Columbus in Columbus Township in Adams County
Columbus Illinois was first settled in 1830 by James Thomas from Kentucky. Several other settlers followed Thomas and the village grew fairly quickly. In 1836 several lots in the village were sold and nearly 100 new homes were built that year. The new town grew quickly and in 1840 the population was nearly equal to Quincy which was located on the Mississippi River. Columbus was nearest to the center of the Adams County so a hotly contested competition began between Quincy and Columbus to make Columbus the county seat of Adams County.
A legal battle ensued and the backers of keeping the county seat in Quincy eventually won out.
Why does this matter the reader may ask?
Today village of Columbus has a population of about 100. The Census in 2016 counted 98. Quincy on the Mississippi on the other hand had prospered well and has a population of over 40,000. You know what they say? Location, location, location!
Time and history has not fared well for Columbus and it residents and the prosperity of the village.
Look at satellite map of Columbus, Columbus Township and what you see is mostly farm land, tree lined creek drainage areas and few structures of any kind. The last Census in 2010 counted 551 residents and less than 240 homes or dwellings in the entire township. Columbus is the inhabited village in the Township. No other unincorporated areas exist in the Township.
Other than area farming activities there is little to no other businesses to sustain the village. Working age people if not engaged in farming all work elsewhere. Like many other rural farming areas of Illinois, you will find plenty of crops like corn and soybeans. The prosperity of the farm owners and the village are pretty much depended on the swings in crop prices in the global market place.
On the positive side traffic congestion is non-existent. You can drive from one end of the village to the other in about two minutes. The night time skyline is pretty much absent of any light pollution you normally see in a larger city. Your night time sounds will be the natural sounds of insects like crickets, owls, a variety of birds. You get it. The sounds of the quiet country life. If your so inclined, that kind of life can be pretty good. Peaceful and quiet has its charms if your and overstressed city dweller used to the should of honking car horns, loud traffic, airplanes and helicopters flying overhead, loud motorcycles and music blaring from your neighbors next door.
The folks that live in Columbus and around the township like the life. They are hardworking, self-reliant and honest people just like the settlers of old. So, if you’re looking for a quiet life, Columbus IL might be a good bet.
Points of interest near Columbus
Airports
Churches
- Camp Point United Methodist Church, which is on 104 West Wood Street, Camp Point.
- St. Thomas Catholic Church, which is on 109 East Spring Street, Camp Point.
- St. Brigid Catholic Church, which is on 706 North Main Street, Liberty.
- Faith Baptist Church, which is on 1926 State Highway 94, Camp Point.
- New Beginnings Church, which is on 207 West Columbus Street, Camp Point.
- Columbus United Methodist Church, which is on 201 Liberty Street, Columbus.
- St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, which is on 320 Adams Street, Coatsburg.
- Paloma United Methodist Church, which is on 1803 East 1650th Street, Paloma.
Fire Stations
- Liberty Fire Protection District, which is on 607 Talbot Street, Liberty.
- Coatsburg Fire Department, which is on 300 South Main Street, Coatsburg.
- Columbus Fire Department, which is on Paloma.
Secondary Schools
- Central Junior High School, which is on 2110 State Highway 94, Camp Point.
Parks
- Cedar Lakes, which is on 2000 North 1850th Avenue, Camp Point.
- Bailey Psrk, which is on 102 East Park Street, Camp Point.
- Liberty Park, which is on Liberty.
- Oak Wood Acres Campground, which is on 2124 East 1300th Place, Mendon.
- Bailey Park N, which is on Camp Point.
- Adams County Fairground, which is on Mendon.
City halls
- Village of Camp Point, which is on 111 East Wood Street, Camp Point.
- GILMER TOWN HALL, which is on 1350 East 1600th Street, Quincy.
- LIBERTY TOWNSHIP HALL, which is on 600 Dudley Street, Liberty.
Govt offices
- Village of Camp Point, which is on 111 East Wood Street, Camp Point.
- Camp Point Village Sewer Plant, which is on 107 South Main Street, Coatsburg.
- GILMER TOWN HALL, which is on 1350 East 1600th Street, Quincy.
- Camp Point Community Building, which is on 208 East State Street, Camp Point.
- Liberty Township, which is on 1000 East 2000th Street, Liberty.
- LIBERTY TOWNSHIP HALL, which is on 600 Dudley Street, Liberty.
- Ellington Township Garage, which is on 1927 Duck Harbor Road, Quincy.
- Ellington Town Hall, which is on 5401 Ellington Road, Quincy.
Nearby Towns and Suburbs
- Coatsburg is 3 miles to the north.
- Paloma is 3 miles to the north-west.
- Camp Point is 5 miles to the north-east.
- Fowler is 6 miles to the west.
- Liberty is 7 miles to the south.
- Burton is 7 miles to the south-west.
- Bloomfield is 8 miles to the west.
- Adams is 8 miles to the south.
- Ewbanks is 9 miles to the west.
- Hickory Grove is 9 miles to the west.
- Blacks is 9 miles to the north-east.
- Mendon is 10 miles to the north-west.
- Clayton is 10 miles to the east.
- Golden is 10 miles to the north-east.
- Country Meadows is 11 miles to the west.
- Kellerville is 12 miles to the east.
