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1954 Map of Columbia

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Columbia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

St. Clair and Monroe counties meet along the dramatic bluffs of Sugarloaf, where the flat plains of the American Bottoms give way to upland terrain. This mid-century landscape is defined by its deep-rooted German-American settlements and a complex transportation network, including the Gulf Mobile and Ohio and Missouri Pacific railroads. Columbia serves as the central hub, supported by outlying hamlets like New Hanover and Bixby.

Evidence of the area's geological and industrial history is scattered throughout, from the Stemler Cave system to active quarry and cement operations near the northern bluffs. Local genealogy is well-represented by rural landmarks such as Kleinschmidt Cem and Shoemaker Sch. An unusual feature of this era is the noted Experimental Underground Gas Storage site, reflecting post-war industrial innovation within the limestone strata of the region.