"columbus, mississippi" Columbus by doug48

columbus is a town located on the tombigbee river in eastern mississippi. spanish explorer hernando de soto visited the area in 1540. the first european to settle the columbus area was john pitchlynn in 1810. originally called possum town by local native americans the town of columbus was founded in 1821. columbus was a prosperous cotton market town until the outbreak of the civil war. during the civil war columbus was a confederate hospital town. many of the casualties from the battle of shiloh were brought to columbus and thousands were buried in columbus' friendship cemetery. the union attacked columbus more the once during the war but were repulsed by the forces of general nathan bedford forrest. as a result the beautiful antebellum homes of columbus were spared. after natchez columbus has the largest collection of antebellum homes in the state of mississippi. in modern times the economy of columbus is based on columbus airforce base and several area manufacturing firms.
of interest to the tourist is columbus' collection of antebellum homes, several of which are open to the public by tour. for those interested in southern history and culture columbus is well worth a visit in eastern mississippi.