The first U.S. city to be named after Christopher Columbus, Columbia has come to be known as the "Queen of Festivals." A wide variety of celebrations are held throughout the year to entertain, educate and influence. From a St. Patrick's Day Festival that features live bands, arts and crafts and an array of fine foods to the annual Riverfest Celebration in early spring with a 5K River Run, musical entertainment, arts and crafts and food booths, to the Main Street Jazz Festival which brings world-renowned performers and fine dining to Columbia in late May, Columbia has it covered.
Thanks to its central location and a growing, well-educated population base, Columbia has become an attractive place for military, academic, government and business life.
The Columbia School District houses 150 public schools and 72 private schools, serving more than 100,000 students. The Greater Columbia region has eight secondary schools that are recognized as model schools by the United States Department of Education's Blue Ribbon Schools Program. The University of South Carolina is located downtown and is dedicated to providing excellence in education while retaining its reputation as one of the best colleges in America.
The U.S. Army Training Center at Fort Jackson was established in 1917 to prepare soldiers for imminent involvement in World War I. The fort was named after Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States and a South Carolina native. Fort Jackson is one of the largest training facilities of its type in the world, Fort Jackson trains more than 67,000 annually on its 52,303 acres that includes 1,700 buildings. The Army's largest and most active initial entry training center, Fort Jackson is responsible for training about 30% of the men and women who enter service each year.
The Columbia economy is well diversified with a rich mix of retail, manufacturing and service companies. A number of local, regional, national and international businesses are expanding and/or locating in the area. The state's aggressive business development, geographic location and superior work force are attractive for new businesses. The state's strong tourism industry also allows for many job opportunities. Columbia Metropolitan Airport is located six miles southwest of Columbia's central business district and is also conveniently located near three interstate highways which run through the city. The airport itself is home to more than 50 agencies and businesses.
When it comes to quality of life, Columbia has it all. From recreational and cultural opportunities to shopping, dining and the arts, the city is rich in amenities.
Lake Murray is a 50,000-acre lake just a short drive from downtown Columbia. Constructed between 1927 and 1930, the lake covers an area of 78 square miles with 520 miles of shoreline. The waters of the Saluda River that feed Lake Murray supply energy to the Saluda Hydroelectric Plant. When completed, Lake Murray was the largest power reservoir and Saluda Dam the largest earthen dam in the world. Today, Lake Murray stills supplies electric power and has become the water playground with boating, sailing, canoeing, picnicking, fishing, skiing, swimming, camping and plenty of family fun.
Columbia has three beautiful rivers running through it. For decades, river travel was a primary transportation mode, so the capital city was laid out just up from where the Broad and Saluda Rivers confluence form the Congaree River. These rivers are popular for recreation and much development is happening along the rivers. Visitors can also take guided canoe and kayak trips and experience the breathtaking scenery of the Congaree River. For a more adventurous outing, float through the Congaree Swamp and see the 22,000-acres of rare old-growth bottomland hardwood forest or splash through the whitewater of the Saluda River.
If you prefer dry land, the Palmetto Trails stretch over more than 320 miles of South Carolina's magnificent forest and sandy terrain, historical and cultural areas, and glorious, scenic foothills with magnificent views of native wildlife. Columbia residents also have access to more than 500 acres of beautiful public parklands in the city. Finlay Park has been around since the early 1800s and is rich in history. It is the setting for many festivals, concerts and picnics, with a gleaming waterfall that flows in the background.
The city is also home to a number of attractions including the Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Garden, recognized as one of the top 10 zoological parks in the nation. The Zoo offers a relaxing, entertaining and educational experience for the entire family. Named the No. 1 travel attraction in the Southeast, Riverbanks is home to more than 2,000 animals.Just across the Saluda River from the zoo are 70 acres devoted to woodlands, gardens, historic ruins, plant collections and visitor facilities at Riverbanks Botanical Garden. The garden features scenic river views, a half-mile of nature trails and a spectacular walled garden with fountains and formal plantings.
Columbia is a paradise for golfers. Players can experience an outstanding variety of well-designed courses on a low budget. Residents enjoy year-round golf at great rates, with small crowds, and dozens of public, semi-private and private courses for players of all levels.
Shopping malls and antique malls are scattered throughout the city and offer some of the finest shopping in the nation. Five Points shopping village and Devine Street both feature tree-lined streets spotted with boutiques and specialty shops and cafes and restaurants. Columbia's vast cultural diversity and enthusiastic support of the fine arts are represented in an impressive series of museums, theatres and a variety of performance venues. The city is home to the Palmetto Mastersingers, the Columbia Classical Ballet Company, the Trusts Theatre, the South Carolina Philharmonic, the Columbia City Jazz Company and the Columbia City Ballet.
Even before the creation of the city, the site has played a vital role in the development of the state. The Congarees, a frontier fort on the west bank of the Congaree River, was the head of navigation on the Santee River system. A ferry was established by the colonial government in 1754 to connect the fort with the growing settlements on the higher ground on the east bank.
Thirty-two years later, the state legislator approved a bill to create a new state capitol. The design called for a town of 400 blocks in a two-mile square along the river. The blocks were divided into half-acre lots and sold to speculators and prospective residents. Buyers had to build a house at least 30 feet long and 18 feet wide within three years or face an annual five percent penalty. The perimeter streets and two through streets were 150 feet wide. The remaining squares were divided by thoroughfares 100 feet wide. The width was determined by the belief that the dangerous and pesky mosquito couldn't fly more than 60 feet without dying of starvation along the way. Columbians still enjoy most of that magnificent network of wide streets.
Columbia was chartered as a town in 1805. In 1816, more than 1,000 residents and 250 homes occupied the town and by the 1900s Columbia was slowly emerging as a major Sunbelt city. In 1908, 17 blocks of Main Street were paved with sidewalks and by 1903 the first fire station was established.
While much of Columbia's antebellum architecture was destroyed during the brief stay of General Sherman's Union army in the "March To The Sea" in 1865, there are many fine examples from the period still found throughout the city. Columbia is fortunate to have three of these antebellum homes and an 1870's Victorian home open to the public as house museums. All four are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.