Editing Columbia County, Pennsylvania

{{Short description|County in Pennsylvania, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Columbia County
 | state                = Pennsylvania
 | seal                 = 
 | type                 = County
 | ex image             = Columbia County, Pennsylvania court house.JPG
 | ex image cap         = The Columbia County courthouse in Bloomsburg
 | founded date         = March 22
 | founded year         = 1813
 | named for            = [[Christopher Columbus]]
 | seat wl              = Bloomsburg
 | largest city wl      = Bloomsburg
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 490
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 483
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 7.1
 | area percentage      = 1.4
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 64,727
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web                  = www.columbiapa.org
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | district             = 9th
 | footnotes            = {{designation list|embed=yes|designation1=Pennsylvania|designation1_date=July 11, 1983<ref name="PAHMDB">{{cite web|url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_historical_marker_program/2539/search_for_historical_markers|title=PHMC Historical Markers Search|work=Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission|publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania|format=Searchable database|access-date=January 25, 2014|archive-date=March 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321233735/http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pennsylvania_historical_marker_program/2539/search_for_historical_markers|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
}}

'''Columbia County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|Commonwealth]] of [[Pennsylvania]], United States. It is located in [[Northeastern Pennsylvania]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 64,727.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US42037|access-date=December 11, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania|Bloomsburg]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2010|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The county was created on March 22, 1813, from part of [[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland County]]. It was named [[Columbia (name)|Columbia]], alluding to the United States and [[Christopher Columbus]]. The county is part of the Central Pennsylvania region of the state.{{efn|Includes Centre, Lycoming, Northumberland, Columbia, Mifflin, Union, Snyder, Clinton, Juniata and Montour Counties}}

Columbia County is part of the [[Bloomsburg–Berwick metropolitan area]].

==Geography==
[[File:View of northern Columbia County, Pennsylvania from Kramer Hill Road 3.JPG|thumb|View of northern Columbia County, Pennsylvania from Kramer Hill Road in Fishing Creek Township. On the horizon (about 8-10 miles away) is North Mountain. The borough of Benton is in the center of the picture.]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|490|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|483|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.1|sqmi}} (1.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 6, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> The southern tip of Columbia County is part of the [[Coal Region]]. The area of the county from the [[Susquehanna River]] south to several miles south of [[Numidia, Pennsylvania|Numidia]] consists mostly of farmland and state game lands. Several communities developed along the Susquehanna River, such as Bloomsburg and [[Catawissa, Pennsylvania|Catawissa]]. From the Susquehanna River north as far as [[Waller, Pennsylvania|Waller]], the county is mostly farmland with several patches of forest. North of Waller, the county is mostly state game lands and mountains.<ref name = "Google maps">maps.google.com</ref>

The major streams in Columbia County are the [[Susquehanna River]], [[Fishing Creek (North Branch Susquehanna River)|Fishing Creek]], [[Briar Creek (Susquehanna River)|Briar Creek]], [[Catawissa Creek]], and [[Roaring Creek (Pennsylvania)|Roaring Creek]].<ref name = "Google maps"/>

The county has a [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfa''/''Dfb'') and average monthly temperatures in Bloomsburg average from {{convert|26.9|°F|°C|1|disp=or}} in January to {{convert|72.4|°F|°C|1|disp=or}} in July.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|publisher=Northwest Alliance for Computational Science and Engineering|title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State}}</ref>

