Columbiana, Alabama
16 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1890 and the latest in 1984. It stands in the Columbiana census division. It lies in ZIP code area 35051. The Survey maps it on the Columbiana quadrangle. 4,462 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 525 feet above sea level.
On record in Columbiana
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 1 record
Columbiana City Halllisted 1974
Surveyed buildings and structures 3 records
- Old Shelby County Courthouse, North Main Street, Columbianafederal building survey, 1 photograph
- Shelby County Courthouse, North Main Street, Columbianafederal building survey, 1 photograph
- Ware Cemetery Plot, Shelby County Road 25, Columbianafederal building survey, 1 photograph
Population over time
3 figuresColumbiana grew from 496 to 4,462 between 1880 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 496 | |
| 2010 | 4,197 | |
| 2020 | 4,462 | +265 (+6%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
10 surveys from 16 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1890 USGS Bessemer quadrangle1:125000
- 1892 USGS Bessemer quadrangle1:125000, 2 printings
- 1909 USGS Columbiana quadrangle1:62500
- 1911 USGS Columbiana quadrangle1:62500, 2 printings
- 1953 USGS Birmingham quadrangle1:250000, 4 printings
- 1956 USGS Birmingham quadrangle1:250000
- 1957 USGS Birmingham quadrangle1:250000
- 1975 USGS Columbiana NE quadrangle1:24000
- 1980 USGS Columbiana quadrangle1:24000
- 1984 USGS Birmingham South quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Photographs
3 photographs,Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Photographer not recorded. Library of Congress
Fires near this place
208 since 1994Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 208 fires within 5 miles of Columbiana between 1994 and 2020, burning about 2,468 acres in total. 3 started naturally. 83 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Arson/incendiarism | 83 |
| Debris and open burning | 75 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 23 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 14 |
| Natural | 3 |
| Smoking | 3 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 2 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 2 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 2 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 1995 | Recreation and ceremony | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 6 September 2019 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 6.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | 20190906-13 |
| 5 September 1995 | Recreation and ceremony | 8.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 4 September 2002 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 6.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 30 September 2001 | Arson/incendiarism | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
| 27 September 2019 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | 20190927-16 |
| 26 September 2019 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Alabama Forestry Commission | 20190926-1 |
| 24 September 2004 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Alabama Forestry Commission | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 14 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 14 workings within 5 miles of Columbiana: 8 unknowns, 2 past producers, 2 producers, 1 occurrence. 3 still produce. What was taken out: Iron, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Manganese, Sulfur. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Facility) Tuscaloosa Refinery | Sulfur | Plant | ||
| Shelby Mine | Iron, Manganese | Past Producer | 1849 | |
| Couch Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Tuscaloosa Quarry | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Chain Gang Pit | Iron | Unknown | ||
| Columbiana Mountain | Iron | Unknown | ||
| Columbiana Red Ore Prospect | Iron | Occurrence | Hematite | |
| Kingdom Area | Iron | Unknown | ||
| Shelby Pit | Iron | Unknown | ||
| Shelby Pit/Kingdom Area | Iron | Past Producer | Residual |
Storms near this place
36 since 1996Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Columbiana in 36 storm reports between 1996 and 2026: 22 thunderstorm wind, 8 hail, 3 flash flood, 2 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2005 | Tornado (F1) | Columbiana | $200,000 | National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed the damage just northeast of Columbiana. It has been determined that the damage was the result of a tornado. The tornado has been rated an F1 onthe Fujita Damage Scale with winds estimated around 75 miles an hour. The tornado touched down approximately 3 miles northeast of downtown Columbiana, just west of County Road 25 across thetrain tracks. The tornado snapped off and uprooted numerous trees and knocked over several powerpoles along its fairly short path. Some of the trees were several feet in diameter. Fallen treessignificantly damaged one home, produced minor damage to a few other homes, destroyed at least 4 vehicles, and destroyed several outbuildings. The tornado crossed County Road 25 and headed eastwardacross mainly rural farmland. The tornado ended near the intersection of Davis Road and County Road5 where a garage sustained roof damage and one large tree was uprooted. The tornado damage path wasapproximately 2.2 miles long and 150 yards wide at its widest point. The tornado started at 522 AM CDT and ended at 523 AM CDT. Begin: 33 12.98/86 35.39 End: 33 13.13/86 33.20 |
