Columbus -- U.S. County in North Carolina Population (2000): 54749 Housing Units (2000): 24060 Land area (2000): 936.803935 sq. miles (2426.310950 sq. km) Water area (2000): 16.795826 sq. miles (43.500988 sq. km) Total area (2000): 953.599761 sq. miles (2469.811938 sq. km) Located within: North Carolina (NC), FIPS 37 Location: 34.268605 N, 78.676837 W Headwords: Columbus Columbus, NC Columbus County Columbus County, NC