South Carolina's capital sits in the heart of the Palmetto State, as South Carolina is known. The tree, with its graceful flowing fronds, graces the state's flag. Columbia sits at the confluence of three rivers: Flowing down from the north, the Saluda and Broad rivers converge to form the Congaree, which then continues southward to Lake Marion.


With nearly 117,000 citizens today, Columbia is a planned city, the second in the U.S. after Savannah. Its existence was carefully contrived by the South Carolina State Legislature in 1786, more than 100 years after the colony was founded. Commissioners designed a grid of 400 blocks in two square miles, providing streets measuring 100 and 150 feet wide. In 1805 the town received its charter, and the population hit 1,000 by 1816. Its citizens were expected to work on maintaining the streets, but for $2 a year, one could get an exemption from such messy duty. Otherwise, one could expect to hear from the "warner," a municipal bureaucrat whose duty it was to "warn" people that they had obligations to the city streets. Citizens also were expected to serve as a fire brigade, so each home was required to store one bucket per fireplace, just in case. For another $5, a citizen could get out of having to serve as a posted guard for the safety of the city. Despite much progress, Columbia, SC, did not have a single paved street until 1908.


Captured by General William T. Sherman during the U.S. Civil War, Columbia saw most of its buildings go up in flames. Following that conflagration, the city rebuilt with vigor. President Ulysses S. Grant's own architect, Alfred Bult Millet, designer of the Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., also designed Columbia's City Hall, now on the National Register of Historic Places.


Perhaps Columbia's most famous resident from that post-Civil War period is Woodrow Wilson, the future 27th president of the United States. The only home the Wilson family ever owned, a Tuscan-villa style house, was built in Columbia in 1872. One of numerous historic sites in Columbia, it is closed for restoration, but will be open to the public when the project is completed, and is one of numerous historic sites in Columbia. Historic Columbia Foundation has stewardship of this historic home as well as three others that are currently open to the public.


Columbia today is a young city extending into two counties, Richland and Lexignton. The median age of its population is just a little more than 28 years. To some degree, that youth is the result of the city's being home to the University of South Carolina, founded in 1805, the same year that Columbia was chartered as a town. The state's flagship university is just one of numerous colleges and universities in the greater Columbia area. Cost of living is nearly 6% below the national median, making the city attractive for families as well as students.


South Carolina's capital is positioned at the intersection of many interstates:I-25 leading to Greenville and Charleston, SC; I-77 leading to Charlotte, NC, and I-20 connecting to both Augusta, GA, and Florence, SC--Columbia. I-20 also connects to I-95, a major north-south corridor. Two airports serve the city: Columbia Metropolitan is a commercial airport, and Columbia Owens, only 1.5 miles from downtown, is a general aviation airport.


Columbia's strong economy relies on its diversity, which includes not only state but also Federal government. The University of South Carolina is a major employer. The U.S. Army's largest training base, Ft. Jackson, is located here. Tourism is a strong economic component. Union Camp and Westinghouse have facilities in Columbia, as do numerous other manufacturing enterprises.


Perhaps also the result of the university's influence, Columbia offers its residents a strong cultural life, anchored by ballet, symphony and jazz performance organizations, as well as Trustus Theatre. Combined with the advantages offered by weather and location, Columbia, SC, yields many attractions for its residents. .