Columbia | Marion Co MS Business Social
With a population of less than 6,000 people and four neighborhoods; Columbia is the 60th largest city in Mississippi and lies in Marion county .
Founded by mostly former residents of Columbia South Carolina in the early days of the 19th Century on the banks of the Pearl River?in the? Mississippi Territory, Columbia was first named Lott’s Bluff. It was during a time of great change when Columbia was nothing more than a small settlement named Lott’s Bluff, but General Jackson earlier won the Battle of New Orleans in 1812, and once again a time of change was transforming the land and people on the Third Coast.
West Florida (land from the top of northeast Louisiana, all the way over to the Chattahoochee River that divides Alabama and Georgia, and all lands south to the Gulf of Mexico at today's Post St Joe, Florida), had been deeded over to the United State by the British Crown. Meanwhile, indigenous territories to the north were nothing less than another story of great change, that was about to happen into the American experiment.
Meanwhile, General Jackson a/k/a Old Hickory, and soon to be known as "Mr. President", made his way north to the Ohio?Valley, as fast as he could to sale off the newly acquired lands! Congress made General Jackson their authorized agent in the transfer of large parcels of lands to well-to-do land owners in the Ohio Valley, which literally sowed the seeds into our soil, the rejuvenation of slavery on an industrial scale in America!
By 1819, the City of Columbia was formally incorporated and would soon serve as Mississippi’s temporary capital from 1821 to 1822 before LeFleur’s Bluff (now Jackson) was selected as the permanent capital; aren't we lucky history took the path it did?
Today, residents enjoy the casual lifestyle, quality of life, and the convenience Columbia affords with Hattiesburg,?Jackson, New Orleans, Mobile, Mississippi's Gulf Coast, and Louisiana's Florida Parishes.
If you're nearing, or in retirement , Columbia is an excellent city to consider for quality retirement living. Not only is it peaceful, it's safety from crime, and offers diverse housing options. In a recent crime search it revealed that the property crime rate is below average to all cities and towns in the nation, and less likely to become a victim of arson, motor vehicle theft, larceny, or burglary than in most cities in America.
As a new resident of Columbia, I purchased my retirement home with plans to one day convert it into a Bed and Breakfast . But for now, it's a large (3000 sq) three bedroom, three full baths. It's a great house with good bones, I contracted to purchase back in late summer of 2021 with a sales price of $160,000 in the Golden Acres Subdivision of the city center neighborhood.
The seller paid three points in my closing costs , as I secured a USDA Zero Down Home Loan. Because of the way I structured the deal I was actually walked away from the closing table with a check in hand for $1000, which was my escrow deposit, while the lender fully funded my escrow account and you can still to this today with a USDA Zero Down Home Loan. If I had had more time, I could of even done better than that. But, that's another story an experienced Loan Office r can tell you about called FHA , VA or USDA's Mini Repair Home Loans that includes up to $10,000 in repairs with a properly structured sales agreement your real estate agent can help you with. The house needed a little TLC, but nothing that prevented me from moving in, and I recently did a number of home improvements I'll be showcasing on YouTube in the near future.
It's obvious I'm a happy homeowner, but since creating this video things have only gotten better with my recent home improvements ; I'll be sharing here soon!
Being a small town, Columbia doesn't have a public transit system to get to and from work, buy groceries , or take the kids to their doctor's appointment , so you'll want a car if you come to live here. Regardless of the means by which you commute around town, Columbia is notable in that residents have a shorter commute to work than most places, with a commute time from home to work for those of us who live here is less than 15 to 30 minutes on average.
In terms of college education, the citizens of Columbia rank a bit lower than the national average of adults 25 and older having a bachelor's degree or advanced degree at just under 14 percent; the national average is almost 22 percent. Of course, these days when you get an higher education it comes with a lot of debt! So, if you're someone who falls into this scenario, consider your options long before thinking about purchasing a home, and even before the ink is dry on your student loan note!
The average rental price in Columbia is low, but in today's world of rising rents who knows how long that will last! Rents here run between $800 to $1300 a month.
There are two measures for understanding income: the average and the extremes. Columbia is experiencing a long-term influx of affluent people as Metro Hattiesburg grows and residents move west. The per capita income in Columbia in 2018 was under $17,000 a year, this equates to an annual income of $67,000 for a family of four, and relative to other places in Mississippi and the rest of the country average wages are modest.
While a neighborhood may be relatively wealthy overall, it is equally important to understand the rate of people - particularly children - who are living at or below the federal poverty line, which is extremely low income.
Not all, but most of our neighbors in Columbia earn modest incomes, and many struggle with poverty, as do many small town communities across America. In some parts of town over 40 percent of the children live below the federal poverty line, and at best over 25 percent of children live in poverty in others. Simply put, we can do better, and that begins with a good education!
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Median real estate price in Columbia is anywhere from $97,000, which is less expensive than over 80 percent of home in Mississippi - up to $178,000, which is more expensive than half the homes across the state.
Columbia is well within the Zero Down Payment guidelines set for a is well within the Zero Down Payment guidelines set for a USDA Rural Development Home Loan, or the low down payment FHA 203K Renovation Home Loan Program .
Real estate in Columbia is primarily made up of medium sized three or four bedroom single-family homes, with a mix of owners and renters. Many of the residences in Columbia are older, established, built between 1970 and 2000.
Columbia has four neighborhoods:
City Center
Hub | Lampton
Just south of Columbia, in 1949 a community center was dedicated to serve [at that time] the largest black community in the state. The Mississippi Rural Center was dedicated on February 9th, and established with a $100,000 gift from the Women's Society of Christian Services of the Methodist Church. Created to provide opportunities for African American families, the center offered religious, social, medical, and educational programs to Lampton and surrounding areas.
The building themselves includes a gymnasium, offices, library, activity rooms and a kitchen. The center was built with support from The Woman’s Division of Christian Service of the Methodist Church through its Board of Missions. A Vocational and Technical Center was built nearby under the management of both county and city school systems.
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Columbia West
Real estate vacancies in Columbia are high, with vacancy rates averaging from 16 to 27 percent, which is above any desired rate, while 10 percent or less often can pass without discussion. When considering purchasing a home , find out all you can about the neighborhood you plan to live in...
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4 个月Thanks for taking the time to read my post; I hope it inspires you to connect if you haven't already! I'd like to share with you a little about business, life, and fun here on the third coast - if you don't mind? The Redneck Riviera began in the Florida panhandle cities of Panama City & PCB. Also called LA... Lower Alabama, but more affectionately known as the "Redneck Riviera". A strip of surf and sand that stretches some 95-miles along Florida's Hwy 98, with the most beautiful sugar white beaches in the world. But, as time moves on, boundaries change, and the Redneck Riviera has as well; extending deep into Mississippi, and boot toe of Louisiana's Florida Parishes. Follow my page and see if a visit; business engagement; or perhaps a total relocation is right for you or your business. If you live, work, or play here already, please share in the comments what makes the 3rd Coast great for you. Corrections and especially local updates are always appreciated, and will be used to improve this post.