Columbiana is centrally located in the County approximately 25 miles southeast of Birmingham. Columbiana serves as the county seat with many county government offices located in Columbiana. As such, many people come to Columbiana to conduct business.
Incorporated in 1837, with corporate limits one-quarter mile in each direction from the public square, Columbiana was first called Columbia. An act of the Legislature changed the name to Columbiana on January 13, 1832. Prior to the Civil War, an iron foundry was located in Columbiana, and during the war CB Churchill operated a foundry for the Confederate government. It was burned in 1865.
Several government offices and County organizations call Columbiana home such as the Shelby County Board of Education, The Shelby County Sheriffs Office and the Adult Jail, and the Harrison Regional Library, and the main office of the Shelby County Libraries. Commerce is also abundant featuring Citation Foam Casting, Central Alabama Fabricators, upscale retail and antique shops, fine dining and lots more. Having easy access to Interstate I-65, Highway 280 and Lay Lake is a real plus in this charming bedroom community.
Columbiana is served by the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce .