West Columbia, Texas
City
Capitol Theater
Capitol Theater
Motto: 
"Birthplace of a Republic"
Location of West Columbia, Texas
Location of West Columbia, Texas
Coordinates: 29°8′29″N 95°38′49″W / 29.14139°N 95.64694°W / 29.14139; -95.64694
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyBrazoria
Government
 • TypeGeneral Law Municipality
 • City ManagerDebbie Sutherland
 • MayorLaurie Beal Kincannon
Area
[1]
 • Total2.63 sq mi (6.80 km2)
 • Land2.61 sq mi (6.75 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation
36 ft (11 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,644
 • Density1,468.56/sq mi (567.04/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
77486
Area code979
FIPS code48-77416[2]
GNIS feature ID1371096[3]
Websitewestcolumbiatx.org

West Columbia is a city in Brazoria County in the U.S. state of Texas. The city is centered on the intersection of Texas Highways 35 & 36, 55 miles (89 km) southwest of downtown Houston. The population was 3,644 at the 2020 census.[4]

The 1st Congress of the Republic of Texas was convened in West Columbia on October 3, 1836. (It was then named simply Columbia.)

Geography

West Columbia is located in western Brazoria County at 29°8′29″N 95°38′49″W / 29.14139°N 95.64694°W / 29.14139; -95.64694 (29.141513, –95.647016),[5] about 2 miles (3 km) west of the Brazos River. Texas State Highway 35 leads east 13 miles (21 km) to Angleton, the county seat, and southwest 23 miles (37 km) to Bay City. Texas Highway 36 leads north 32 miles (51 km) to Rosenberg and southeast 23 miles (37 km) to Freeport on the Gulf of Mexico.

According to the United States Census Bureau, West Columbia has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.04 km2), or 0.67%, is water.[4]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19401,573—
19502,10033.5%
19602,94740.3%
19703,33513.2%
19804,10923.2%
19904,3726.4%
20004,255−2.7%
20103,905−8.2%
20203,644−6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
West Columbia racial composition as of 2020[7]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 2,029 55.68%
Black or African American (NH) 563 15.45%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 16 0.44%
Asian (NH) 18 0.49%
Some Other Race (NH) 11 0.3%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 105 2.88%
Hispanic or Latino 902 24.75%
Total 3,644

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,644 people, 1,398 households, and 984 families residing in the city.

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 4,255 people, 1,607 households, and 1,099 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,661.9 inhabitants per square mile (641.7/km2). There were 1,755 housing units at an average density of 685.5 per square mile (264.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 70.15% White, 19.51% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 7.83% from other races, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.05% of the population.

There were 1,607 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,115, and the median income for a family was $38,090. Males had a median income of $37,981 versus $19,775 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,647. About 14.0% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

History

Columbia was established in 1826 by Josiah Hughes Bell when the town was laid out two miles west of Marion, later known as East Columbia. Columbia was briefly the capital of the Republic of Texas from September to December 1836.[10] The town hosted the First Congress of the Republic of Texas when Sam Houston became president on October 22, 1836. The House of Representatives and Senate each met in private homes. The First Congress voted to move the capital to Houston on November 30 because Columbia lacked living quarters for government officials. On December 27, 1836, Stephen F. Austin died at the home of George B. McKinstry in Columbia.[11]

The town, which became known as West Columbia, saw its commerce decline after the government moved away. A post office was set up in 1905. When oil was discovered in the West Columbia oil field in 1918, the town became a center for cotton, oil, rice and sulphur. By 1928, the town's population rose to 2,500, but the ill-effects of the Great Depression caused the number of residents to fall to about 1,000. In 1940 there were 1,573 persons living in West Columbia and 50 businesses. During the 1950s, the population increased to 2,100. By the 1960s big oil companies had a considerable presence near town and the area boasted the most cattle in the state. In 1960 West Columbia had 2,947 residents, in 1970 it had 3,335 and in 1990 it had 4,372. In the next two decades the population dipped slightly. Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site is near West Columbia.[11]

Government and infrastructure

The United States Postal Service West Columbia Post Office is located at 350 West Brazos Avenue.

West Columbia is a General Law municipality, like approximately 75% of Texas cities. As a "general law" city, West Columbia must operate according to specific state statutes prescribing powers and duties. City Council is composed of five Council members and a Mayor, elected at-large to two (2) year terms in nonpartisan elections. The day-to-day operation of West Columbia falls to a full-time City Manager.

Education

The city is served by the Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District.

Schools that serve the city include West Columbia Elementary School, Barrow Elementary School, Wild Peach Elementary School, West Brazos Junior High School, and Columbia High School. One elementary and the high school are in West Columbia. The junior high and Barrow Elementary are located in Brazoria.

There is a charter school called West Columbia Charter School.

The West Columbia Library is a part of the Brazoria County Library System.

The Texas Legislature assigned the area in Columbia-Brazoria ISD (including West Columbia) to the Brazosport College district.[12]

Health services

West Columbia is served by Central EMS. There is not a hospital within the city limits. However, Sweeny Community Hospital, Brazosport Regional, Angleton-Danbury Medical Center and Matagorda Regional are all within a 30-mile radius.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): West Columbia city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  8. ↑ https://www.census.gov/
  9. ↑ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Near Site of the First Capitol of the Republic of Texas - Brazoria County ~ Number: 9560". Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. 1979.
  11. 1 2 West Columbia, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
  12. ↑ Texas Education Code Sec. 130.170. BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
  1. ↑ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[8][9]
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