Columbia, IL

Columbia, Illinois

Introduction to Columbia, Illinois

Columbia, Illinois, in Monroe county, is 13 miles S of St. Louis, Missouri. The city benefits from easy access to the nearby cities and towns that it shares the Saint Louis metropolitan area with. Columbia’s population is approximately 7,922.

Columbia History

Frenchmen were the first Europeans to settle in the community, arriving in the mid-1600s. The area was then known as L’Aigle, which is a French term for The Eagle. The British took possession of the area in the mid-1700s, but were forced to move out of the area after the Revolutionary War. The first permanent settlements American were established by colonial American settlers in the areas of Fort Whiteside, Columbia and Fort Piggot. The forts were made out of log cabins to ensure protection against Indian raids. Columbia was plotted as a town in 1820. Germans began to immigrate into the area in 1833. Columbia was officially incorporated as a town in the year 1859, and the first rail road tracks were laid out in the area in the year 1868.

Columbia and nearby Attractions

• Scott Joplin House State Historic Site
• Cahokia Mounds
• Saint Louis Holocaust Museum
• Cahokia Mounds
• Frank Holten State Recreation Area

Things To Do In Columbia

Local museums include the Eugene Field House and Toy Museum, the Soldiers' Memorial Military Museum and the Saint Louis Holocaust Museum. Local wildlife parks and areas include the Horseshoe Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area-Madison and the Peabody River State Fish & Wildlife Area. The Frank Holten State Recreation Area is a popular local spot as well.

Columbia Transportation

Lambert-St. Louis International is the nearest major airport.

Columbia Higher Education

Nearby colleges and universities include Saint Louis University, Washington University and Southwestern Illinois College.

High Points

Columbia strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Illinois):

Category	Trophy
Low Rate of Poverty (vs. Peers)	Top 7%
People in Middle Class or Better (vs. Peers)	Top 9%
Well-Paid Single Men (vs. State)	Top 11%
Well-Paid Single Women (vs. State)	Top 11%
Median Family Income (vs. State)	Top 15%
College Educated Adults (vs. State)	Top 17%

Comparative Profile of Columbia, IL

Comparing Columbia to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Illinois (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Well-Paid Single Men
Well-Paid Single Women
Age of the Population
Senior Citizens
Male Share of the Population
Children Under 5 Years Old
Female Share of the Population
Racial Diversity

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Portion of People Married
Average Household Size

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
People Above Poverty
People in Middle Class or Better
Median Family Income
College Educated Adults

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Working at Home
Walking and Biking to Work
Short Commute Times
Public Transportation Use

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Housing Recently Built
People Living Alone
Affordability of Rents
Affordability of Property Taxes
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Seasonal and Vacation Housing

Columbia Almanac

Columbia Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Columbia Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Nearby Cities and Towns

Columbia Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Columbia High Schools (2004)

COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL
100 PARKVIEW DR
618-281-5001
Serves 539 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 15.8

Columbia Colleges

(List of All Illinois Colleges)

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