The city hosts the annual Shaker Woods Arts & Crafts Festival, which brings national attention to the city in the summer and fall seasons.

[8] Columbiana was laid out by Joshua Dixon and William Heald in 1805.

[9] The city takes its name from Columbiana County, which itself is named in honor of 15th-century Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, combining his surname with the mass noun suffix -iana.

A district of northern Columbiana lies in Beaver Township, Mahoning County, and another small portion to the east lies in Unity Township, Columbiana County.

Columbiana operates under a chartered council–manager government, where there are six council members elected as a legislature for 4-year terms in addition to a mayor, who serves as an executive.

During the summer, the Shaker Woods Festival showcases over 200 crafters and artisans from across the nation during August.

In the fall, the American Legion hosts a civic Street Fair, followed by Christmas in the Woods, which is another large-scale craft event held on the Shaker Woods grounds.

The city was served by various one-room schoolhouses until School District Number Two was organized in 1861.

The first contemporary Columbiana High School opened in the fall of 1864, on Pittsburgh Street.

[24] The current high school building opened in 2000 and serves grades 9 through 12.

[26] The following highways pass through Columbiana: The city lies along portions of the Norfolk Southern Railway Fort Wayne Line and the Youngstown and Southeastern Railroad.