2.5 in | 7.0 in |
| Feb | 35°F | 18°F | 1.9 in | 6.5 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 27°F | 2.6 in | 3.0 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 38°F | 3.8 in | 0.3 in |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 75°F | 52°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 63°F | 42°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 31°F | 3.0 in | 1.2 in |
| Dec | 37°F | 22°F | 2.4 in | 3.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Columbia City (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Whitley County has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2020-04-03: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2014-04-22: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Severe Storm)
- 2009-04-22: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2008-01-30: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Smith Field (SMD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 17 miles away.
- South Whitley 9 mi southwest, about 15 min by car
- Churubusco 9 mi northeast, about 15 min by car
- Roanoke 15 mi south, about 24 min by car
- Albion 16 mi north, about 26 min by car
- Huntertown 17 mi east, about 27 min by car
- Fort Wayne 18 mi east, about 29 min by car
- Winona Lake 18 mi west, about 29 min by car
- North Manchester 19 mi southwest, about 31 min by car
- Huntington 20 mi south, about 31 min by car
- Warsaw 20 mi west, about 32 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Columbia City, Indiana (7981692876), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Thomas R. Marshall House in Columbia City, Nyttend, Public domain
- Columbia City, IN 46725, USA - panoramio (8), Evan Nichols (Virtua…, CC BY 3.0
- Columbia City GAR memorial, Nyttend, Public domain
- Columbia City, IN 46725, USA - panoramio (9), Evan Nichols (Virtua…, CC BY 3.0
- Columbia City, IN 46725, USA - panoramio (2), Evan Nichols (Virtua…, CC BY 3.0
- Columbia City, IN 46725, USA - panoramio (5), Evan Nichols (Virtua…, CC BY 3.0
- Columbia City, IN 46725, USA - panoramio, Evan Nichols (Virtua…, CC BY 3.0
- Columbia City, IN 46725, USA - panoramio (7), Evan Nichols (Virtua…, CC BY 3.0
- Columbia City, IN 46725, USA - panoramio (1), Evan Nichols (Virtua…, CC BY 3.0
- Columbia City, IN 46725, USA - panoramio (6), Evan Nichols (Virtua…, CC BY 3.0
- Columbia City, IN 46725, USA - panoramio (3), Evan Nichols (Virtua…, CC BY 3.0
- Columbia City, IN 46725, USA - panoramio (4), Evan Nichols (Virtua…, CC BY 3.0
- Whitley-county-founding-plaque, Unknown author, Public domain
- Whitley-county-thomas-riley-marshall-plaque, Unknown author, Public domain
- Whitley County Courthouse, Holly Ramsey, CC BY 2.0
- Columbia-city-downtown, Unknown author, Public domain
- Columbia-city-indiana-courthouse, Unknown author, Public domain
- Columbia-city-indiana-city-hall, Unknown author, Public domain
- Columbia Township, IN, USA - panoramio, Evan Nichols (Virtua…, CC BY 3.0
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