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1998 Map of Columbia Bottom

Name: 1998 Topographic Map of Columbia Bottom
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1999
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1999

About this map

The confluence of the Mississippi River and Missouri River dominates this late-twentieth-century landscape, where industrial infrastructure meets expansive conservation lands. The Columbia Bottom State Conservation Area occupies the massive flood-plain peninsula created by the meeting of these two great waterways, while the City of St Louis Bellefontaine Farm and various quarries represent the area's agricultural and industrial utility. To the south, the suburban growth of Bellefontaine Neighbors and Spanish Lake shows a densely developed residential grid, complete with institutions like the Villa Gesu Convent and Hazelwood East High School.

Navigation and flood control are central themes, evidenced by the numerous Levees protecting the bottomlands and the massive Lock and Dam (Under Construction) on the Mississippi. Historical layers are visible in the Old Railroad Grade and the site of Fort Bellefontaine, while community roots are anchored at Immaculate Conception Cemetery and Ebenezer Cemetery. Small settlements like West Alton and Larimore sit between the rising river islands, such as Cora Island and Maple Island, defining a region shaped by both water and rail.