===Mountains===
''Note: Only mountains higher than {{convert|1500|ft|m}} are listed''
{|class="sortable wikitable"
|- text-align:center
!'''Name'''
!'''Height'''
!'''Image'''
|-
|[[Red Rock Mountain]] || {{convert|2365|ft|m}} || [[File:Red rock mountain.jpg|200px]] 
|-
|[[Central Mountain]] || {{convert|2247|ft|m}} ||
|-
|Chimneystack Rock || {{convert|2244|ft|m}} ||
|-
|[[Buck Mountain (Pennsylvania)|Buck Mountain]] || {{convert|1942|ft|m}} || [[File:Buck Mountain from Buck Mountain Road.JPG|200px]] 
|-
|[[Catawissa Mountain]] || {{convert|1873|ft|m}} || [[File:Northwestern edge of Catawissa Mountain.JPG|200px]]
|-
|Big Mountain || {{convert|1811|ft|m}} ||
|-
|[[Knob Mountain (Pennsylvania)|Knob Mountain]]|| {{convert|1752|ft|m}} || [[File:Knob Mountain from the southwest 2.JPG|200px]]
|-
|[[Nescopeck Mountain]] || {{convert|1604|ft|m}} || [[File:Nescopeck Mountain 1.JPG|200px]]
|-
|Lee Mountain || {{convert|1594|ft|m}} || [[File:Lee Mountain in Briar Creek Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania.JPG|200px]]
|-
|[[McCauley Mountain (Pennsylvania)|McCauley Mountain]] || {{convert|1571|ft|m}} || [[File:McCauley Mountain 2.JPG|200px]]
|}
Source:<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.topozone.com/states/Pennsylvania.asp?county=Columbia&feature=Summit |title=Topographic Map Summit Features in Columbia County, Pennsylvania |access-date=June 26, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706190549/http://www.topozone.com/states/pennsylvania.asp?county=Columbia&feature=Summit |archive-date=July 6, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.topozone.com/states/pennsylvania.asp?county=Columbia&feature=Ridge |title=Topographic Map Ridge Features in Columbia County, Pennsylvania |access-date=December 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707022815/http://www.topozone.com/states/pennsylvania.asp?county=Columbia&feature=Ridge |archive-date=July 7, 2013 }}</ref>

===Major highways===
*{{jct|state=PA|I|80}}
*{{jct|state=PA|US|11}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|42}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|44}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|54}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|61}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|93}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|118}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|239}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|254}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|339}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|442}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|487}}
*{{jct|state=PA|PA|642}}

===Adjacent counties===

*[[Sullivan County, Pennsylvania|Sullivan County]] (north)
*[[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne County]] (east)
*[[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania|Schuylkill County]] (southeast)
*[[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland County]] (southwest)
*[[Montour County, Pennsylvania|Montour County]] (west)
*[[Lycoming County, Pennsylvania|Lycoming County]] (northwest)

===State park===
Part of [[Ricketts Glen State Park]] is in the northern portion of Columbia County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Columbia+County,PA|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps|access-date=November 22, 2018}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 17621
|1830= 20059
|1840= 24267
|1850= 17710
|1860= 25065
|1870= 28766
|1880= 32409
|1890= 36832
|1900= 39896
|1910= 48467
|1920= 48349
|1930= 48803
|1940= 51413
|1950= 53460
|1960= 53489
|1970= 55114
|1980= 61967
|1990= 63202
|2000= 64148
|2010= 67295
|2020= 64727
|footnote=<ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2020 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/columbiacountypennsylvania/PST045219}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 64,151 people, 24,915 households, and 16,568 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|132|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 27,733 housing units at an average density of {{convert|57|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units&nbsp;}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|racial makeup of the county]] was 97.59% White, 0.80% Black or African-American, 0.15% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.2% were of [[Germans|German]], 10.0% [[United States|American]], 9.4% [[Irish people|Irish]], 8.1% [[Italians|Italian]], 6.7% [[Polish people|Polish]] and 6.2% [[English people|English]] ancestry.

