1952 Map of Columbia

About this map

The Columbia townsite serves as the focal point of this 1952 landscape, situated where the meandering James River and Elm River converge in Brown County. This survey reflects a mid-century agricultural corridor defined by extensive water management and rail connectivity. A system of earthen Levee structures follows the tight oxbows of the James River, highlighting the historical efforts to control the floodplain for farming. Two major rail lines intersect the region: the Chicago and North Western passes through the northern sections near Columbia, while the Great Northern cuts across the southern portion near the small settlement of Plana. The distribution of rural education is captured in transition, showing the Davis Sch alongside the already noted School No 2 (Abandoned), documenting the consolidation of the rural school system in the Missouri River Basin.