View source for Columbia, Illinois

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                 = Columbia
| settlement_type      = [[List of cities in Illinois|City]]
| image_skyline        = File:Downtown Columbia, IL.jpg
| imagesize            = 
| image_caption        = Downtown Columbia 
| image_flag           = Flag of Columbia, Illinois.png
| image_blank_emblem   = Logo of Columbia, Illinois.png
| blank_emblem_type    = Logo
| motto = {{force singular}} Good for business, good for life
| image_map            = File:Monroe County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Columbia Highlighted.svg
| mapsize              = 260px
| map_caption          = Location of Columbia in Monroe County, Illinois.
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type     = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name     = United States
| subdivision_type1    = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1    = Illinois
| subdivision_type2    = [[List of counties in Illinois|County]]
| subdivision_name2    = [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair]] and [[Monroe County, Illinois|Monroe]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2007-17.csv | title = Subcounty population estimates: Illinois 2000-2008 | format = [[comma-separated values|CSV]] | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division | date = 2009-03-18 | access-date = 2009-04-04 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080926135429/http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2007-17.csv | archive-date = 2008-09-26 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| subdivision_type3    = 
| subdivision_name3    = 
<!-- Government -->
| established_title    = Founded
| established_date     = 1859
| founder              = 
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type      = 
| governing_body       = 
| leader_party         = 
| leader_title         = Mayor
| leader_name          =  
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref            = Imperial
| area_footnotes       = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2       = 26.88
| area_total_sq_mi     = 10.38
| area_land_km2        = 26.74
| area_land_sq_mi      = 10.32
| area_water_km2       = 0.14
| area_water_sq_mi     = 0.06
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of     = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total     = 10999
| population_density_km2 = 411.37
| population_density_sq_mi = 1065.48
<!-- General Information -->
| timezone             = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset           = −6
| timezone_DST         = [[Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST       = −5
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft         = 446
| coordinates          = {{coord|38|27|52|N|90|14|30|W|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes = 
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type     = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code          = 62236
| area_code            = [[Area code 618#United States|618]]
| blank_name           = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info           = 17-15833
| blank1_name          = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info          = 2393604<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2393604}}</ref>
| website              = {{URL|http://www.columbiaillinois.com/}}
| footnotes            = 
}}

'''Columbia''' is a city mainly in [[Monroe County, Illinois|Monroe County]] with a small portion in [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair County]] in the U.S. state of [[Illinois]], about {{convert|12|mi|km}} south of [[St. Louis, Missouri]]. The population was 10,999 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

== History ==
Columbia was first incorporated in 1859 as a small farming settlement, but had been occupied by various Native American cultures for 12,000 years. The earliest group encountered by European settlers were members of what became the [[Illinois Confederation]], though they had moved to the area from the Great Lakes region only a few centuries before.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Columbia {{!}} Columbia, IL - Official Website |url=https://www.columbiaillinois.com/805/History-of-Columbia |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=www.columbiaillinois.com}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the 2010 census, Columbia has a total area of {{convert|10.476|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|10.41|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 99.37%) is land and {{convert|0.066|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 0.63%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1715833
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=2015-12-27
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213054320/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1715833
  |archive-date=2020-02-13
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Columbia is bounded on the west by the Mississippi River. Running in a diagonal line just northeast of Columbia is the border of [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair County]], beyond which lies [[Dupo, Illinois|Dupo]] to the north and [[Millstadt, Illinois|Millstadt]] to the east. To the south is [[Waterloo, Illinois|Waterloo]]. Waterloo and Columbia are expected to grow right up to the borders of the other, in effect extending St. Louis's [[urban sprawl]] from South St. Louis County across the [[Jefferson Barracks Bridge]] into the heart of the formerly rural Monroe County{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}.

=== Climate ===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Columbia, IL has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

{{Weather box
| location = Columbia, IL
| single line = Y
| Jan high F = 
| Feb high F = 
| Mar high F = 
| Apr high F = 
| May high F = 
| Jun high F = 
| Jul high F = 
| Aug high F = 
| Sep high F = 
| Oct high F = 
| Nov high F = 
| Dec high F = 
| year high F = 
| Jan mean F = 
| Feb mean F = 
| Mar mean F = 
| Apr mean F = 
| May mean F = 
| Jun mean F = 
| Jul mean F = 
| Aug mean F = 
| Sep mean F = 
| Oct mean F = 
| Nov mean F = 
| Dec mean F = 
| year mean F = 
| Jan low F = 
| Feb low F = 
| Mar low F = 
| Apr low F = 
| May low F = 
| Jun low F = 
| Jul low F = 
| Aug low F = 
| Sep low F = 
| Oct low F = 
| Nov low F = 
| Dec low F = 
| year low F = 
| precipitation colour = 
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.5
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.4
| Mar precipitation inch = 3.3
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.0
| May precipitation inch = 4.8
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.2
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.1
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.2
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.4
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.5
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.8
| Dec precipitation inch = 3.1
| year precipitation inch = 
| Jan precipitation days = 
| Feb precipitation days = 
| Mar precipitation days = 
| Apr precipitation days = 
| May precipitation days = 
| Jun precipitation days = 
| Jul precipitation days = 
| Aug precipitation days = 
| Sep precipitation days = 
| Oct precipitation days = 
| Nov precipitation days = 
| Dec precipitation days = 
| year precipitation days = 
| Jan snow inch = 
| Feb snow inch = 
| Mar snow inch = 
| Apr snow inch = 
| May snow inch = 
| Jun snow inch = 
| Jul snow inch = 
| Aug snow inch = 
| Sep snow inch = 
| Oct snow inch = 
| Nov snow inch = 
| Dec snow inch = 
| year snow inch = 
| Jan snow days = 
| Feb snow days = 
| Mar snow days = 
| Apr snow days = 
| May snow days = 
| Jun snow days = 
| Jul snow days = 
| Aug snow days = 
| Sep snow days = 
| Oct snow days = 
| Nov snow days = 
| Dec snow days = 
| year snow days = 
| source 1 = bestplaces.net <ref name="https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/illinois/columbia">{{cite web
| url=https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/illinois/columbia |title=Jasper,IN |access-date=21 March 2021 |date=March 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 378
|1860= 1080
|1870= 1246
|1880= 1308
|1890= 1267
|1900= 1197
|1910= 2076
|1920= 1592
|1930= 1791
|1940= 1871
|1950= 2179
|1960= 3174
|1970= 4188
|1980= 4269
|1990= 5524
|2000= 7922
|2010= 9707
|2020= 10999
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2010, there were 9,707 people. 3,792 households and 2,692 families reside in the city. The population density was 932.5 people per square mile. There were 3,977 housing units at an average density of 382 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 97.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2% of the population.

