Columbia-Adair County, in the heart of South Central Kentucky, is known for its ideal location between Green River Reservoir, Dale Hollow Lake State Park, Barren River State Park, and Lake Cumberland State Park--four of Kentucky's best fishing & recreation lakes.

Historical sites abound in Adair County, with the Trabue-Russell House, listed on the National Register of Historical Places, and the log home of Janice Holt Giles, a well-known Kentucky writer. The town square surrounds the Courthouse, which was built in 1884, and Columbia boasts such visitors as General John Hunt Morgan, Jessie James--who is said to have robbed the Bank of Columbia in 1872--and Theodore O'Hara, who finished the military eulogy "Bivouac of the Dead" in a rooming house on the Square.

DEMOGRAPHICS

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As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 4,014 people, 1,554 households, and 893 families residing in the city. The population density was 450.5/km² (1,167.9/mi²). There were 1,789 housing units at an average density of 200.8/km² (520.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.38% White, 7.37% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.02% of the population.

There were 1,554 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.0% under the age of 18, 19.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,861, and the median income for a family was $31,344. Males had a median income of $23,906 versus $21,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,836. About 19.9% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.4% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.