Local events in Columbia Township, Lorain County
27 events in the next 90 days from 2 public calendars. All local events in Columbia Township, Lorain County
Checked October 20; the events page is refreshed daily.
How Columbia Township, Lorain County began
Columbia Township was settled in 1807 when the Bronson and Hoadley families of Connecticut pooled $20,087 and bought Township 5N, Range 15W of the Western Reserve sight unseen, without ever visiting the land first -- a claim drawn essentially at random among the Connecticut Land Company's parcels. The township calls itself the longest continuously inhabited settlement in the former Western Reserve west of the Cuyahoga River. Its post office name, Columbia Station, traces to a clerical accident: postmaster Thomas G. Bronson chose the name Copokah, said to be the Native name for the Rocky River, but a transcription error in Washington rendered it Copopo, and the mistake was never corrected. The township celebrated its bicentennial in 2007 and today holds Lorain County Metro Parks' Columbia Reservation, opened in 2003.
Settled December 7, 1807 (Bela Bronson's family reaches lot twenty-seven and builds the first cabin); the township itself was drawn at the Connecticut Land Company's fourth draft on April 4, 1807, and deeded May 28, 1807, by the Bronson and Hoadley families of Connecticut, organized as the Waterbury Land Company.
Where the name comes from
The township's post office was originally meant to be named Copokah, said to be the Indian name for the Rocky River, chosen by first postmaster Thomas G. Bronson around 1817; the 1879 county history reports that 'in the papers sent from Washington the word was mis-written Copo[p]a, and the error was never corrected,' leaving the post office -- and by extension the community, Columbia Station -- carrying a garbled version of a Native place name.
Before the town
The township's own post office name derives, according to local record, from 'Copokah,' said to be the Native name for the nearby Rocky River, though the name survives today only in the corrupted form 'Copopo' after a transcription error in Washington. No named Native village, trail, camp, or other specific site within the township is otherwise documented in the sources consulted. The township's 1807 settlement followed the 1805 Treaty of Fort Industry, which cleared Native title to Western Reserve land west of the Cuyahoga River.
Timeline
- — The Treaty of Fort Industry clears Native title to Western Reserve land west of the Cuyahoga River, including the future Columbia Township.
- — The Connecticut Land Company's fourth draft assigns Township 5, Range 15 to the Waterbury Land Company (the Bronson and Hoadley families of Connecticut and their partners) for $20,087 total, sight unseen; the deed is executed May 28, 1807.
- — Bela Bronson and family, having traveled eight days by ox-sled from Cleveland, reach lot twenty-seven and begin the township's first cabin, sheltering under an overturned sled box until it is ready by Christmas.
- — Calvin Hoadley builds a gristmill on Rocky River south of the Center — the first gristmill in Lorain County.
- — The township's first post office is established, with Thomas G. Bronson as postmaster; his chosen name 'Copokah' is garbled to 'Copopo' in transcription at Washington.
- — The Baptist congregation that later builds Columbia Baptist Church is established.
- — Columbia Baptist Church, a Stick Style and Queen Anne building of locally quarried sandstone with a 77-foot bell tower, is completed at Columbia Center; it is later listed on the National Register of Historic Places (July 12, 1976).
- — The Copopa School is built.
- — An F4 tornado strikes the township, part of the wider Palm Sunday tornado outbreak that hit Lorain County.
- — Lorain County Metro Parks opens Columbia Reservation.
- — The township celebrates its bicentennial.
Stories
A land claim bought sight unseen, and a name nobody fixed
In 1807, Connecticut investors including the Bronson and Hoadley families organized as the 'Waterbury Land Company' and drew a five-mile-square Western Reserve township at the Connecticut Land Company's fourth draft, without ever laying eyes on it -- a common way parcels changed hands among investors back east. That December, Bela Bronson's family made the eight-day journey from Cleveland by ox-team and sled and reached the township on December 7, sheltering under the overturned box of their sled while their cabin went up in time for Christmas. Bronson's son later recalled that first winter: 'Our post office was at Painesville, fifty miles distant; the nearest mill was at Newburgh, twenty-eight miles away... For a time, that winter, ours was the only residence in Western Ohio.' The post office that eventually served the growing community carries its own small monument to bureaucratic error: first postmaster Thomas G. Bronson wanted to name it Copokah, reportedly the Native name for the nearby Rocky River, but whoever transcribed the paperwork in Washington wrote it down as 'Copopo' instead. Nobody ever corrected it, and Copopo is the name that stuck -- used still, a century later, for a schoolhouse built in the township in 1921.
