A Brief History of Columbus, GA

Columbus, Georiga was originally named in honor of Christopher Columbus. Its location on the very end of the navagational portion of the Chattahoochee River, the river would serve as a very important connection for Columbus, with the cotton plantations, and ultimately, Europe. The city's commercial importance increased in the 1850s with the arrival of the railroad. In addition, textile mills began springing up along the river. By 1860, the city was one of the more important industrial centers of the South, earning it the nickname "the Lowell of the South," comparing it to the industrial town in Massachusetts.

By the time of the Spanish American War, the city began to see much modernization including the addition of trolleys extending to outlying neighborhoods such as Rose Hill and Lakebottom and a new water works. Mayor Lucius Chappell also brought a training camp for soldiers to the area. This training camp named Camp Benning would grow into present day Fort Benning.