There were 24,915 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 26.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.80% under the age of 18, 14.30% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Columbia County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Columbia County, Pennsylvania|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Columbia%20County,%20Pennsylvania&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|58,831
|91%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|867
|1.34%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|71
|0.11%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|748
|1.15%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|17
|0.03%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|2,053
|3.17%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|2,140
|3.31%
|}

==Metropolitan Statistical Area==
The [[United States Office of Management and Budget]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb|title=Office of Management and Budget - The White House|access-date=November 22, 2018}}</ref> has designated Columbia County as the '''[[Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area]] (MSA)'''. As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|title=2010 U.S. Census website|access-date=December 29, 2015}}</ref> the metropolitan area ranked 20th most populous in the State of Pennsylvania and the [[List of Metropolitan Statistical Areas|368th most populous]] in the United States with a population of 82,562. Columbia County is also a part of the larger '''[[Bloomsburg-Berwick-Sunbury, PA Combined Statistical Area]] (CSA)''', which combines the populations of Columbia County as well as [[Montour County, Pennsylvania|Montour]], [[Northumberland County, Pennsylvania|Northumberland]], [[Snyder County, Pennsylvania|Snyder]] and [[Union County, Pennsylvania|Union Counties]] in Pennsylvania. The [[Combined Statistical Area]] ranked 8th in the State of Pennsylvania and [[List of Combined Statistical Areas|115th most populous]] in the United States with a population of 264,739.

==Politics and government==
{{PresHead|place=Columbia County, Pennsylvania|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=November 22, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|21,190|11,083|436|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|20,098|10,532|650|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|18,004|8,934|1,568|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|14,236|10,937|571|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|14,477|13,230|571|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|16,052|10,679|138|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|12,095|8,975|841|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|8,234|8,379|3,759|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|9,742|8,261|5,736|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|12,114|7,767|140|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|14,402|8,254|62|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|12,426|9,449|1,438|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|11,508|12,051|366|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|14,187|7,222|900|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|12,202|8,187|1,840|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|8,982|13,885|36|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|15,310|9,322|19|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|13,382|9,024|15|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|13,008|9,467|79|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|9,417|9,367|0|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|9,336|9,647|70|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|9,518|12,523|66|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|9,674|14,141|293|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|8,791|10,640|356|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|14,362|5,304|115|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|7,336|7,390|743|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|6,238|6,965|462|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|3,013|5,785|389|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|889|4,905|3,116|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|3,718|5,373|402|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|3,635|4,196|415|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,954|4,982|454|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|3,280|4,904|500|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|2,336|4,929|380|Pennsylvania}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|2,484|4,676|281|Pennsylvania}}
|}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/pennsylvania-senate-results}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Republican|20,617|10,969|814|Pennsylvania}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

=== Voter registration ===
As of February 6, 2024, there were 39,054 registered voters in Columbia County.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pennsylvania Department of State |date=February 5, 2024 |title=Voter registration statistics by county |url=https://www.dos.pa.gov/VotingElections/OtherServicesEvents/VotingElectionStatistics/Pages/VotingElectionStatistics.aspx |access-date=February 6, 2024 |website=dos.pa.gov}}</ref>
* [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]: 20,820 (53.31%)
* [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]: 12,268 (31.41%)
* [[Independent (United States)|Independent]]: 4,360 (11.16%)
* [[Third party (United States)|Third Party]]: 1,606 (4.11%)
{{Pie chart|thumb=left|color1={{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|color2={{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|color3={{party color|Independent (United States)}}|color4={{party color|Green Party (United States)}}|caption=Chart of Voter Registration|label1=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]|label2=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]|label3=[[Independent (United States)|Independent]]|label4=[[Third party (United States)|Other Parties]]|value4=4.11|value3=11.16|value2=31.41|value1=53.31}}

While the county registration tends to be evenly matched between Democrats and Republicans, the county trends Republican in statewide elections. [[Donald Trump]] carried the county by more than 30 points in both 2016 and 2020. While [[John McCain]] received 51.6% of its vote to 47.1% for [[Barack Obama]], this was a far-closer margin than the 20 points that [[George W. Bush]] carried it by in 2004. Each of the three row-office statewide winners carried Columbia in 2008. In 2006, Democrat [[Bob Casey, Jr.|Bob Casey Jr.]] received 51% of its vote when he unseated incumbent Republican US Senator [[Rick Santorum]] and [[Ed Rendell]] received 50.6% of the vote against [[Lynn Swann]].

