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History · Columbus Township

Columbus Township dates to 1820, and 16 of its places are on the National Register

Most of Columbus Township was built recently: 9% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1979. Below: 2 old photos and papers, maps from 1958 on, and the census since 1850.

1820founded
16on the National Register
9%homes built before 1940
2old photos & papers
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Columbus Township’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Columbus Township began

When was Columbus Township founded?

1820

Columbus Township dates its founding to 1820 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1850.

First census: 1,008 in 18502020 census: 51,310206 years
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1821.The full story ↓

What stands out about Columbus Township’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 2 old photos are in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.Landmarks on the Register16 places on the National Register.Deep rootsEstablished in 1820: 206 years of Columbus Township.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Columbus Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Columbus Township’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
1 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewADDITION TO IRWIN UNION BANK AND TRUST …: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the National Register

16 listings protect 599 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. 5 are National Historic Landmarks, the highest tier.

places listed
16
National Historic Landmarks
5
none yet
historic buildings protected
599
each building in a district counts
first listed
1980
James Marr House and Farm
James Marr House and FarmD.W. Heagy FarmDavid Aikens House
Buildings

Architectural styles listings

Italianate2
Cross-Plan House1
Bank Barn1
Late Victorian1
Nailed-Frame Barn1
James Marr House and FarmBuilding
D.W. Heagy FarmCross-Plan House
David Aikens HouseLate Victorian

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Timeline

Columbus Township, 1820 to 1973

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 19th century
  2. 1820
    FoundingColumbus Township is established
  3. 20th century
  4. 1958On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  5. 1973In the archiveADDITION TO IRWIN UNION BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
The story

How Columbus Township came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Columbus Township.

Read it all →

The land developed as Columbus was bought by General John Tipton and Luke Bonesteel in 1820. Tipton built a log cabin on Mount Tipton, a small hill overlooking White River and the surrounding flat, heavily forested and swampy valley. It held wetlands of the river. The town was first known as Tiptona, named in honor of Tipton. The town's name was changed to Columbus on March 20, 1821. Many people believe Tipton was upset by the name change, but no evidence exists to prove this. Nonetheless, he decided to leave the newly founded town and did not return.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Columbus Township, decade by decade

One decade in the archive so far: the 1970s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1970s2 items
ADDITION TO IRWIN UNION BANK AND TRUST COMPANY1973ADDITION TO IRWIN UNION BANK AND TRUST COMPANYFire Department1977Fire Department
1980s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today14 recent
AT&T/SBC Switching Center2011AT&T/SBC Switching CenterAT&T/SBC Switching Center2011AT&T/SBC Switching CenterAT&T/SBC Switching Center2011AT&T/SBC Switching CenterIrwin Union Bank building2011Irwin Union Bank buildingRobert N. Stewart Bridge2011Robert N. Stewart BridgeFire Station 42011Fire Station 4Modern architecture2011Modern architectureModern architecture2011Modern architectureModern architecture2011Modern architectureModern architecture2011Modern architectureThe Commons2011The CommonsColumbus Signature Academy, Fodrea Campus. Columbus, Indiana2011Columbus Signature Academy, Fodrea Campus. Columbus, …Columbus Signature Academy, Fodrea Campus. Columbus, Indiana2011Columbus Signature Academy, Fodrea Campus. Columbus, …Columbus Learning Center2011Columbus Learning Center
On the map

Columbus Township on the map, 1958 to 1980

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Columbus Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Columbus Township on the 1958 USGS mapColumbus Township on the 1962 USGS mapColumbus Township on the 1980 USGS map1958Columbus sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Columbus Township.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

ADDITION TO IRWIN UNION BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
Retake this viewADDITION TO IRWIN UNION BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, 1973

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Columbus Township’s page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

Columbus Township, census by census

05,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,00040,00045,00050,00055,000185019001950200050,474

Grew from 1,008 people in 1850 to 50,474 in 2020, more than tenfold.

18 censuses, 1850–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Columbus Township’s Wikipedia page.

Places that used to be

Old corners and burying grounds

Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Lowell
1cemetery inside Columbus Township
Lambert

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Harrison TownshipIts storyDClay TownshipIts storyC−Sand Creek Township3 historic placesB+Wayne Township1 historic placeBColumbus14 historic placesA−German Township1 historic placeCRock Creek TownshipIts storyBFlat Rock Township1 historic placeB+

Questions about Columbus Township’s history

What year was Columbus Township founded?

In 1820, according to Wikidata. Columbus Township’s post office opened in 1821, and the census of 1850 counted 1,008 people here.

What is on the National Register in Columbus Township?

16 listings, 5 of them National Historic Landmarks: 3 buildings, among them the James Marr House and Farm (listed 1980, the first). 599 historic buildings in all.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (2), the Library of Congress (14), Wikidata (8), the National Register of Historic Places (3), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.