There were 3,792 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 25.0% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 20 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $67,333 and the median income for a family was $90,486. Males had a median income of $59,396 versus $43,594 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $32,243. About 2.3% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Columbia is served by the public [[K-12 (education)|K-12]] school district Columbia Community Unit District #4. District #4 includes Eagleview Elementary School (pre-k – 1), Parkview Elementary School (2–4), Columbia Middle School (5–8), and [[Columbia High School (Illinois)|Columbia High School]]. Also located in the city is Immaculate Conception School,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ics.k12.il.us/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717204921/http://www.ics.k12.il.us/ | archive-date=2007-07-17 | title=Immaculate Conception School, Columbia, Illinois }}</ref> a private Roman Catholic grade school with grades from Pre-k to eighth.

==Transportation==

===Highways===
To get to places in other towns and cities, Columbians rely mostly on the four highways located nearby.
[[Illinois Route 3]] is the only highway that runs through the city. It connects Columbia with [[Dupo, Illinois|Dupo]] and [[Cahokia, Illinois|Cahokia]] in the northwest and [[Waterloo, Illinois|Waterloo]] and [[Red Bud, Illinois|Red Bud]] from the southeast. [[Illinois Route 158]] has its western terminus just south of the city off of Route 3 and connects Columbia with [[Millstadt, Illinois|Millstadt]].

[[Interstate 255]] and [[U.S. Route 50 in Illinois|U.S. Route 50]] overlap in St. Louis and continue over the [[Jefferson Barracks Bridge]] to Columbia, where they overlap again with Route 3 in an area just north of the city.

===Airport===
There is a small airport, [[Sackman Field]], on the western edge of town, named for the former Columbia schools music director, Uhl Sackman.

===Public transportation===
A public bus service, provided by MetroBus, arrives in the morning and evening in Columbia and Waterloo and transports people to the [[MetroLink (St. Louis)|MetroLink]] station in [[East St. Louis, Illinois|East St. Louis]].

==Notable people==<!-- Note:
· Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability.
· The article must mention how they are associated with Columbia, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
· Alphabetical by last name please.
· All others will be deleted.
-->
{{div col start}}
* [[Josh Fleming (baseball)|Josh Fleming]], pitcher for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] and [[Tampa Bay Rays]]
* [[Caden Glover]], professional soccer player for [[Saint Louis City SC]].<ref>{{cite news|title=City SC makes Caden Glover of Columbia, Ill., its first Homegrown player |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-03-15/features/9903150147_1_carrie-emily-bergl-revival|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222160348/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-03-15/features/9903150147_1_carrie-emily-bergl-revival|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 22, 2013|access-date=May 13, 2023 | work=Saint Louis Post-Dispatch|first=Tom|last=Timmermann|date=January 9, 2023}}</ref>
* [[Nelson Mathews]], outfielder for the [[Chicago Cubs]] and [[Kansas City Athletics]]
* [[T. J. Mathews]], pitcher for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] and [[Oakland Athletics]] and [[Houston Astros]]
* [[Aedan Stanley]], soccer player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aedan Stanley: Continuing the Dream |url=https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2024/05/10/aedan-stanley-continuing-the-dream/ |access-date=August 16, 2025 |website=[[Indy Eleven]]}}</ref>
* [[John P. Weinel]], United States Navy [[Admiral]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[USS Columbia (SSN-771)|USS ''Columbia'' (SSN-771)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
"Combined History of Randolph, Monroe and Perry Counties, Illinois: With Illustrations Descriptive of Their Scenery and Biographical Sketches of Some of Their Prominent Men and Pioneers."  Higginson Book Company, 1883. (Google Ebook)

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140504172645/http://www.columbiaillinois.com/ City of Columbia, Illinois]
<br />
{{St. Louis MSA}}
{{Metro-East}}
{{Monroe County, Illinois}}
{{St. Clair County, Illinois}}
{{Southern-Illinois}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Columbia, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:Metro East]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in Monroe County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in St. Clair County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1859]]
[[Category:Illinois populated places on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Illinois]]