For many years Columbia County was represented in the State House by a conservative Democrat in the 109th district until [[John Gordner]] changed parties to Republican in 2001. He was elected to the State Senate in 2003 and succeeded by Republican [[David R. Millard]]. Columbia is in the 27th Senate district and 11th Congressional district.

===County commissioners===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Commissioners !! Party
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|David Kovach || [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|Rich Ridgway || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|Chris Young || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

===Other county officials===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Office !! Official !! Party
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|Chief Judge || Thomas A. James || [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|Judge || Gary Norton || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|Chief Clerk || Gail Kipp || [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|Coroner || Jeremy Reese || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|Recorder of Deeds and Register of Wills || Beverly Michael || [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|Sheriff || Tim Chamberlain || [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|Treasurer || Shirley Turner || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary || Tami B. Kline || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

===State senate===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!District !! Senator !! Party
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|[[Pennsylvania Senate, District 27|27]] || [[John Gordner]] || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

===State House of Representatives===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!District !! Representative !! Party
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|[[Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 109|109]] || [[Robert Leadbeter]] || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

===United States House of Representatives===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!District !! Representative !! Party
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|[[Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district|9]] || [[Dan Meuser]] || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

===United States Senate===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Senator !! Party
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| [[Dave McCormick]] || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| [[John Fetterman]] || [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|}

==Education==
[[Image:Map of Columbia County Pennsylvania School Districts.png|200px|thumb|right|Map of Columbia County, Pennsylvania School Districts]]

===Colleges and universities===
*[[Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania]]

===Public school districts===
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42037_columbia/DC20SD_C42037.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Columbia County, PA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-12-13}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st42_pa/schooldistrict_maps/c42037_columbia/DC20SD_C42037_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Benton Area School District]]
* [[Berwick Area School District]] (also in Luzerne County)
* [[Bloomsburg Area School District]]
* [[Central Columbia School District]]
* [[Millville Area School District]]
* [[Mount Carmel Area School District]] (also in Northumberland County)
* [[North Schuylkill School District]] (also in Schuylkill County)
* [[Southern Columbia Area School District]] (also in Northumberland County)

====Technical school====
* [[Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School]]

====Charter school====
*[[SusQ Cyber Charter School]] - Bloomsburg

===Private schools===
*Bald Hill School - Millville
*Bloomsburg Christian School - Bloomsburg
*Bloomsburg University Special Education Institute
*Columbia Co Christian School - Bloomsburg
*Greenwood Friends School - Millville
*Heritage Christian Academy - Berwick
*Holy Family Consolidate - Berwick
*Keystone National High School - Bloomsburg
*New Story - Berwick
*Pennsylvania Institute For Conservation Education - Bloomsburg
*Rainbow Hill School - Benton
*St Columba School - Bloomsburg
*Saint Matthews - Bloomsburg
*Turkey Ridge School - Bloomsburg

===Libraries===
*Bloomsburg Public Library
*Columbia County Traveling Library
*McBride Memorial Library
*Orangeville Public Library

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Columbia County Pennsylvania With Municipal and Township Labels.png|right|thumb|200px|Map of Columbia County, Pennsylvania with Municipal Labels showing Towns and Boroughs (red), Townships (white), and Census-designated places (blue).]]

Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: [[List of cities in Pennsylvania|cities]], [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania|boroughs]], [[List of townships in Pennsylvania|townships]], and, in at most two cases, [[List of towns and boroughs in Pennsylvania#Towns|towns]]. The following town, boroughs and townships are located in Columbia County:

===Town===
*[[Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania|Bloomsburg]] (county seat)

===Boroughs===
{{div col}}
*[[Ashland, Pennsylvania|Ashland]] (mostly in [[Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania|Schuylkill County]])
*[[Benton, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Benton]]
*[[Berwick, Pennsylvania|Berwick]]
*[[Briar Creek, Pennsylvania|Briar Creek]]
*[[Catawissa, Pennsylvania|Catawissa]]
*[[Centralia, Pennsylvania|Centralia]]
*[[Millville, Pennsylvania|Millville]]
*[[Orangeville, Pennsylvania|Orangeville]]
*[[Stillwater, Pennsylvania|Stillwater]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
*[[Beaver Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Beaver]]
*[[Benton Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Benton]]
*[[Briar Creek Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Briar Creek]]
*[[Catawissa Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Catawissa]]
*[[Cleveland Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Cleveland]]
*[[Conyngham Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Conyngham]]
*[[Fishing Creek Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Fishing Creek]]
*[[Franklin Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Franklin]]
*[[Greenwood Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Greenwood]]
*[[Hemlock Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Hemlock]]
*[[Jackson Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Jackson]]
*[[Locust Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Locust]]
*[[Madison Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Madison]]
*[[Main Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Main]]
*[[Mifflin Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Mifflin]]
*[[Montour Township, Pennsylvania|Montour]]
*[[Mount Pleasant Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Mount Pleasant]]
*[[North Centre Township, Pennsylvania|North Centre]]
*[[Orange Township, Pennsylvania|Orange]]
*[[Pine Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Pine]]
*[[Roaring Creek Township, Pennsylvania|Roaring Creek]]
*[[Scott Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Scott]]
*[[South Centre Township, Pennsylvania|South Centre]]
*[[Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Sugarloaf]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
[[Census-designated place]]s are geographical areas designated by the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]] for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. Other unincorporated communities, such as villages, may be listed here as well.

{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
*[[Almedia, Pennsylvania|Almedia]]
*[[Aristes, Pennsylvania|Aristes]]
*[[Buckhorn, Pennsylvania|Buckhorn]]
*[[Espy, Pennsylvania|Espy]]
*[[Eyers Grove, Pennsylvania|Eyers Grove]]
*[[Fernville, Pennsylvania|Fernville]]
*[[Foundryville, Pennsylvania|Foundryville]]
*[[Iola, Pennsylvania|Iola]]
*[[Jamison City, Pennsylvania|Jamison City]]
*[[Jerseytown, Pennsylvania|Jerseytown]]
*[[Jonestown, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Jonestown]]
*[[Lightstreet, Pennsylvania|Lightstreet]]
*[[Lime Ridge, Pennsylvania|Lime Ridge]]
*[[Locustdale, Pennsylvania|Locustdale]] (partially in Schuylkill County)
*[[Mainville, Pennsylvania|Mainville]]
*[[Mifflinville, Pennsylvania|Mifflinville]]
*[[Numidia, Pennsylvania|Numidia]]
*[[Rohrsburg, Pennsylvania|Rohrsburg]]
*[[Rupert, Pennsylvania|Rupert]]
*[[Slabtown, Pennsylvania|Slabtown]]
*[[Waller, Pennsylvania|Waller]]
*[[Wilburton Number One, Pennsylvania|Wilburton Number One]]
*[[Wilburton Number Two, Pennsylvania|Wilburton Number Two]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
*[[Central, Pennsylvania|Central]]
*[[Elk Grove, Pennsylvania|Elk Grove]]
*[[Mifflin Cross Roads, Pennsylvania|Mifflin Cross Roads]]

===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] of Columbia County.<ref name="auto"/>

