10 Columbus (GA) Tidbits You (might) Want To Know

I Ethnic Makeup

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Columbus, GA are Black/African American (Non-Hispanic) (45.2%), White (Non-Hispanic) (40.7%), White (Hispanic) (3.31%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.26%), and Other (Hispanic) (2.46%).

II Public Safety

According to crimegrade.org "Columbus is in the 19th percentile for safety, meaning 81% of cities are safer and 19% of cities are more dangerous. This analysis applies to Columbus's proper boundaries only. The rate of crime in Columbus is 45.12 per 1,000 residents during a standard year."

III Average Income

The average income of a Columbus resident is $23,209 a year. The US average is $28,555 a year. The median household income of a Columbus resident is $41,362 a year. By comparison, on average, this is about $2,000 more per year than Georgia's poorest town, Royston, GA; and about $10,000 more per year on the median scale, according to Money, Inc.

IV Most Dangerous Places to Live in Columbus

CureViolence Columbus states "...data suggests 31903, 31906, 31907, and 31904, are the four most dangerous zip codes in the city of Columbus. “Basically, your Carver Heights, Macon Road, area, Forrest Road Area, back up towards Buena Vista road toward Farr Road area.” said Reggie Lewis - as of Apr 7, 2021.

V Poverty and Wealth in Columbus

Welfareinfo.org reports "The poverty rate in Columbus is 21.7%. One out of every 4.6 residents of Columbus lives in poverty. How many people in Columbus, Georgia live in poverty? 41,295 of 190,674 Columbus residents reported income levels below the poverty line in the last year." The per capita income in Columbus in 2018 was $26,097, which is upper middle income relative to Georgia, and middle income relative to the rest of the US. Economic development in the Columbus area owes a great deal to the presence of Fort Benning, the largest employer in the region.

VI Army Base

Fort Benning is a U.S. Army base located in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties near Columbus, GA. Covering 182,000 acres in west central Georgia and a small portion of its land in east central Alabama, it bears the moniker of 'Home of the Infantry'. Fort Benning's population consists of: Military - Active Duty 27,436; Support Reserve Components 6,639; and Retired 13,248. Dependents - On-Post Active Duty 7,268; Off-Post Active Duty 14,146; and Off-Post Retired 30,478

VII "Northside" Columbus

North Columbus, sometimes referred to as "Northside," is a district in Columbus, Georgia, situated just north of the district of Bibb City. It is bounded roughly by Moore Road on the north, Manchester Expressway to the south, Moon Road on the east, and J. R. Allen Parkway on the west.

VIII Who's Visiting Columbus?

VibrantAndConnectedColumbus.com: An estimated 1.9 million people visit Columbus each year, spending an aggregate of $352 million. The average visitor is 50 years old, and 30 percent of visitors are travelling with children; most tourists come from Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. While 65 percent of visitors come to Columbus either for business or a convention, or to visit friends and family at Ft. Benning, many engage in other activities while in the area. Uptown is a particularly lively area for visitors — overall, 74 percent of tourists dined out while visiting Columbus, 46 percent visited downtown restaurants and shops, and 34 percent visited a museum, attraction, or historic site while in town. [Hint: If you click the LINK in this paragraph, you too can take the V&C Survey!]

IX Movies With Filming Locations in Columbus, GA (in whole or parts of)