Local history sources: en.wikipedia.org · archive.org · columbiatwp.us · en.wikipedia.org
Historic places
2 places in Columbia Township, Lorain County on the National Register of Historic Places. Press a pin or a name for its whole record.
-
Columbia Baptist ChurchBuilding · Columbia Center · listed 1976
- Address
- 25514 Royalton Rd.
- Where
- Columbia Center, Lorain County · ZIP 44028
- What it is
- Building
- Listed on the National Register
- 1976
- NRIS reference number
- 76001466
- Coordinates
- 41.31301, -81.92549
National Register file (NPS) ↗ Search Wikipedia ↗ Street map and directions ↗ On the Cracked Buckeye map
-
Columbia Town HallBuilding · Columbia Center · listed 1976
- Address
- 25496 Royalton Rd.
- Where
- Columbia Center, Lorain County · ZIP 44028
- What it is
- Building
- Listed on the National Register
- 1976
- NRIS reference number
- 76001468
- Coordinates
- 41.31283, -81.92489
National Register file (NPS) ↗ Search Wikipedia ↗ Street map and directions ↗ On the Cracked Buckeye map
Source: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places point file. The listing year is shown where NPS's certification date agrees with the listing's reference number. Listing recognizes significance; it does not restrict a private owner.
Water
Lake Erie, drawn through two separate offshore intakes serving the Lake Road filtration plant The water here
- Rural Lorain Co. Water A100% of residentsMostly Lake Erie (bought from Avon Lake); some New London Reservoir and Ashland wells
Hospitals, fire stations and more
Inside Columbia Township, Lorain County's boundary: 1 fire or EMS station, 3 public schools, 1 poor-rated bridge, 1 library, 1 museum, 1 Superfund site, 2 Toxics Release Inventory facilities and 5 spill cases. Press a pin or a name for its whole record and its source.
Fire and EMS stations (1)
-
Columbia Township Fire DepartmentColumbia Station
- Address
- 25540 Royalton Road, Columbia Station, OH 44028
- Coordinates
- 41.31302, -81.92627
USGS National Map structures (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
Source: USGS National Map structures (most Ohio records last updated 2019 to 2022), checked against the Columbus and Cleveland station lists. The department that answers a call is set by jurisdiction and mutual aid, not by distance.
Public schools (3)
-
Columbia High School4.5 of 5 stars · Columbia Station
- Address
- 14168 W River Rd, Columbia Station, OH 44028
- School district
- Columbia Local School District
- Kind (NCES)
- Regular School
- Students, 2023-24
- 276
- Teachers (full-time equivalent)
- 22.5
- Report card, 2025-26
- 4.5 of 5 stars
- Performance index
- 89.4%
- Four-year graduation rate
- 97.2%
- Ohio building IRN
- 007021
- NCES school ID
- 390481403123
NCES school record ↗ Ohio School Report Card ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Columbia Middle School4.5 of 5 stars · Columbia Station
- Address
- 13646 W River Rd, Columbia Station, OH 44028
- School district
- Columbia Local School District
- Kind (NCES)
- Regular School
- Students, 2023-24
- 308
- Teachers (full-time equivalent)
- 22.28
- Report card, 2025-26
- 4.5 of 5 stars
- Performance index
- 85.1%
- Ohio building IRN
- 007039
- NCES school ID
- 390481403124
NCES school record ↗ Ohio School Report Card ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Copopa Elementary School3.5 of 5 stars · Columbia Station
- Address
- 13644 W River Rd, Columbia Station, OH 44028
- School district
- Columbia Local School District
- Kind (NCES)
- Regular School
- Students, 2023-24
- 406
- Teachers (full-time equivalent)
- 24
- Report card, 2025-26
- 3.5 of 5 stars
- Performance index
- 87.6%
- Ohio building IRN
- 007336
- NCES school ID
- 390481403125
NCES school record ↗ Ohio School Report Card ↗ Street map and directions ↗
Source: NCES EDGE public school locations 2024-25 and Common Core of Data 2023-24 (type, students, teachers); Ohio School Report Cards 2025-26 (Department of Education and Workforce), matched by name within the district.