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!City/Town/etc.
!Municipal type
!Population (2010 Census)
|- style="background-color:#F0F8FF;"
| 1
| '''† [[Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania|Bloomsburg]]'''
| Town
| 14,855
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 2
| '''[[Berwick, Pennsylvania|Berwick]]'''
| Borough
| 10,477
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 3
| '''[[Ashland, Pennsylvania|Ashland]]''' (''mostly in Schuylkill County'')
| Borough
| 2,817
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 4
| '''[[Espy, Pennsylvania|Espy]]'''
| CDP
| 1,642
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 5
| '''[[Catawissa, Pennsylvania|Catawissa]]'''
| Borough
| 1,552
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 6
| '''[[Mifflinville, Pennsylvania|Mifflinville]]'''
| CDP
| 1,253
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 7
| '''[[Lightstreet, Pennsylvania|Lightstreet]]'''
| CDP
| 1,093
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 8
| '''[[Almedia, Pennsylvania|Almedia]]'''
| CDP
| 1,078
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 9
| '''[[Millville, Pennsylvania|Millville]]'''
| Borough
| 948
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 10
| '''[[Lime Ridge, Pennsylvania|Lime Ridge]]'''
| CDP
| 890
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 11
| '''[[Benton, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Benton]]'''
| Borough
| 824
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 12
| '''[[Briar Creek, Pennsylvania|Briar Creek]]'''
| Borough
| 660
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 13
| '''[[Fernville, Pennsylvania|Fernville]]'''
| CDP
| 556
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 14
| '''[[Orangeville, Pennsylvania|Orangeville]]'''
| Borough
| 508
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 15
| '''[[Buckhorn, Pennsylvania|Buckhorn]]'''
| CDP
| 318
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 16
| '''[[Aristes, Pennsylvania|Aristes]]'''
| CDP
| 311
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 17
| '''[[Foundryville, Pennsylvania|Foundryville]]'''
| CDP
| 256
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 18
| '''[[Numidia, Pennsylvania|Numidia]]'''
| CDP
| 244
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 19
| '''[[Stillwater, Pennsylvania|Stillwater]]'''
| Borough
| 209
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 20
| '''[[Wilburton Number One, Pennsylvania|Wilburton Number One]]'''
| CDP
| 196
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 21
| '''[[Jerseytown, Pennsylvania|Jerseytown]]'''
| CDP
| 184
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 22
| '''[[Rupert, Pennsylvania|Rupert]]'''
| CDP
| 183
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 23
| '''[[Locustdale, Pennsylvania|Locustdale]]''' (''partially in Schuylkill County'')
| CDP
| 177
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 24
| '''[[Slabtown, Pennsylvania|Slabtown]]'''
| CDP
| 156
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 25
| '''[[Rohrsburg, Pennsylvania|Rohrsburg]]'''
| CDP
| 145
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 26
| '''[[Iola, Pennsylvania|Iola]]'''
| CDP
| 144
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 27
| '''[[Jamison City, Pennsylvania|Jamison City]]'''
| CDP
| 134
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 28
| '''[[Mainville, Pennsylvania|Mainville]]'''
| CDP
| 132
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 29
| '''[[Eyers Grove, Pennsylvania|Eyers Grove]]'''
| CDP
| 105
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 30
| '''[[Wilburton Number Two, Pennsylvania|Wilburton Number Two]]'''
| CDP
| 96
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 31
| '''[[Jonestown, Columbia County, Pennsylvania|Jonestown]]'''
| CDP
| 64
|- style="background-color:#F0FFF0;"
| 32
| '''[[Waller, Pennsylvania|Waller]]'''
| CDP
| 48
|- style="background-color:#FFF5EE;"
| 33
| '''[[Centralia, Pennsylvania|Centralia]]'''
| Borough
| 10
|}

==See also==
{{portal|Pennsylvania}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbia County, Pennsylvania]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Notelist}}{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

{{Columbia County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Pennsylvania}}
{{authority control}}

{{coord|41.05|-76.40|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-PA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Columbia County, Pennsylvania| ]]
[[Category:1813 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Anthracite Coal Region of Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Bloomsburg–Berwick metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Northeastern Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1813]]