(1) "Hidden Figures," starring Taraji Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae; (2) "Survive The Night," starring Bruce Willis; (3)"The Overcomer," starring Aryn Wright-Thompson; (4) "We Were Soldiers," starring Mel Gibson and Greg Kinnear; (5) "Need For Speed," starring Aaron Paul; (6) "The Green Berets," starring John Wayne; (7) "The Fighting Temptations," starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Mike Epps; (8) "My Brother's Keeper," starring Joey Lawrence and Keshia Knight-Pulliam; (9) "Lycan," starring Dania Ramirez; (10) "Electric Jesus," starring Judd Nelson; (11) "Redeemed," starring Keshia Knight-Pulliam; (12) "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead," starring Joe Cross: (13) "The Phenix City Story," starring John McIntire; (14) "Kiss of the Tarantula," starring Ernesto Macias; (15) "A Haunting In Georgia," starring Suzi Byles; (16) "Things Don't Stay Fixed," starring William Gregory Lee: (17) "Your Mother Wears Combat Boots," starring Barbara Eden; (18) "A Time For Miracles," starring Kate Mulgrew; (19) "Hamlet's Ghost," starring Glen Mac; (20) "Sinister Visions," starring Kat Herlo; (21) "The Masked Nutcracker," starring Mary Frances Young; (22) "Hidden in Plain Sight," starring Columbus' own Congressman Sanford Bishop; (23) "Rock-A-Bye," starring Marty Davis; (24) "Punk Rock Cannibals," starring Travis Zawirny; (25) "The Turning Point," starring Micah Andrews; (26) " Merc," starring Friday Chamberlain; (27) "Demonica's Reign," starring Nicolette Michaela; (28) "WWE Tribute to the Troops," starring John Cena, Nic Nemeth, Ryan Reeves, Joseph Ruud; (29) "The Governor's Daughters," starring Maurice Johnson; (30) "The Wish: A Story of Hope, Faith and Generosity," starring Reece Odum; (31) "Jasper Sanks' Inches Away," starring Derek Beins; (32) "Angel of Mercy," starring Skyla Eli June; (33) "Grounds", starring Mustapha J. Slack; (24) "Soldier's Stories," starring Mickey Rooney and Matthew Young; (25) "Inauguration Day 09," starring Chuck E. Powers: (26) "Man Made," starring Acorye White: (27) "The 7-Year Itch," starring Ty Manns and Tamara Curry; (28) "The Tormented," starring Blue Kimble, directed by Ty Manns; (29) "A Dangerous Silence," starring Jacobe Love; (30) "Justice, Now!," starring David Azevedo; (31) "Convictions: Prisoners of Conscience," starring Robert Richter; (32) "Dead To Rights," starring Jordan T. Bates, Jacob Becerra, Shawn Enfinger, Bobby Frullaney; (33) "The Childhood Years," starring David Vaile, William Holmes Borders, Vernon Rogers Jr., Dorothy Rogers; (34) "Need For Speed: The Ties That Bind," starring Lance Gilbert, Mickey Gilbert, Tim Gilbert, Troy Gilbert; (35) "Awakening," starring Karen Wheaton, Lauren Wheaton Bentley, Lindsey Wheaton Doss, Eddie James; (36) "Need for Speed: Capturing Speed, Making an Authentic Car Movie," starring Dominic Cooper, Tanner Foust, George Gatins, John Gatins; (37) "Purpose," starring Joel King; (38) "Blast Off," starring Jim Carlisle; (39) "Paradoxical Synchronicity," starring Grady Port: (40) "Lunch In America," starring Kim Barber, Steven Earl-Edwards; (41) "Pomp and Circumstances," starring Shea Barnett; (42) "Vigilante Undercover," starring Theresa Edge; (43) "Coney Island, USA," starring  Teddy Graybill, Mary Graybill, Lisa Calandra Becker, Julisa Ariana Nicole Graybill; (44) "Cheaha," starring Robert Hughes; (45) "Jackmon Ripper," starring Charles Surrett, Kimerly Surrett, Taylor Surrett, Austin Surrett; (46) "Cold Justice: Kirby's Speed Shop," starring Abbey Abbondandolo, Matt Blackstock, Heather Brooks, Alan Brown; (47) "Weird Homes: Paradise Found (Land of Pasaquan)," starring Arthur Black; (48) "Somebody's Gotta Do It: Goat Cheese Queen (Klippers Pet Grooming)," starring Mike Rowe, Jason Baxter, Mary Keehn, Annie Rowden.

X Celebrities Born in Columbus Georgia

_Wayne Brady, "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"

_Justin Guarani, "From Justin to Kelly" (soundtrack)

_Arnetia Walker, "Scenes From The Class Struggle in Beverly Hills"

_Aidan Gould, "The Rainbow Tribe"

_Helen Parrish, "Three Smart Girls Grow Up"

_Chelsea Harris, "Top Gun: Maverick"

_Ryan Haywood, "UNO: The Movie"

_Kim Porter, "The Brothers" (Ms Porter died in 2018)

_Megan Blake, "Super Smiley Flash Mob: A Documentary"

_Nunnally Johnson, "The Grapes of Wrath" (writer)

_Robert Parrish, "City Lights" and "All Quiet on the Western Front." He won an Academy Award/Oscar as a writer for "Body and Soul" (1947)

_Lil Cory, "The Buccaneer"

_Dallas Austin, "Drumline" (soundtrack); also producer for R&B artist Usher and 1990s girl group, TLC (Lisa "LeftEye" Lopez-d. April 2002; Rozonda "Chili" Thomas; and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins) #DallasAustin

_Robert Cray, "Kalifornia" (soundtrack)

_Katie Orr, "Poor Jane" (writer)

_Carson McCullers, "Reflections in a Golden Eye (1967), The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968) and The Member of the Wedding (1952); (writer)

_Jennifer Kristin Cox, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2"

