2023 Map of Columbia West

About this map

The Susquehanna River carves a deep boundary between Lancaster and York counties, defining a landscape of historical river towns and upland farming communities. This survey reveals the dense settlement patterns of Marietta, Mount Joy, and Columbia, where the industrial and transport history of the corridor is evident in the transition from riverfront rails to the interior heights of Donegal Heights. Cultural and genealogical history is particularly rich here, with several African Methodist Episcopal landmarks including Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church and its associated cemetery. To the west, the Hellam Hills rise sharply from the water, marked by distinctive geological features like Chimney Rock and Buzzards Roost. The interior is dotted with numerous family and community burial sites, from the Landis - Gross Graveyard to the Shock Burial Ground, illustrating centuries of local settlement.