West Columbia is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, United States.

The city is centered on the intersection of Texas Highways 35 & 36, 55 miles (89 km) southwest of downtown Houston.

[4] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,644 people, 1,398 households, and 984 families residing in the city.

[10] The town hosted the First Congress of the Republic of Texas when Sam Houston became president on October 22, 1836.

The First Congress voted to move the capital to Houston on November 30 because Columbia lacked living quarters for government officials.

By 1928, the town's population rose to 2,500, but the ill-effects of the Great Depression caused the number of residents to fall to about 1,000.

By the 1960s big oil companies had a considerable presence near town and the area boasted the most cattle in the state.

West Columbia is a General Law municipality, like approximately 75% of Texas cities.

As a "general law" city, West Columbia must operate according to specific state statutes prescribing powers and duties.

The day-to-day operation of West Columbia falls to a full-time City Manager.

The Texas Legislature assigned the area in Columbia-Brazoria ISD (including West Columbia) to the Brazosport College district.