2015 Map of Columbia

About this map

Columbia and Waterloo anchor this portion of the Illinois uplands, where the landscape transitions from the bluffs down into the American Bottoms. The area's settlement history is etched into the terrain through numerous family and community burial grounds, including the Shoemaker Cem and McConkey Cem. Transportation routes such as Old Route 3 and Bixby Rd connect the smaller communities of Dupo, Bixby, and New Hanover. The geography is defined by a series of creeks and lakes like Palmer Cr, Wilson Cr, and the Columbia Sportsman Club Lake. Near the municipal boundaries, small airfields such as Sackman Field and Riebeling Airport indicate the rural aviation character of the region. The map also captures the distinct boundary line separating ST. Clair Co and Monroe Co, tracing the historic jurisdictional divisions that shaped local development.