Why visit Columbus
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 7 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Columbus Public Carnegie Library.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 23°F.
Weather in Columbus
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Columbus
Columbus is the second largest city in and the county seat of Cherokee County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 2,929. It is located approximately 15 miles south-southwest of Pittsburg.
From the Wikipedia article Columbus, Kansas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks2
Columbus Public Carnegie Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Carnegie library in Columbus, Kansas
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes7
McDonald's
Fast food · Burger · 0.8 mi
420 South East Avenue
Mo-Th 06:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-23:00; Su 07:00-22:00
Sonic
Fast food · Burger
228 West Maple Street, Columbus
Mo-Th 07:00-23:00; Fr 07:00-24:00; Sa 07:00-23:00; Su 08:00-23:00
History
The first settlement was made at Columbus in 1868. The first post office in Columbus was established in 1869.
Columbus was a railroad junction for the Saint Louis and San Francisco, and the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas railroads. It was named Columbus by A.L. Peters, one of the European-American founders, for his hometown of Columbus, Ohio; the name thus indirectly honors Christopher Columbus, the explorer. Coal, lead and zinc were mined in the region. Columbus had a considerable trade in agricultural products, and its businesses included machine shops, grain elevators, flour mills, a cigar factory, bottle works (soft drinks), a canning factory, and an extensive brick-making plant.
In 1875, Robert A. Long and Victor Bell formed the Long-Bell Lumber Company in Columbus. From one lumberyard, Long-Bell expanded operations and holdings to become one of the largest vertically integrated lumber companies in the United States. In 1956 it was purchased by International Paper.
From the History section of Columbus, Kansas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Smittle House Bed and Breakfast
Motel and hotel · 0.4 mi
426 South Kansas Avenue, Columbus
Churches and places of worship1
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries9
Healthcare2
Map of Columbus
28 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 23°F | 1.7 in | 2.3 in |
| Feb | 49°F | 27°F | 2.0 in | 1.1 in |
| Mar | 58°F | 36°F | 3.4 in | 1.3 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 46°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 76°F | 56°F | 7.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 85°F | 65°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 90°F | 69°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 89°F | 68°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 59°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 48°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 58°F | 36°F | 3.0 in | 0.2 in |
| Dec | 47°F | 28°F | 2.4 in | 2.3 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Columbus Hcn (0 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
Cherokee County has had 23 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-09-01: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2026-09-01: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2026-06-30: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-07-15: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-29: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Miami Municipal Airport (MIO) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 18 miles away.
- Baxter Springs 12 mi southeast, about 19 min by car
- Commerce 16 mi south, about 26 min by car
- Pittsburg 19 mi northeast, about 30 min by car
- Joplin 20 mi east, about 32 min by car
- Miami 20 mi south, about 32 min by car
- Webb City 21 mi east, about 34 min by car
- Carthage 29 mi east, about 46 min by car
- Neosho 34 mi southeast, about 55 min by car
- Vinita 38 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Grove 41 mi south, about 1 h 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
- Columbus, KS public library funded by Andrew Carnegie., Kaethesson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.