Columbus Junction, Iowa
| Columbus Junction, Iowa | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Downtown Columbus Junction
|
|
 Location of Columbus Junction, Iowa |
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| Coordinates: 41°16′42″N 91°21′45″W / 41.27833°N 91.36250°WCoordinates: 41°16′42″N 91°21′45″W / 41.27833°N 91.36250°W | |
| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 Iowa
|
| County | Louisa |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.19 sq mi (5.67 km2) |
| • Land | 2.19 sq mi (5.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 604 ft (184 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 1,899 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 1,879 |
| • Density | 867.1/sq mi (334.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 52738 |
| Area code(s) | 319 |
| FIPS code | 19-15420 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0455546 |
| Website | City of Columbus Junction Website |
Columbus Junction is a city in Louisa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,899 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Columbus Junction is home of the historic 'Swinging Bridge' found one block south of Highway 92 near downtown. Columbus Community School District serving Columbus Junction, Columbus City, Fredonia, Cotter, Conesville the surrounding townships is located in Columbus Junction. The city's largest employer is a Tyson pork processing plant located just north of the city on Highway 70.
Columbus Junction began as Clifton. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad built an east-west line through the area in 1858, with a station at Clifton. When the north-south Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railway was built, in 1870, it crossed the Rock Island at Clifton. The first BCR&M train arrived on Feb. 7, 1870, and the first local business opened the next day, a restaurant and boarding house, in a building moved by rail from Muscatine, Iowa. Just a month later, the town was platted. Columbus City, Iowa had already been established before the railroads came through, and both the Rock Island and the BCR&M had missed Columbus City by over a mile. As both Columbus City and Township had invested in the latter line, they were permitted to name the new town, so it became Columbus Junction.
Immigration plays a strong role in the history of Columbus Junction. The latest wave of immigrant is refugees from the Chin State of Myanmar (Burma).
In the summer of 2008 the Midwest experienced record floods, Columbus Junction included when the Cedar and Iowa Rivers overflowed their banks.
Columbus Junction is located at 41°16′42″N 91°21′45″W / 41.27833°N 91.36250°W (41.278414, -91.362466), between the cities of Columbus City and Fredonia. It lies at the confluence of two rivers, the Iowa and the Cedar. The terrain is characterized by hills and ravines which is reflected in a street layout that includes few square blocks and through streets.
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