Bridges rated poor (1)
-
Sprague Road Cr 67 over Baker CreekPoor · built 1959
- Condition
- Poor: a deck, superstructure, substructure or culvert rated 4 or below on the 0 to 9 scale
- What it is
- Bridge
- Built
- 1959
- Length
- 18 ft
- Owner
- County
- Vehicles a day
- 10,000
- Coordinates
- 41.35077, -81.90062
National Bridge Inventory (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory 2025. "Poor" means one major part rated 4 or below on the 0 to 9 scale; it calls for repair, not closing, unless the state posts or closes the bridge.
Public libraries (1)
-
ColumbiaBranch · Columbia Station
- Address
- 13824 W. River Rd. N., Columbia Station, OH 44011
- What it is
- Branch
- Library system
- Lorain Public Library
- Open
- 3,067 hours a year, 52 weeks
- Building
- 7,753 sq ft
- System's visits, FY2024
- 450,372
- System's loans, FY2024
- 1,343,185
- People the system serves
- 145,206
- Phone
- (440) 236-8751
IMLS Public Libraries Survey (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
Source: IMLS Public Libraries Survey FY2024 (outlets and their systems). Any Ohio resident can get a free card at any Ohio public library.
Museums, historical societies, gardens and zoos (1)
-
Columbia Historical SocietyHistorical society · Columbia Station
- What it is
- Historical society
- City
- Columbia Station
- Coordinates
- 41.31602, -81.92979
Search Wikipedia ↗ IMLS Museum Data Files (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
The museum list is IMLS's 2018 file; a museum may have closed or moved since.
Source: IMLS Museum Data Files, 2018.
Superfund sites (1)
-
Dove ManufacturingSuperfund program · Columbia Station
- Address
- 27114 Royalton Road, Columbia Station, OH 44028
- County
- Lorain County
- Status
- Superfund program site, not on the National Priorities List
- EPA program ID
- OHN000508202
- EPA registry ID
- 110071101475
EPA facility record ↗ EPA Facility Registry Service (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
Source: EPA Facility Registry Service, Superfund (SEMS) and National Priorities List sites. Many program sites were assessed and needed no cleanup.
Facilities reporting toxic releases (2)
-
Chippewa Marble Co IncToxics Release Inventory · Columbia Station
- Address
- 27500 Royalton Rd., Columbia Station, OH 44028
- County
- Lorain County
- Status
- Reports to the Toxics Release Inventory (active)
- EPA program ID
- 44028CHPPW27500
- EPA registry ID
- 110002110108
EPA facility record ↗ EPA Facility Registry Service (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Columbia Container IncToxics Release Inventory · Columbia Station
- Address
- 13676 N. Station Rd., Columbia Station, OH 44028
- County
- Lorain County
- Status
- Reports to the Toxics Release Inventory (active)
- EPA program ID
- 44028CLMBC13676
- EPA registry ID
- 110002110117
EPA facility record ↗ EPA Facility Registry Service (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
Source: EPA Facility Registry Service, Toxics Release Inventory reporters. Reporting a release is required of large users of listed chemicals; it is not by itself a violation.
