Why visit Columbus
Townapedia lists 23 museums and landmarks, 9 parks and trails, 20 places to eat and 1 place to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Columbus City Hall, Adolphus and Sarah Ingalsbe House, Columbus Country Club and Kestrel Ridge Golf Club.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 11°F.
Weather in Columbus
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Columbus
Columbus is a city in Columbia and Dodge counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 5,540 at the 2020 census, all of which resided in Columbia County. Columbus is located about 28 miles (45 km) northeast of Madison on the Crawfish River.
From the Wikipedia article Columbus, Wisconsin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks23
Columbus City Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
City hall of Columbus, Wisconsin
Adolphus and Sarah Ingalsbe House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic house in Columbus, Wisconsin
Albert M. and Alice Bellack House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic house located in Columbus, Wisconsin
Columbus Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district located in downtown Columbus, Wisconsin, United States
Columbus Fireman's Park Complex
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic structures in Columbus, Wisconsin, United States
Columbus Post Office
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Main post office in Columbus, Wisconsin
Columbus Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Library in Columbus, Wisconsin
Dix Street-Warner Street Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic district in Wisconsin, United States
E. Clarke and Julia Arnold House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Columbus, Wisconsin, United States
F. A. Chadbourn House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic house in Wisconsin, United States
Farmers and Merchants Union Bank
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Commercial building in Columbus, Wisconsin
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Frances Kurth Sharrow House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic house in Wisconsin, United States
11 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds9
Restaurants and cafes20
Columbus Family Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican, American · 0.5 mi
224 Dix Street, Columbus
06:00-20:00
Good Vibes Cafe & Candy
Cafe · Candy · 0.8 mi
127 East James Street, Columbus
We-Fr 10:00-20:00
Julie’s Java House
Cafe · 1.0 mi
409 N. Ludinton St, Columbus
Mo-Fr 06:00-17:00; Sa 07:00-13:00; Su 08:00-13:00
Hachi Hachi Sushi & Hibachi
Restaurant · Japanese, Sushi · 0.8 mi
141 East James Street
Mullins Short Stop
Restaurant · 1.1 mi
641 North Ludington Street, Columbus
Cercis Brewing Company
Bar and pub · 0.8 mi
140 North Dickason Boulevard, Columbus
8 more on the map.
Where to stay1
History
Before European settlement of the region, the area was territory of the Ho-Chunk Nation, who were the primary inhabitants of south-central Wisconsin, including the Columbus region. The Crawfish River was an important part of their trade. Sometimes, other tribes challenged the ownership over the region. For example, the Sauk and Meskwaki peoples.
The earliest European settlers of Columbus were Majors Elbert Dickason and Lewis Ludington, arriving in 1838 and 1839, respectively. Dickason, following military discharge from the Black Hawk War, returned in 1839 to find Lewis Ludington enjoying the same area of land that he had purchased through the government land office for $1.25 an acre.
Dickason built a log cabin on the banks of the Crawfish River, located across the railroad tracks from what is now the north end of Dickason Boulevard. He is credited with naming the settlement after Christopher Columbus. Lewis Ludington's land purchases were registered in the Green Bay Office of Land Management in 1839, signaling that a settlement had been established. In 1847, the state legislature declared that Columbus should become the county seat of justice, but that designation only lasted until 1851, when Portage became the county seat.
From the History section of Columbus, Wisconsin on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship3
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and Parsonage
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
St Jerome's Catholic Church
Church · Catholic · 1.0 mi
1550 Farnham Street, Columbus
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries12
Healthcare3
Forward Pharmacy Columbus
Clinic and pharmacy · Coffee Shop, Ice Cream · 0.8 mi
100 South Ludington Street, Columbus
Map of Columbus
75 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°F | 11°F | 1.4 in |
| Feb | 31°F | 14°F | 1.6 in |
| Mar | 43°F | 24°F | 2.0 in |
| Apr | 57°F | 35°F | 3.9 in |
| May | 69°F | 46°F | 4.2 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 5.6 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 60°F | 4.4 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 4.1 in |
| Sep | 73°F | 50°F | 3.9 in |
| Oct | 61°F | 38°F | 3.0 in |
| Nov | 45°F | 28°F | 2.4 in |
| Dec | 33°F | 18°F | 1.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Waterloo Wwtp (11 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
Columbia County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2008-06-14: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2007-08-26: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2005-09-13: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2004-06-18: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Dodge County Airport (UNU) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 17 miles away.
- Beaver Dam 14 mi northeast, about 22 min by car
- Randolph 14 mi north, about 23 min by car
- Sun Prairie 15 mi southwest, about 24 min by car
- DeForest 18 mi southwest, about 28 min by car
- Watertown 18 mi southeast, about 29 min by car
- Pardeeville 19 mi northwest, about 31 min by car
- Waunakee 23 mi southwest, about 38 min by car
- Cambridge 23 mi south, about 37 min by car
- Waupun 25 mi northeast, about 40 min by car
- Madison 26 mi southwest, about 43 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
- Amtrak Station, Columbus, Wisconsin, Downspec, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Columbus Tower 2 - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Columbus Elementary School - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Associated Bank Columbus - panoramio (2), JD Milburn, CC BY 3.0
- Associated Bank Columbus - panoramio, JD Milburn, CC BY 3.0
- Columbus Family Restaurant - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Associated Bank Columbus - panoramio (1), JD Milburn, CC BY 3.0
- NAPA Auto Parts Columbus, Wisconsin - panoramio, JD Milburn, CC BY 3.0
- Columbus Fireman's Park - panoramio, JD Milburn, CC BY 3.0
- Columbus Wisconsin Middle School, Downspec, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Columbus Middle School - panoramio, Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Columbus, WI 53925, USA - panoramio (17), JD Milburn, CC BY 3.0
- Walgreens Columbus - panoramio (1), Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0
- Resthaven Columbus Wisconsin Historic Building, Downspec, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Columbus Wisconsin Redbud Tree, Downspec, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Columbus Wisconsin Fireman's Park Pavillion - panoramio, JD Milburn, CC BY 3.0
- Columbus, WI City Hall, Walcott Studio, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and Parsonage Columbus Wisconsin, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Adolphus and Sarah Ingalsbe House, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- GovJamesTLewisHouseColumbusWisconsin, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- EClarkeJuliaArnoldHouseColumbusWisconsin, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dix Street-Warner Street HD, TheCatalyst31, CC0
- Columbus Fireman's Park Complex October 2012, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Albert M and Alice Bellack House, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- FAChadborneHouseSept2009, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ColumbusWisconsinDowntown1WIS60WIS16, User:Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 2.5
- Farmers and Merchants Union Bank, James Street and Dickason Boulevard, Columbus, WI, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- John A and Maggie Jones House, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PrairieStreetHistoricDistrict615, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Reinhard and Amelia Schendel House, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ColumbusWisconsinPostOffice, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fred and Lucia Farnham House Side View, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- John Kurth Office Building October 2012, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- GeorgeGriswoldHouse, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Holsten Family Farmstead May2012 Columbia County Wisconsin, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SouthDickasonBlvdHistoricDistrictHouse, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Frances Kurth Sharrow House, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- E. Clarke ^ Julia Arnold House - panoramio (1) (cropped), JD Milburn, CC BY 3.0
- E. Clarke ^ Julia Arnold House - panoramio (1), JD Milburn, CC BY 3.0
- E. Clarke ^ Julia Arnold House - panoramio (2), JD Milburn, CC BY 3.0
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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.