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==History== Columbia was established in 1826 by [[Josiah Hughes Bell]] when the town was laid out two miles west of Marion, later known as [[East Columbia, Texas|East Columbia]]. Columbia was briefly the capital of the [[Republic of Texas]] from September to December 1836.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://atlas.thc.texas.gov/Details/5039009560 |title=Near Site of the First Capitol of the Republic of Texas - Brazoria County ~ Number: 9560 |date=1979 |website=Texas Historic Sites Atlas |publisher=Texas Historical Commission}}</ref> The town hosted the First Congress of the Republic of Texas when [[Sam Houston]] became president on October 22, 1836. The House of Representatives and Senate each met in private homes. The First Congress voted to move the capital to [[Houston]] on November 30 because Columbia lacked living quarters for government officials. On December 27, 1836, [[Stephen F. Austin]] died at the home of George B. McKinstry in Columbia.<ref name=HOT>{{Handbook of Texas|id=hgw03|name=West Columbia, Texas}}</ref> The town, which became known as West Columbia, saw its commerce decline after the government moved away. A post office was set up in 1905. When oil was discovered in the West Columbia oil field in 1918, the town became a center for cotton, oil, rice and [[sulphur]]. By 1928, the town's population rose to 2,500, but the ill-effects of the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]] caused the number of residents to fall to about 1,000. In 1940 there were 1,573 persons living in West Columbia and 50 businesses. During the 1950s, the population increased to 2,100. By the 1960s big oil companies had a considerable presence near town and the area boasted the most cattle in the state. In 1960 West Columbia had 2,947 residents, in 1970 it had 3,335 and in 1990 it had 4,372. In the next two decades the population dipped slightly. [[Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site]] is near West Columbia.<ref name=HOT/> <gallery widths="300px" heights="225px"> File:West Columbia TX SF Austin Deathplace.jpg|Stephen F. Austin death place on County 467 File:West Columbia TX Charlie Brown.jpg|Charlie Brown state historic marker on Brazos Ave. File:West Columbia TX War Memorial.jpg|Veterans War Memorial at the American Legion Post </gallery>
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