Columbia
Census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland
Columbia is an unincorporated community (census-designated place) in Howard County, Maryland, with 104,681 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 407 ft (124 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Savage, 4.3 miles SE.
- 104,681residents (2020 Census)
- 407 ftelevation · 124 m
- 31.9 sq miland area · 82.7 km²
- 3,278 / sq mipopulation density
- 21044main ZIP code (3 in total)
About Columbia
Columbia is a planned community in Howard County, Maryland, United States, consisting of 10 self-contained villages. With a population of 104,681 at the 2020 census, it is the second-most-populous community in Maryland, after Baltimore. Columbia, located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., is part of the Baltimore metropolitan area and is tracked by the United States Census Bureau as a census-designated place. Columbia proper consists only of territory governed by the Columbia Association, a not-for-profit management company. The United States Postal Service also uses the name for other communities that predate Columbia, including Simpsonville and Atholton; the Census Bureau also counts part of Clarksville as Columbia.
Developer James Rouse founded Columbia in 1967, aiming to create a community that would avoid the inconveniences of then-current subdivision design; eliminate racial, religious and class segregation; and reduce leapfrog and spot zoning development.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Live webcams in Columbia
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Living in Columbia
- Median household income
- $131,490
- Median home value
- $497,400
- Median rent
- $2,042/mo
- Median age
- 39.4
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Map of Columbia
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Columbia Street View
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Open in Google Maps ›Columbia, MD population
Columbia had 104,681 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 104,681 |
|---|---|
| Density | 3,278 per sq mi (1,266 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Columbia at a glance
| State | Maryland (MD) |
|---|---|
| County | Howard County |
| Type | Census-designated place |
| Population | 104,681 (2020) |
| Land area | 31.93 sq mi (82.7 km²) |
| Water area | 0.26 sq mi (0.66 km²) |
| Elevation | 407 ft (124 m) |
| Coordinates | 39.2011° N, 76.8591° W |
| ZIP codes | 21044, 21045, 21046 |
| Census code (GEOID) | 2419125 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Columbia
- Savage4.3 mi SE
- Fulton4.3 mi SW
- Scaggsville4.4 mi S
- North Laurel5.0 mi S
- Ilchester5.3 mi E
- Ellicott City5.3 mi N
- Highland5.3 mi W
- Jessup5.7 mi SE
- West Laurel6.2 mi S
- Elkridge6.3 mi E
- Burtonsville6.7 mi SW
- Laurel7.3 mi S
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Columbia
What county is Columbia in?
Columbia is in Howard County, Maryland.
What is the population of Columbia, MD?
104,681 people lived in Columbia at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Columbia, MD?
The main ZIP code is 21044. Other ZIP codes: 21045, 21046.
What is the elevation of Columbia?
407 feet (124 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Columbia?
Savage (4.3 mi), Fulton (4.3 mi), Scaggsville (4.4 mi), North Laurel (5.0 mi), Ilchester (5.3 mi).
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