The city of Columbus, Georgia is situated in the states Muscogee County, where it serves as the county seat. It is the main city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area and is straight across the river from the city of Phenix, Alabama. It is the fourth largest metropolitan area and 3rd largest city within Georgia State.
The city of Columbus is approximately 160 south of the city of Atlanta. The city of Fort Benning in the county of Chattahoochee is situated south of Columbus. Columbus was name the fourth best city to reside in the US by Best Life Magazine. There are many museums and sites of interest for visitors. Columbus is accessed by air at the Columbus Airport.
After a location was chosen during 1828, Columbus was established on the navigable portion of the Chattahoochee River. It was situated on the border of Georgia heading into the state of Alabama. The location was home to Creek Indians before they were removed during the year 1836. Columbus was named after Christopher Columbus, the explorer. Dr. Edwin L. DeGraffenried drew up the plan for Columbus and located it on a bluff overlooking the Chattahoochee River. Production of cotton was the region's main industry.
The Chattahoochee connected Columbus to the international cotton market via Liverpool, England and New Orleans. With the arrival of the railroad during the mid-19th Century, textile mills were established, augmenting the area's agricultural sector with industrial production. Columbus's commercial significance increased throughout the rest of the century. By the year 1860, it was considered an essential industrial center, called "the Lowell of the South," in reference to a northern industrial town within Massachusetts State.
Expanding beyond the production of textiles, Columbus is now home to a variety of prominent businesses. The head office for TSYS, Aflac, Carmike Cinemas and Synovus are located here. Columbus College grew from a two-year institution into the highly regarded Columbus State University. During 1971, Columbus became the very first city within Georgia State to consolidate city and county governments.