_Terry Hobbs, "Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers"

_Marty Jannetty, "In Your Face: The Lost Episodes of the XWF"

_Jason Benoit, "Killers"

_Rhonda Adams, "Any Given Sunday"

_Austin Watson, "Contentment (2013), WWE Smackdown! (1999) and WWE NXT (2010); (sound)

_Otis Sistrunk, "The Florida Connection" (1975), "Car Wash" (1976) and "Doc Hooker's Bunch" (1976)

_Tim Wilson, "Mountain Mafia" (2012), "Billy Gardell Presents Road Dogs" (2013) and "My 5 Wives" (2000); Wilson died in Columbus in 2014

_Joe, "The Wood" (soundtrack-1999); "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood" (1996) and "White Chicks" (2004)

_Larry Lindsey, "Hot Shots! Part Deux" (1993), "Roadie" (1980) and "JAG" (1995).. He died in 2016

_Frank Thomas, "Mr. Baseball" (1992), "Married... with Children" (1987) and "Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream" (1995)

_Julie M Anderson, "1969" (art)

_Juliette Compton, "The Scarlet Daredevil" (1928), "Nell Gwyn" (1926) and "Berkeley Square" (1933); she died in 1989

_Kurt Rhoads,  "Red Dead Revolver" (2004), "Grand Theft Auto IV" (2008) and "The Warriors" (2005)

_Andy Wyrick, "Unsolved Mysteries". He died in 2012

_Jack Clemmons, "In Search Of," hosted by Leonard Nimoy. Clemmons was noted as 'first police officer on the scene' when the call came in that Marilyn Monroe had died 

_Beverly Parrish, "A Tough Winter." She died in 1930

_Maggie Laine,  "Coastline" (2017), "The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" (2017 and 2018)

_Ma Rainey (who is also rumored to have died in Columbus, though some say she actually died in Rome, GA), "Repo Man" and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." Rainey was inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. News got out that her death certificate listed her only as a "Domestic Worker" or maid. Rainey is not known to have any living relatives to correct the records. #MaRainey [DISCOGRAPHY]

_Louise Huff, "Seventeen" (1916), "T'Other Dear Charmer" (1918) and "Heart of Gold" (1919). She died in 1973

_Ted Hayes, "227" (1985), "Vrooom Vroom Vrooom" (1995) and "Homelessness and Voices of Providence in the City of Angels, 2000CE" (2000)

_Bobbi Campbell, "Horizon." He died in 1984

_John Drew, "From The Earth to the Moon"

_Alice Johnson Boher, "A Portrait of Female Desperation," stand-up (Caroline's, Stand Up New York) in New York; and "SAINT ALICE OF CHATTAHOOCHEE" and "BITCH TROUBLE"

_Amy Sherald, painter and artist

_Lucious H. Chappell, "Operation Petticoat". He died in 1980

_Augusta Jane Evans Wilson, "God's Witness", "Saint Elmo," and "Infelice" (1915); (writer). She died in 1909

_Otis Nixon, "National League Championship Series" (1993), "1999 National League Championship Series" (1999) and "Sunday Night Baseball" (1990). He was previously married to Candi Staton and Pebbles

_David Kolin, "Hardcore TV" (1992), "Pirate TV" (1990) and "Felix the Cat: The Movie" (1988)

_Edward James 'Eugene' Bullard, "READ MORE at East Highland Neighbors & Friends" on Facebook...

_Brenda Blackmon, "The Paper" (1994) and "Real Talk" (2007)

_Deshauna Barber, "Entertainment Tonight" (1981), "Extra," with Billy Bush (1994) and "The Insider" (2004)

_Adam Forrester, "The Stranger" (2013), "Devil on My Shoulder" (2010) and "Some Million Miles" (2019); (director)

_Jake Strickland, "Jing mo gaa ting" (2005)

_Nicholas Rulon, "Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero" (2018)

_Aimee Elizabeth Bubblis, "Hateful Forty-Eight" (2020), "Swipe Right" (2019) and "Dear Kate," (currently in post-production); (editor and director)

_Kyle Brown, "unExpecting" (2011); (director)

_Eddie Bonine, "Highway to Heaven" (1984) and "Sunday Night Baseball" (1990)

_Mack Strong, "So Dark" (2013), "The NFL on CBS" (1956) and "NFL Monday Night Football" (1970)

_Justina Huff, "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" (1913), "The Man Inside" (1916) and "The Root of Evil" (1914). She died in 1977

_Matt Steele, "Green Lantern" (2011); (special visual effects)

_Nick Thomas, "Midwife" (2017)

