Page "Columbia, California" Paragraph 5

Within weeks of the discovery of gold in the vicinity of Columbia, thousands of miners arrived and the population climbed to 5, 000.

By 1852, there were 8 hotels, 4 banks, 17 general stores, 2 firehouses, 2 bookstores, 1 newspaper, 3 churches, and over 40 drinking / gambling establishments.

In 1854, Columbia's first fire destroyed 6 city blocks.

The town was rebuilt using brick and iron materials.

In 1857, another fire burned down nearly everything else, except the brick buildings.