Columbia Heights, Minnesota

Columbia Heights is a city in Anoka County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 19,496 at the 2010 census. Columbia Heights was formed as a village on March 14, 1898 when it separated from Fridley Township. On July 21, 1921 the Charter of the City of Columbia Heights was adopted and the city was formed.

Minnesota State Highways 47 (University Avenue) and 65 (Central Avenue) are two of the main arterial routes in the city.

Columbia Heights is a first-ring northern suburb of Minneapolis, which it borders on the south. Its downtown district is centered on the corner 40th Avenue NE and Central Avenue, and includes the Heights Theater, county offices, the public library, and a variety of businesses. Central Avenue forms a commercial district along its length. More businesses line University Avenue.

Columbia Heights, the Heights Jamboree, Hylander, and many other references to the city and Minnesota appear in Pat Proft's 1998 film Wrongfully Accused.

A Polish flag and white eagle are on the sign marking the border between Columbia Heights and Minneapolis, visible when entering Columbia Heights on Central Avenue, in celebration of the suburb's early roots as a Polish-American community.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.2 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (8.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.82%) is water.

Columbia Heights is bordered by the city of Fridley to the north and west; New Brighton and Saint Anthony to the east; and Minneapolis to the south.

The city of Hilltop is entirely enclosed within the city.

Columbia Heights has a hilly terrain and features one of the highest points in Hennepin, Ramsey, and Anoka Counties at 47th Avenue NE & Stinson Blvd. There are five lakes in the city: Sullivan Lake, Highland Lake, Silver Lake, Hart Lake, and LaBelle Pond.

The city park system resides in mostly low lying and former swampland areas that was unsuitable for building. Huset Park is the main park in the city. Prestemon, Gauvitte and McKenna Parks were all named for members of the first city council in 1921. Ava Ostrander, first woman elected to the council in 1924 also has a park named for her. Kordiak Park is an Anoka County park in the city named after former County Commissioner Albert A. Kordiak. Other parks include Edgemoor, La Belle, Lomianki, Keyes, Sullivan, Ramsdell, and Hilltop.

Schools
Columbia Heights is served by public schools, private schools, and charter schools.

Independent School District 13
(CH School District)
 * Columbia Heights High School (CHHS): grades 9-12
 * Central Middle School (CMS): grades 6-8
 * Highland Elementary: grades K-5
 * Valley View Elementary: grades K-5
 * North Park Elementary: grades K-5

NE Metro Intermediate District 916

 * ALC West Campus: grades 7-12 (link)

Private schools

 * Immaculate Conception Catholic School: grades K-8 (link)
 * Little Voyageurs Montessori School: grades PK-K

Charter schools

 * Academy of Bioscience: grades 5-8 (link)

Higher Education
NEI College of Technology was located in Columbia Heights until it merged with Dunwoody College of Technology in 2003. The college building was demolished in November 2004.

Demographics


As of the census of 2000, there were 18,520 people, 8,033 households, and 4,731 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,368.7 people per square mile (2,072.6/km²). There were 8,151 housing units at an average density of 2,362.9 per square mile (912.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.39% White, 3.62% African American, 1.64% Native American, 3.46% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.30% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.15% of the population.

There were 8,033 households out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,562, and the median income for a family was $50,610. Males had a median income of $35,092 versus $28,993 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,368. About 3.9% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.