Census Data for Columbus

Population ...

The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Columbus a population of 5,120 people.

The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Columbus a population of 4,991 people.

The city of Columbus is located in Columbia County. The 2010 Census gave Columbia County; a population of 56,833 people. This means that Columbus had 8.78% of the county's total population, making it Columbia's 2nd most populous community.

At the same time, Wisconsin had a population of 5,686,986 people, meaning that Columbus had 0.09% of the total population of Wisconsin - making it the state's 180th most populous community.

Columbia County ...

The community of Columbus is primarily located in Columbia County<3>. A portion of Columbus extends into Dodge County.

The county had a population of 56,833 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 4,991 people, Columbus represented 8.78% of the county's total.

For more information, please visit our Census Page for Columbia County.

Census-to-Census Observations ...

Introduction ...

When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Columbus, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Columbus. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.

• Continue Reading ...
  • Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Columbus or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints.
  • If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.

Area ...

The area (or polygon) given for the 2010 Census matches that given for the 2000 Census. It's likely that the same polygon was used for the two censuses.

Location ...

While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Columbus, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Columbus.

• Continue Reading ...
  • For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
  • Lat:   43.335882°   (or 43°20'9" N)
  • Lon:   -89.029705°   (or -89°1'46" W)
  • For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
  • Lat:   43.337366°   (or 43°20'14" N)
  • Lon:   -89.022753°   (or -89°1'21" W)
  • The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 1,921 feet to the west<4> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
  • The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#1583005) to Columbus. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Columbus. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
  • Lat:   43.336102°   (or 43°20'9" N)
  • Lon:   -89.030110°   (or -89°1'48" W)
  • The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 134 feet to the southeast<5> of the point given by the GNIS for Columbus. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Columbus.

Miscellaneous Information for Columbus ...

The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Columbia County or the city of Columbus:

• The GNIS Codes ...
  • The current system of identification is called the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The following GNIS codes relate to Columbus:
  • GNIS ID for Columbus: 1583005
  • GNIS ID for Columbia County: 1581070
  • GNIS ID for State of Wisconsin: 1779806

• The FIPS Codes ...
  • An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
  • State Code: 55 (Wisconsin)
  • County Code: 021 (Columbia County)
  • Place Code: 16450 (Columbus)
  • State & County Code: 55/021 (Wisconsin / Columbia County)
  • State & Place Code: 55/16450 (Wisconsin / Columbus)

• Misc. Census Codes ...
  • Columbus is located in Census Region #2 (the Midwest Region) and Division #3 (the East North-Central Division).

• The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
  • While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a city like Columbus, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Columbus. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
  • The ZIP code for Columbus:53925<6>

• Census ZCTA Codes ...
  • The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
  • ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.

For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Columbus.

Off-the-Road Links ...

The official website for Columbus: www.cityofcolumbuswi.com/

The official website for Columbia County: www.co.columbia.wi.us/

The official website for State of Wisconsin: https://www.wisconsin.gov/

The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau

The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)

The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)