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Elevation

Elevation of Columbus, Georgia

239ft

above sea level · 73 m

Columbus is a city in Georgia with 202,171 people, the 2nd most populous in the state. Of the 249 US cities with 100,000 to 250,000 people, it’s the 104th lowest.

By the Mapsfera Team

Elevation profile

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Place facts

Coordinates
32.46° N · 84.99° W
In degrees, minutes and seconds: 32° 27′ 40″ N · 84° 59′ 16″ W
UTM coordinates
16S · 689,131 E · 3,593,316 N
Zone 16 · NAD83, the official US datum
County
Muscogee County
Where the city’s reference point falls
State
Georgia
GA · capital: Atlanta
Time zone
Eastern Time
UTC−5 · UTC−4 in summer (daylight saving time)
Population (2025)
202,171 people
216 sq mi of land · 934 people/sq mi
Elevation model
USGS 3DEP, 1 m grid
Lidar from December 2020: the ground height at the city’s reference point.

Population

Columbus had 202,171 residents on July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates, 2.3% fewer than in April 2020, when it had 206,914. Its 216 sq mi of land work out to 934 people/sq mi; the state average is 196 people/sq mi.

It’s the 2nd most populous of the 676 places the Census counts in Georgia (cities, towns and CDPs), after Atlanta (529,110), and holds 1.8% of the state’s population.

It lies entirely within Muscogee County. Its reference point in the USGS gazetteer is 7.4 mi from the geographic center the Census gives for the city.

Compared with US cities of 100,000 to 250,000

Columbus sits at 239 ft (73 m) above sea level. Of the 249 US cities with 100,000 to 250,000 people, the highest is Lakewood (5,520 ft) and the lowest is Fort Lauderdale (3 ft). The average is 862 ft: Columbus is 623 ft below it.

The state capital, Atlanta, is 96 mi away in a straight line and 811 ft higher than Columbus.

Of the 8 cities in Georgia with a page, Columbus is the 3rd lowest: the highest is Sandy Springs (1,092 ft) and the lowest is Savannah (21 ft).

The highest point in Georgia is Brasstown Bald, at 4,784 ft according to the USGS: 4,545 ft above Columbus, 180 mi away in a straight line.

  1. 144 Manchester 254 ft
  2. 145 Tacoma 250 ft
  3. 146 Columbus 239 ft
  4. 147 Montgomery 238 ft
  5. 148 Tuscaloosa 225 ft

Each color band is 500 m (1,640 ft), the same colors as the map. See the full list

Nearest cities with a page

Tools for this place

Elevation profile Draw a route from Columbus and see how much it climbs and drops. Elevation of a point Compare the elevation of Columbus with any other point on the map. Map of Muscogee County The county on the map with all its cities and towns, ready to print or download. Time zone The time right now in Columbus and its clock changes. What county am I in? See which county, city and ZIP code you’re in, from your location. Blank map of Georgia counties Print it blank, with names or to color in.

Step-by-step guide How to find the elevation of any place

Frequently asked questions

What people most often ask about the elevation of Columbus.

What is the elevation of Columbus?

Columbus is 239 feet (73 m) above sea level. That’s the ground height from the USGS 3DEP elevation model at the city’s reference point in the official gazetteer (GNIS). The city doesn’t have a single elevation: it rises and falls from one neighborhood to another.

What are the coordinates of Columbus?

Latitude 32.46098 and longitude -84.98771, in decimal degrees (32° 27′ 40″ N · 84° 59′ 16″ W). In UTM, zone 16: 689,131 E and 3,593,316 N, on NAD83.

How does Columbus rank among the highest US cities of its size?

It’s the 104th lowest of the 249 US cities with 100,000 to 250,000 people. The highest is Lakewood (5,520 ft) and the lowest is Fort Lauderdale (3 ft).

What county is Columbus in?

Muscogee County, Georgia.

Which is higher, Columbus or Atlanta?

Atlanta. Columbus sits at 239 ft and Atlanta at 1,050 ft: a difference of 811 ft, 96 mi apart in a straight line.

How is elevation measured?

Elevation is the height above mean sea level. In the US the official reference is the NAVD88 vertical datum. Summits are surveyed on the ground, with leveling and precise GPS. The USGS 3DEP is an elevation model of the whole country, largely from 1-meter lidar: it gives the ground height at every point. That’s why it can differ by a few feet from the official figure of a sharp summit.

Sources

  • USGS 3DEP (EPQS service) The elevation: the ground height at the reference point. Public domain.
  • USGS GNIS (official gazetteer) The city’s reference point (“Populated Place”). Public domain.
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 estimates Population, land area (2025 Gazetteer) and counties. Public domain.
  • TIGERweb (U.S. Census Bureau) Which county and city the point falls in. Public domain.
  • timezone-boundary-builder The point’s time zone (ODbL, © OpenStreetMap contributors).
  • Terrain Tiles, OpenStreetMap and OpenFreeMap The relief shading and the base map (ODbL).

Methodology and sources · Spotted a mistake? Let us know