| December 2011 | Tornado (EF0) | Columbiana | $45,000 | National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in Shelby County and assessed damage that was consistent with a tornado. An EF-0 tornado with winds of 70 to 80 mph briefly touched down in Columbiana along County Road 47 and moved northeast for 1.9 miles and lifted along County Road 25. Along its path, 2 homes were damaged due to falling trees, and another home suffered minor shingle damage. Approximately 50 trees were either snapped or uprooted. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | $20,000 | The old National Standard building in Columbiana, which had been vacant for several years, suffered a collapsed roof. |
| February 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | $20,000 | Winds estimated at 70 mph blew the roof off a business in downtown Columbiana. |
| March 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | $15,000 | no account filed |
| December 2009 | Flood | Columbiana | $10,000 | A prolonged period of rain caused a portion of AL-70 to become impassable due to high water, in the city of Columbiana. |
| February 2004 | Flash Flood | Columbiana | $8,000 | no account filed |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | $5,000 | Trees and powerlines were blown down on County Road 28 and on County Road 61. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | $5,000 | Several trees and power lines were blown down, on Carter Lane and Thompson Street, in Columbiana. |
| August 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | $5,000 | Several large trees and power lines were blown down, causing damage to several residences, in the Shelby Shores Community, CR-42, Horn Drive, and Fowler Lane. |
| September 2009 | Flash Flood | Columbiana | $3,000 | Many streets in downtown Columbiana became flooded. The police department had to direct traffic around the flooded intersection of Main Street and Meyer Street. |
| October 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | $2,500 | A power pole and attached power lines were blown down on County Road 28, in the eastern portion of Shelby County. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | $2,000 | Several trees were blown down on Ferry Road, near Columbiana. |
| May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | $2,000 | Several trees were blown down in Columbiana. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | $2,000 | Several trees were blown down near Lay Lake. |
| March 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | - | A tree was downed on Highway 70 near Columbiana. |
| March 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | - | Multiple trees down in the vicinity of Columbiana, including Kewaw Drive, Atchison Trace, Highway 47, McMahon Highlands, and Chelsea Rd. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | - | Trees were downed along Highway 17 at Butler Rd in Maylene, Western Dr in Montevallo, Dunwar St in Calera, and Goodwin St and Industrial Pkwy in Columbiana. A warehouse roof was damaged along Industrial Pkwy as well. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | - | Trees were downed along County Road 70 near Five Oaks Rd. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | - | Trees were downed in the Columbiana area. |
| August 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | - | Numerous trees were uprooted in the Columbiana and Shelby areas. |
| April 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | - | Several trees uprooted in the city of Columbiana. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | - | Approximately 70-80 trees uprooted just west of the city of Columbiana. |
| December 2015 | Flash Flood | Columbiana | - | Numerous reports of flooded roadways across the southeast portions of Shelby County. Roads flooded include Highway 47, Highway 45, County Road 47, Heritage Road and West College Street. Significant flooding in the city of Columbiana along Highway 28. Several persons trapped in their homes along County Road 77 near Horton Road. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | - | Several trees were uprooted in the town of Columbiana. |
| March 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | - | Several sections of a 20 foot wide roof were removed from Columbiana Middle School, causing damage to two classrooms. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | - | Trees were uprooted around Main Street and powerlines were down along Route 25. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Columbiana | - | Trees and powerlines were reported down near the Dollar General in Columbiana. |
| December 2005 | Hail | Columbiana | - | Penny size hail was observed at the 911 Office in Columbiana. |
| December 2005 | Hail | Columbiana | - | Nickel size hail was reported at Lay Lake. |
| December 2005 | Hail | Columbiana | - | Nickel size hail covered the ground near SR 145 and County Road 47. The sudden hail storm contributed to an auto accident where 4 people were injured. |
| August 2002 | Hail | Columbiana | - | Nickel size hail was observed just north of Columbiana on CR 49. |
| June 1998 | Hail | Columbiana | - | Dime size hail was reported along SR 145, one mile north of the Chilton county line. |
| March 2008 | Hail | Columbiana | - | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Hail | Columbiana | - | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Hail | Columbiana | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale | 2.3 miles | 16 | |
| Nelson | 2.9 miles | 16 | |
| Kingdom Crossroads | 3.0 miles | 16 | |
| Shelby | 4.8 miles | 17 | |
| Shelby Springs | 5.2 miles | 17 | |
| Kewahatchie | 5.2 miles | 17 | |
| Joinertown | 5.3 miles | 17 | |
| Fourmile | 5.7 miles | 16 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Columbiana | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q79539 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 157923. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.