Spills reported since 2021 (5)
-
Material Red Reached water2024-01-09 · Columbia Twp
- Reported
- 2024-01-09
- What spilled
- Material Red
- Reached a waterway
- 99 - Unnamed
- Where
- Columbia Twp, Lorain County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NEDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2401EPA0000046
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Bentonite / Drilling Mud2022-08-09 · Columbia Twp
- Reported
- 2022-08-09
- What spilled
- Bentonite / Drilling Mud
- Largest amount reported
- 90 gallons
- Where
- Columbia Twp, Lorain County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NEDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2208EPA0001203
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Other / All Other / Trade Name / Mixture / Solution Etc2022-07-11 · Columbia Twp
- Reported
- 2022-07-11
- What spilled
- Other / All Other / Trade Name / Mixture / Solution Etc
- Where
- Columbia Twp, Lorain County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NEDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2207EPA0001050
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Material Undetermined / Other Reached water2021-09-30 · Columbia Twp
- Reported
- 2021-09-30
- What spilled
- Material Undetermined / Other
- Reached a waterway
- 99 - Unnamed
- Where
- Columbia Twp, Lorain County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NEDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2109EPA0001548
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
-
Material Unknown2021-06-30 · Columbia Twp
- Reported
- 2021-06-30
- What spilled
- Material Unknown
- Where
- Columbia Twp, Lorain County
- Ohio EPA district office
- NEDO
- Ohio EPA case number
- 2106EPA0000969
Ohio EPA spill reports (source) ↗ Street map and directions ↗
Source: Ohio EPA emergency response spill reports, 2021 to September 2026, one point per case where Ohio EPA placed it. A report is what the caller or responder recorded; amounts are often blank or estimated.
Its ZIP codes
Each ZIP code that touches Columbia Township, Lorain County, with the share of its residents who live here and the same headline figures as the ZIP page.
| ZIP | Share | Water | Radon | Home value | Schools | Flood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44028 Columbia Township and Columbia Station | 83% | Lake Erie, drawn through two separate offshore intakes serving the Lake Road filtration plant | 3.7 pCi/L average radon | Median year built 1981 | Columbia Local · 4.5 stars overall | 8.9% of residents in the 1% floodplain |
Local government
Who holds office in Columbia Township, Lorain County, how its elections and ballot issues came out, and the state auditor's record.
Money issues on the ballot since 2025: 0 of 2 passed.
Ballot issues
| Date | Issue | For | Against | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-05 | Issue 21: Streets, Rds & Bridges COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP | 676 | 899 | Failed (42.92% for) |
| 2025-11-04 | Issue 14: Streets, Roads & Bridges COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP | 584 | 965 | Failed (37.7% for) |
Elections for office
| Date | Office | Candidates and votes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-04 | Township Trustee | Joseph E. Borczuch Jr. 929, 39.46%; Dave Montante 901, 38.28%; Julie Powers 524, 22.26% |
Winners in bold. Results from the county board of elections' official canvass unless marked.
Auditor of State record
- No fiscal caution, watch or emergency on the Auditor of State's lists.
- Agreed Upon Procedures, 2022 to 2023, released 2024-12-24
The county
Lorain County: 15 ZIP codes, 32 cities, villages and townships, 304,042 people.
Nearby places
Quick answers
What county is Columbia Township, Ohio in?
Columbia Township, Lorain County is a township in Lorain County, Ohio, with 7,411 residents.
When was Columbia Township, Ohio founded?
Columbia Township, Lorain County was settled December 7, 1807 (Bela Bronson's family reaches lot twenty-seven and builds the first cabin); the township itself was drawn at the Connecticut Land Company's fourth draft on April 4, 1807, and deeded May 28, 1807. Founders on record: the Bronson and Hoadley families of Connecticut, organized as the Waterbury Land Company. Source
How did Columbia Township, Ohio get its name?
The township's post office was originally meant to be named Copokah, said to be the Indian name for the Rocky River, chosen by first postmaster Thomas G. Source
What ZIP code is Columbia Township, Ohio?
Most of Columbia Township, Lorain County is in ZIP code 44028.
Where does Columbia Township, Ohio get its water?
The main water source for Columbia Township, Lorain County (Rural Lorain Co. Water A): Lake Erie, drawn through two separate offshore intakes serving the Lake Road filtration plant.
Cite this page
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Columbia Township, Lorain County", https://crackedbuckeye.com/place/columbia-township-lorain-county/, built 2026-10-31, accessed [date].
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