Columbia

Borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

View of Columbia, Pennsylvania
Photo: Joseph E. B. Elliot · Public domain

Columbia is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with 10,207 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 361 ft (110 m) above sea level. The nearest town is West Hempfield, 2.0 miles NE.

About Columbia

Columbia, formerly Wright's Ferry, is a borough (town) in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 10,222. It is 28 miles (45 km) southeast of Harrisburg, on the east (left) bank of the Susquehanna River, across from Wrightsville and York County and just south of U.S. Route 30.

The settlement was founded in 1726 by Colonial English Quakers from Chester County, led by entrepreneur and evangelist John Wright. Establishment of the eponymous Wright's Ferry, the first commercial Susquehanna crossing in the region, inflamed territorial conflict with neighboring Maryland but brought growth and prosperity to the small town, which was just a few votes shy of becoming the new United States' capital.

Though besieged for a short while by Civil War destruction, Columbia remained a lively center of transport and industry throughout the 19th century, and was once the terminus of the Pennsylvania Canal. Later, however, the Great Depression and 20th-century changes in economy and technology sent the borough into economic decline. It is notable today as the site of one of the world's few museums devoted entirely to horology.

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Columbia weather: 7-day forecast

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Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).

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Living in Columbia

Median household income
$54,437
Median home value
$196,500
Median rent
$1,075/mo
Median age
41.8
Cost of living and demographics of Columbia ›

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Map of Columbia

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Columbia, PA population

Columbia had 10,207 residents in the 2020 Census.

2020 Census10,207
Density4,228 per sq mi (1,633 per km²)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.

Columbia at a glance

StatePennsylvania (PA)
CountyLancaster County
TypeBorough
Population10,207 (2020)
Land area2.41 sq mi (6.3 km²)
Water area0.01 sq mi (0.02 km²)
Elevation361 ft (110 m)
Coordinates40.0349° N, 76.4959° W
ZIP code17512
Official websitecolumbiapa.net
Census code (GEOID)4215384

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.

Towns near Columbia

Straight-line distance between town centers.

Frequently asked questions about Columbia

What county is Columbia in?

Columbia is in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

What is the population of Columbia, PA?

10,207 people lived in Columbia at the 2020 Census.

What is the ZIP code of Columbia, PA?

The ZIP code of Columbia is 17512.

What is the elevation of Columbia?

361 feet (110 m) above sea level.

What towns are near Columbia?

West Hempfield (2.0 mi), Wrightsville (2.0 mi), Washington Boro (2.4 mi), Marietta (3.3 mi), Mountville (3.6 mi).

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