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Columbia on the Ouachita, LA, IMG 2705Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY 3.0
–Not graded
Health in Columbia · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Columbia residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Columbia, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbia. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Columbia

COPD, heart disease and stroke run high in Columbia

1 in 8 adults have COPD (13.2%), vs 8.5% across Louisiana. 1 in 9 adults have heart disease (11%), vs 7.5% across Louisiana. Stroke is also above the state: 6.3%, vs 4.3% across Louisiana. In all, Columbia runs above Louisiana on seven of 11 chronic conditions. Conditions ↓

Dental care lags in Columbia

49.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 57.2% across Louisiana. Among those 65 and older, 29.5% have lost all their teeth (Louisiana 18.1%). Checkups ↓

More Columbia adults get no exercise

2 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (38.5%), vs 30.3% across Louisiana. Habits ↓

Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Louisiana figure falls outside Columbia’s likely range.

★ What stands out · Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Columbia adults…

Columbia runs above LA on 9 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

13 of every 100 Columbia adults have COPD
Louisiana: 9 in 100 · worse · likely 11.3–15.1%
Better than LAWorseAbout the sameLouisiana
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Columbia adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Louisiana.

83%Yearly checkupLA 82%
49%Dentist visitLA 57%
87%Cholesterol checkLA 86%
65%Colon screeningLA 66%
77%MammogramLA 79%
83%Taking BP medsLA 79%
1 in 10
working-age adults has no health insurance
Columbia 10.3% · Louisiana 1 in 11 (8.9%)
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with Louisiana

Share of adults, with the Louisiana figure marked.

Get no exercise 38.5%LA 30.3%
Sleep under 7 hours 40.8%LA 40.1%
Binge drink 15.2%LA 16.9%
Smoke cigarettes 23.4%LA 17.3%
0%10%20%30%40%50%
Columbia, betterColumbia, worseAbout the sameLouisiana
Where Columbia gets moving

Walk with neighbors

The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.

Getting care

Care in and near Columbia

1 hospital in Columbia, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERCitizens Medical CenterColumbia · 1.9 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyCitizens Medical Center★★★★★ · 1.9 miDirections →
+Low-cost carePrimary Health Services CenterMonroe · 26.9 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.1 mi
Caldwell Memorial Hospital
Columbia · not rated
In Columbia
1.9 mi
Citizens Medical Center
Columbia · ★★★★★
ER
20.5 mi
Hardtner Medical Center
Olla · not rated
ERRural critical access
22.1 mi
Franklin Medical Center
Winnsboro · not rated
ER
26.9 mi
Primary Health Services Center
3 sites · nearest in Monroe
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
27.1 mi
Morehouse Community Medical Centers
3 sites · nearest in West Monroe
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Columbia itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Columbia itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Columbia itself

Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Columbia; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

Mind & connection

How Columbia adults are doing

About the same as Louisiana on each measure.

4 in 10Columbia adults feel lonely
36% · LA 36.6% · About the same as LA
3 in 10Columbia adults lack social or emotional support
29% · LA 28.6% · About the same as LA
3 in 10Columbia adults have been diagnosed with depression
28.7% · LA 26.6% · About the same as LA
1 in 5Columbia adults are in frequent mental distress
20.5% · LA 19.3% · About the same as LA
The one neighbors can help with

4 in 10 Columbia adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 4
Columbia adults worry about having enough food
26.6% · LA 22.5%
About the same as LA
1 in 6
Columbia adults worry about keeping their housing
17.9% · LA 16.8%
About the same as LA
1 in 7
Columbia adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
13.6% · LA 12.4%
About the same as LA
1 in 8
Columbia adults lack reliable transportation
12.6% · LA 11.3%
About the same as LA

24.7% of Columbia adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 19% across Louisiana.

Around town

Columbia and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

47%

of Columbia adults live with a disability (Louisiana 38%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs25.5%
Thinking or memory21.1%
Hearing11.4%
Errands alone13.6%
Vision9.3%
Dressing or bathing7.3%
Louisiana

Questions about health in Columbia

Why doesn’t Columbia have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Columbia.

What hospital is closest to Columbia?

Citizens Medical Center in Columbia, 1.9 miles in a straight line from Columbia’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Columbia.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Louisiana figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.