With the motto, “Good for business, good for life,” it’s no wonder that Columbia, Illinois is one of the fastest growing suburbs in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Originally founded by Frenchman in the mid-17th century, Columbia was first incorporated as a town in 1859, the majority of its residents being German immigrants. Columbia’s German heritage is still cherished today and it even has a German sister-city, Gedern. With a population of approximately 9,818, Columbia has been able to maintain its small-town charm, even as it experiences tremendous economic growth. With responsible, community-minded planning and development and a quality of life that most bedroom towns can’t boast, Columbia is the perfect place to call home.
Shopping and Dining
Columbia’s close proximity to the metropolitan mecca of St. Louis is a definite plus. But take a walk down the quaint streets of Columbia and you’ll discover that it has a vibrant shopping and dining culture of its own. There are several unique shops and department stores for those everyday essentials and one-of-a-kind gifts. When furnishing your new home, you may want to peruse the eclectic home comforts and antiques of Elements off Main. Whether it’s enjoying the company of friends at Reifschneider's Grill & Grape or enjoying a good book over coffee at Mokka Kaffeehaus, there is something for everyone and every occasion in Columbia.
Parks and Recreation
There are three golf courses in town and seven more within twenty minutes of the city, making Columbia a haven for golf lovers. Visit the Columbia Golf Club website for virtual tours of Columbia’s courses. Families will be pleased to know that, for the second year in a row, the playground advocacy group, Kaboom, has named Columbia a “Playful City USA.” There’s always something fun for the whole family happening at Metter Memorial Park, in the heart of downtown Columbia. During the summer, bring a lawn chair to the Sunday concert series, “Music at Metter.” And in early fall, “Movies at Metter,” is a blast from the past, reinventing the drive-in movie experience. You can visit a number of historic sites and structures throughout Columbia, or drive just a few miles out of town and explore Illinois’ oldest communities, Prairie Du-Rocher and the Fort de Chartres historic site.
Living
Easy access to St. Louis via I-255 has made Columbia’s real estate particularly in demand, as Columbia enjoys the benefits of a growing, vibrant economy without sacrificing the comforts and perks of small-town life. With a very active chamber of commerce and business support groups like Columbia’s Resourceful Organization of Women Networking, or C.R.O.W.N., Columbia demonstrates its commitment to a vibrant economy with community at its heart.
Schools, Health, Transportation
Columbia is part of the pubic Community Unit School District #4, which includes two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Report Cards and School Profiles are available at the district’s website. Columbia is also home to the highly respected Immaculate Conception School. The Monroe County Medical Building locally serves the majority of Columbia resident’s medical needs and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is located in nearby Belleville. Columbia is served by Metro, which provides public transportation in and around the St. Louis metropolitan area. Sackman Field is Columbia’s local, municipal airport and the St. Louis International Airport is only 45 minutes away.