_Fredye Marshall, She was a well-known local singer and actress, known for "The Rozell Show" (1954-1988), "The Philco Television Playhouse" (1948), "The Jimmy Wheeler Show" (1956) and "Northern Showground" (1956). She died on February 11, 1998 in Columbus

_Michael A Gary, "17 and Under" (producer)

_Chad Welch, "I Am Legend", starring Will Smith (2007)

_Phillip Wheeler, "NFL Monday Night Football" (1970), "The NFL on CBS" (1956) and "ESPN College Football Thursday Primetime" (1997)

_Jim Carlisle, "Blast Off" and WRBL-tv ON-AIR talent. He died in 1988

_Zandra Hill, "White Men Can't Jump" (1992), "Blood in, Blood Out: Bound By Honor" (1993)

_Andrew Fowler, "Road Trip" (2000), "Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane" (1998)

_Will Halley, "The Phantom Menace" (2018), "Nocturnal Paradise" (producer), "Virgin Alexander" (2011)

_Willie Denson, "It's Complicated" (2009); (soundtrack)

_Woodrow Lowe, "The NFL on CBS"

_Sam McQuagg,  "Tiny Lund: Hard Charger!" (1967); (Born and died in Columbus, 1935-2009)

_John A Marchetti, "Seventeen Cents," (director)

_Chuck Hurston. "AFL-NFL World Championship Game". He died in 2015 

_Kelli Michelle Bailey, "On the Case with Paula Zahn" (TV Series documentary); 'Stolen Dreams' (2017) ... Self/Victim: (died in 2001 in Panama City, FL)

_Charles Waterhouse, "American Valor" (2003)

_Matt Ceccato, "Knuckle Sandwich" (2004); (sound)

_Erica Jean Hillhouse-Hagood, "Little Scavengers" starring Malaiyah Amos (2017); (camera)

_Kevin Jordan, "G.A.T." (2013), "Strikeforce Challengers" (2009) and "UFC 56: Full Force" (2005)

_T.J. Fowler, "True Blue" (1996); (soundtrack)

_Sam Mitchell, "Red Dead Redemption II" (2018), "Eddie" (1996) and "Rome Is Burning" (2003)

_Colby Rasmus, Saint Louis Cardinals Center Fielder, "Sunday Night Baseball"; "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" (TV Series) Self - AL Division Series; "Michael Strahan/Eve Hewson/Charles Kelley ft. Dierks Bentley & Eric Paslay" (2015) - Self - AL Division Series 2014; "Mike & Mike: (TV Series) - Self - Toronto Blue Jays

_Nate Odomes, "The NFL on CBS"

_Roderick Hood, "The NFL on CBS"

_Jean Carne, "Precious" (2009), "The Walk" (2005) and "Soul Train" (1971), "Everything Everything" (2017); (soundtrack); Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia: Live in Concert (2008). [DISCOGRAPHY : best known for hit song 'Closer Than Close'] #JeanCarne

_Madeleine Davis, American singer [DISCOGRAPHY] #MadeleineDavis 

_Justin Christopher Ray, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" (Location management)

_Viola A. Fortescue, "The White Raven" [1917). She died in 1953

_Jerry Dempsey, "Return of the Jackalope" (2006)

_Leonardo Figueroa, "The Bilbee Boys" (2008)

_Tim Hudson, "Prime 9" (2009)

_Fred Banks, "NFL Monday Night Football"

_Maurice "Moe" Williams, "The NFL on CBS"

_Charles Edward Fortson, "Smokey Bites the Dust" (1981); (stunts)

_George Odom, "Inkling" (2019) and "Columbia World of Sports: Jockeys Up" (1939). He died in 1964

_Robert Starling,  "The Mine" (2012), "Charly" (2002) and "Tears of a King" (2007); (writer and producer)

_Chance Chancellor, "Leatherheads" (2008)

_Brentson Buckner," The NFL on CBS"

_Prof. John Henrik Clarke, "A Great and Mighty Walk" narrated by actor Wesley Snipes. (Notably enough, though born in Union Springs, Alabama, Prof. Clarke was raised in Columbus, Georgia, from the age of two. He attended Macedonia Baptist Church on Cusseta Road and eventually moved to New York to further and continue his studies in Black History, traveling around the world to teach and debate. He is well-known around the world for his work, research and writings as a historian "for his people." He died in 1998 in New York and is now buried in Green Acres Cemetery in the town in which he was raised-Columbus, GA.)

_Icing on the cake ... for a short while when she was quite young, singer Marilyn McCoo (of 'The Fifth Dimension') lived in Columbus, Georgia with her parents.

(research: Greene, S. and IMDB.com)

Now you know...