Columbus

History

The city was known as Columbus Township until September 21, 2006, when it was incorporated as the city of Columbus, in response to concerns that the adjacent city of Forest Lake was planning to annex portions of the township. Mel Mettler, the first mayor of Columbus, was reelected in 2008. Ron Hanegraaf was elected mayor in 2024. Running Aces Harness Park, a 5/8 mile harness horse racing track, opened in Columbus in April 2008.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water. Anoka County Roads 18, 19, 23, 54, and 62 are the main routes in the community. Interstate 35 splits into Interstates 35E and 35W within the southeast corner of Columbus. The junction is commonly known as the Forest Lake Split, after the city to the immediate east. Rice Creek flows through Columbus. Carlos Avery Wildlife Area is in the north-central and west-central parts of the city. Nearby places include Forest Lake, Lino Lakes, Ham Lake, East Bethel, and Wyoming.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  15,195
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,332
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  11,857
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,757
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  11,569
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,312
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  10,650
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  10,203

Largest nearby schools

• Blaine High School
  High · BLAINE · 2,969 students · 20.8:1 ratio
• CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL
  High · CIRCLE PINES · 1,982 students · 31.5:1 ratio
• CENTENNIAL MIDDLE
  Middle · LINO LAKES · 1,529 students · 34.8:1 ratio
• NORTHDALE MIDDLE
  Middle · COON RAPIDS · 1,274 students · 17.2:1 ratio
• OAK VIEW MIDDLE
  Middle · ANDOVER · 1,268 students · 19.8:1 ratio
• ANDOVER ELEMENTARY
  Elementary · ANDOVER · 1,189 students · 16.3:1 ratio
• Sunrise Elementary
  Elementary · BLAINE · 1,078 students · 15.6:1 ratio
• DAVINCI ACADEMY
  Elementary · HAM LAKE · 970 students · 16.7:1 ratio