Columbus, Texas
Columbus is a city of 3,860 people in Colorado County, Texas, founded in 1821.
Why visit Columbus
Townapedia lists 80 museums and landmarks, 8 parks and trails, 13 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Old Stafford Opera House, Colorado County Courthouse, Confederate Memorial Museum and Midtown Park Butterfly Garden.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 98°F; January lows average 39°F.
Weather in Columbus
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Columbus
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Colorado County in southeastern Texas, United States. Its population was 3,699 as of the 2020 census. It is located on the Colorado River. The Colorado County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the Wikipedia article Columbus, Texas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Old Stafford Opera House
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic place in Columbus, Colorado County, Texas
Museums and landmarks80
Colorado County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic place in Columbus, Colorado County, Texas
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Benjamin Beason's Crossing of the Colorado River
Monument and historic site · 1.3 mi
68 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds8
Beason's Crossing Park
Park · 1.4 mi
3614 US-90, Columbus,
sunrise-sunset
Columbus Garden Club Certified Butterfly Garden
Park · 1.1 mi
1119 Travis Street, Columbus
24/7
Pickens Pollinator Pocket
Park · 1.3 mi
Demonstration pollinator garden established in the late 1990s by Columbus residents. The small circular garden has a drainage alley...
Restaurants and cafes13
Los Cabos Mexican Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.5 mi
2543 State Highway 71 South, Columbus
Snack Paradise & More
Fast food · Juice · 1.1 mi
2126 State Highway 71 South, Columbus
Tu-Fr 09:30-19:30; Sa-Su 10:00-19:30
Sonic
Fast food · Burger · 1.4 mi
2526 State Highway 71 South, Columbus
Mo-Th 06:30-22:00; Fr-Sa 06:30-23:00; Su 08:00-22:00
Whataburger
Fast food · Burger · 1.1 mi
2204 State Highway 71 South, Columbus
1 more on the map.
History
The first American settlers arrived in 1821 on what is known as the legendary site of Montezuma's Indian village. In 1822, the Mexican government issued land grants to members of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred, who included Benjamin Beason (originally spelled "Beeson") and Abram Alley. Alley's 1830s log cabin has been preserved in Columbus and is used as a tool museum. Beason arrived in 1821, received his land grant in 1822, and settled along the Colorado River with his wife Elizabeth "Betsy" and family. By late December 1821, colonists Robert H. Kuykendall, with his brother Joseph and Daniel Gilleland, arrived in the area of present-day Columbus. In 1822, Benjamin Beason began operating a ferry across the Colorado River, and the settlement became known as Beason's Ferry or Beason's Crossing. Beason also established a gristmill, gin, and sawmill; his wife operated a boarding house.
From the History section of Columbus, Texas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Americas Best Value Inn Columbus, TX
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
2436 State Highway 71 South, Columbus
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Columbus
Motel and hotel · 1.1 mi
4321 Interstate 10, Columbus
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging9
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Healthcare1
Map of Columbus
128 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64°F | 39°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 68°F | 43°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 75°F | 49°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 81°F | 56°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 88°F | 64°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 93°F | 70°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 96°F | 71°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 98°F | 71°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 93°F | 66°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 85°F | 56°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 74°F | 47°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 66°F | 40°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Columbus (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
Colorado County has had 15 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2024-07-09: Hurricane Beryl (Hurricane)
- 2021-02-19: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2021-02-14: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2017-08-25: Hurricane Harvey (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Eagle Lake Airport (ELA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 miles away.
- Bellville 25 mi northeast, about 40 min by car
- Brenham 33 mi north, about 53 min by car
- El Campo 39 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Fulshear 40 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Katy 43 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Rosenberg 45 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Cinco Ranch 48 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Richmond 49 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Pecan Grove 50 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Mission Bend 53 mi east, about 1 h 30 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
- Renovation of Colorado County Courthouse, Columbus, TX IMG 8230, Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Stafford bank and opera house 2008, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Colorado county courthouse, Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
- Columbus-tx2016-64(confederate-memorial), Darrylpearson, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Prairie Street Heritage House historical marker, Prairie Street Heritage House, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Columbus-tx2016-135(dilue-rose-harris), Darrylpearson, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Columbus-tx2016-119(american-declaration-of-independence), Darrylpearson, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Columbus-tx2016-139(j-light-townsend-homestead), Darrylpearson, CC BY-SA 4.0
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