Columbiana, AL, is a town in Alabama, United States. It has a population of just over 2,000 people and is located in Shelby County.  It is about an hour and a half south of Birmingham, just traversing the border with Tuscaloosa County. It was established in 1848. There are two theories about how it received its name – either from the explorer Christopher Columbus or from a novel written by Walter Scott. In 1909, one of its most notable features was opened, the Columbiana Library.

Columbiana Schools:

Columbiana Elementary School was founded in 1904 as the first school for black children. Many students were educated here before desegregation occurred within Alabama’s public education system. The school is still open today and has a population of around 200 students.

Columbiana High School was established in 1923 and has around 410 students attending.

Rehobeth Elementary School recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and has around 260 students and 50 staff members. It is within the Shelby County school system, unlike the other three schools, which are within the Jefferson County system.

Columbiana Middle School was founded as recently as 2004, although it replaced another middle school that had been open since 1965. There are around 330 students

Activities in Columbiana Alabama

Columbiana holds an annual ‘Huckleberry Festival’ every year in the month of July. The festival includes a parade, arts and crafts stand food stalls, and games. At the festival, a selection of young men and women are chosen to be ‘Queen’, ‘Little Miss Columbiana’ and other titles.

Columbiana is close to Interstate 65, making it easy for people from surrounding towns such as Birmingham to visit the town. It is also within close proximity to all major cities in Alabama, which makes it an ideal location for people who wish to travel to Alabama and see a lot of towns.

There are several churches in Columbiana, with St John’s Episcopal Church being the oldest. It is still open for services and was built in 1860. The Sacred Heart Catholic Church is also open for worship, as is the First Baptist Church. There are many more churches within the town’s limits. A new church was opened by the Antioch Pentecostal Church of God in 2006.

Columbiana has a large park located on Center Street. It is situated next to the town’s library and football field, which makes it an ideal location for children to play after school or on weekends. The park has a basketball court, a volleyball court, and a few picnic tables. There is also a walking track that encircles the park.

Columbiana Shopping:

There are several restaurants in Columbiana, including Azalea Springs Hunt Club, Gibson’s BBQ, and Buffet, Momma Goldberg’s Deli & Catering, and Big John’s BBQ & Steaks. These restaurants offer a variety of cuisines so there is sure to be something for each family member.

There are several convenience stores in Columbiana, with the most notable being Gilmer’s Grocery. The store has been open since 1992 and is open 24 hours a day so people can get what they need at any time of day or night.