Columbus–Auburn–Opelika combined statistical area

For the individual metropolitan areas, see Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area and Auburn, Alabama metropolitan area.

The Columbus–Auburn–Opelika, GA–AL Combined Statistical Area^[1] is a trading and marketing area made up of six counties in Georgia and three in Alabama. The statistical area includes two metropolitan areas: the Columbus metropolitan area and the Auburn–Opelika metropolitan area. As of 2023, the CSA had a population of 566,030.^[2][3]

Greater Columbus, Georgia
Combined Statistical Area
Columbus–Auburn–Opelika, GA–AL Combined Statistical Area
Skyline of Columbus, Georgia
Columbus–Auburn–Opelika, GA–AL CSA   City of Columbus   Fort Moore (fka Fort Benning)   Columbus, GA–AL MSA   Auburn–Opelika, AL MSA   Alexander City, AL μSA
Country	United States
State	Georgia Alabama
Primary cities	Columbus, GA Auburn, AL
Other Anchor Cities	- Phenix City, AL  - Opelika, AL  - Tuskegee, AL  - Alexander City, AL
Area
• Land	8,790 km2 (3,392 sq mi)
Population  (2023 est.)
• CSA	566,030 (84th)
Time zones	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	706, 762, 334

The Combined Statistical Area consists of the:

• Columbus metropolitan area, population 323,768.
• Auburn–Opelika metropolitan area, population 201,585.
• Alexander City Micropolitan area, population 40,677

Counties

In Georgia

• Chattahoochee County pop. 9,565
• Harris County pop. 34,668
• Marion County pop. 7,498
• Muscogee County pop. 206,922
• Stewart County pop. 5,314
• Talbot County pop. 5,733

In Alabama

• Lee County pop. 163,461
• Russell County pop. 57,938
• Tallapoosa County pop. 40,677

Communities

The communities (both incorporated and unincorporated) in the combined statistical area are as follows. Bold name indicates the principal cities in the CSA:

In Alabama

• Auburn pop. 80,006^[4]
• Beauregard pop. 5,234
• Bee Hive pop. unknown
• Beulah pop. 6,173
• Fort Mitchell pop. 3,11
• Glenville pop. unknown
• Gold Hill pop. unknown
• Holy Trinity pop. unknown
• Hurtsboro pop. 592
• Ladonia pop. 1,943
• Loachapoka pop. 165
• Marvyn pop. 5,235
• Notasulga pop. 916 (in Lee county only)
• Opelika pop. 26,477
• Phenix City pop. 38,816
• Roxana pop. 1,942
• Salem pop. 6,428
• Seale pop. 2,382
• Smiths Station pop. 21,756
• The Bottle pop. unknown
• Waverly pop. 180 (in Lee county only)

In Georgia

• Buena Vista pop. 1,664
• Cataula pop. 3,784
• Columbus pop. 206,922
• Cusseta pop. 1,196
• Ellerslie pop. 3,292
• Fort Benning South pop. 11,737
• Hamilton pop. 307
• Hopewell pop. unknown
• Juniper pop. 2,830
• Mountain Hill pop. unknown
• Mulberry Grove pop. unknown
• Pine Mountain pop. 1,141
• Rehobeth pop. unknown
• Ridgeway pop. unknown
• Shiloh pop. 423
• Waverly Hall pop. 790
• West Point pop. 3,487
• Whitesville pop. 150

Education institutes

Higher education

Samford Hall at Auburn University. Auburn is the largest university in the Greater Columbus area.

Public

• Auburn University
• Columbus State University
• Columbus Technical College
• Chattahoochee Valley Community College (Phenix City)
• Georgia Military College - main campus in Milledgeville, Georgia
• Southern Union State Community College (Opelika)
• Troy University - campuses in Columbus, Fort Benning, and Phenix City, main campus in Troy, Alabama

Private, for profit

• Christian Life School of Theology (Columbus)
• Miller-Motte Technical College - main campus in Wilmington, North Carolina
• Rivertown School of Beauty (Columbus)
• Southeastern Beauty School (Columbus)
• Strayer University - main campus in Baltimore, Maryland

Primary and secondary education

Main articles: Muscogee County School District and Auburn City Schools

Transportation

Airports

Below is a list of the airports in the greater area, followed by their number of enplanements (commercial passenger boardings) that occurred at the airport in calendar year 2008.

Public

• Auburn-Opelika Robert G. Pitts Airport (IATA: AUO, ICAO: KAUO, FAA LID: AUO), 68
• Columbus Airport (IATA: CSG, ICAO: KCSG, FAA LID: CSG), 51,288

Private

• Harris County Airport (IATA: PIM, ICAO: KPIM, FAA LID: PIM), 116
• Jones Light Aviation Airport (FAA LID: AL56), n/a
• Lawson Army Airfield (IATA: LSF, ICAO: KLSF, FAA LID: LSF), 13,702
• Marion County Airport (FAA LID: 82A), n/a

Interstates

• Interstate 85
• Interstate 185

Principal Highways

• U.S. Route 27
• U.S. Route 29
• U.S. Route 80
• U.S. Route 280
• U.S. Route 431

State Highways

• Alabama State Route 14
• Alabama State Route 26
• Alabama State Route 51
• Alabama State Route 147
• Alabama State Route 165
• Alabama State Route 169
• Alabama State Route 267
• Georgia State Route 18
• Georgia State Route 22
• Georgia State Route 26
• Georgia State Route 27
• Georgia State Route 30
• Georgia State Route 36
• Georgia State Route 39
• Georgia State Route 41
• Georgia State Route 85
• Georgia State Route 90
• Georgia State Route 96
• Georgia State Route 103
• Georgia State Route 116
• Georgia State Route 127
• Georgia State Route 137
• Georgia State Route 190
• Georgia State Route 208
• Georgia State Route 219
• Georgia State Route 240
• Georgia State Route 315
• Georgia State Route 352
• Georgia State Route 354
• Georgia State Route 355
• Georgia State Route 520
• Georgia State Route 540

Sports

Club	League
Auburn Tigers	NCAA Division I (Southeastern Conference)
Columbus River Dragons	Federal Prospects Hockey League
Columbus Lions	National Arena League
Columbus State University Cougars	NCAA Division II (Peach Belt Conference)

Shopping

Below are some notable shopping centers in the area:

• Columbus Park Crossing (Columbus)
• Peachtree Mall (Columbus)
• The Landings (Columbus)
• The Shoppes at Bradley Park (Columbus)
• TigerTown (Opelika)
• Auburn Mall (Auburn)

Notable people

Main articles: Notable Columbusites and Notable Auburnites