Dollar General Fortson
Closed39 Lick Skillet Rd, Fortson, GA 31808
Columbus, GA-AL
Columbus, GA-AL, is a consolidated city-county on Georgia’s west-central border, facing Phenix City across the Chattahoochee River. About 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, it is Georgia’s second-largest city and anchors a growing regional economy. Founded along the river’s navigable Fall Line, Columbus developed from a cotton and textile center into a modern hub for military, finance, insurance, technology, and manufacturing. Fort Benning, headquarters of the Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence, is a major presence. The city is renowned for its historic riverfront, National Infantry Museum, Springer Opera House, and the world’s longest urban whitewater rafting course.
Recreational Delights
Outdoor recreation centers on the Chattahoochee River. The 15-mile Chattahoochee RiverWalk connects downtown with South Columbus and Fort Benning for walking and cycling, while the 11-mile Columbus Fall Line Trace provides another popular fitness route. The river’s 2.5-mile whitewater course offers rafting, kayaking, standing-wave surfing, and the Blue Heron Adventure zip-line and ropes course linking Georgia and Alabama. More than 50 parks, four recreation centers, and Standing Boy Creek Park broaden local options for picnicking, trails, and family activities. South Commons combines sports fields, A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium, and the Columbus Civic Center. Historic and cultural walks include the Black Heritage Trail, while Lakebottom and Weracoba-St. Elmo provide neighborhood green space. The riverfront’s varied landscape, rolling Fall Line terrain, and warm humid-subtropical climate support year-round outdoor activity, although summers are notably hot.
Culinary Scene
Columbus’s food culture reflects its Georgia-Alabama border setting, military population, and Southern industrial heritage. Visitors will find classic Southern cooking, barbecue, burgers, seafood, soul food, and locally popular comfort dishes alongside Mexican, Asian, Italian, and other international cuisines. Downtown and the Uptown riverfront are the primary destinations for restaurants, cafés, bars, and revitalized historic spaces, with dining often paired with performances at the Springer Opera House or RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. MidTown’s renovated Village on 13th and St. Elmo areas offer independent restaurants and neighborhood services, while North Columbus provides a concentration of contemporary dining around Columbus Park Crossing, The Landings, and Bradley Park. South Columbus caters particularly to Fort Benning’s military community with casual restaurants, bars, and nightlife. The Chattahoochee riverfront and nearby Phenix City add cross-border choices, creating a connected regional dining scene rather than a strictly city-bound one.
Demographics
- The Columbus metropolitan area has 325,615 residents, with a median age of 36.5—2.4 years younger than the U.S. median of 38.9—reflecting a substantial military and working-age population.
- Median household income is $59,336, below the U.S. median of $80,734. The regional economy is supported by Fort Benning, healthcare, education, finance, insurance, technology, and manufacturing.
- Columbus is racially and culturally diverse: 2020 city figures recorded 45.77% African American, 38.22% non-Hispanic White, 7.98% Hispanic or Latino, and 2.68% Asian residents.
Population
325,615
Growth -0.16%
Households
127,512
Growth 1.07%
Median Age
36.5
US Median Age 38.9
Median Household Income
$59,336
US Median Household Income $80,734
Sports
Baseball
Columbus Clingstones
Indoor football
Columbus Lions
Ice hockey
Columbus River Dragons
Softball
Columbus State University Cougars
Education
Columbus State University
Columbus Technical College
Muscogee County School District
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Fort Benning
Entertainment
Springer Opera House, Georgia’s official State Theatre and a National Historic Landmark
RiverCenter for the Performing Arts
Columbus Civic Center
National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center
Quality of Life
Columbus offers affordable access to major cultural institutions, extensive trails, river recreation, historic neighborhoods, and a strong military-supported economy. Its consolidated government and revitalized downtown add convenience and amenities. Household incomes trail national levels, and crime and poverty remain challenges, but ongoing redevelopment, tourism investment, healthcare, education, and employment growth continue to strengthen the city’s overall livability.
2022 Population by age
6%
0-4 Years
20%
5-19 Years
7%
20-24 Years
28%
25-44 Years
24%
45-64 Years
15%
65+ Years
Employers
6%
Unemployment rate
Employment sectors
Health Care and Social Assistance
14.82%
Manufacturing
11.14%
Retail Trade
10.66%
Educational Services
9.97%
Finance and Insurance
8.74%
Accommodation and Food Services
8.27%
Public Administration
7.68%
Transportation and Warehousing
5.74%
Construction
5.68%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
5.08%
Administrative and Support and Waste Management Services
4.93%
Other
7.3%