About Columbia

With a lifestyle referred to as “simple easy,” historic Columbia offers a sophisticated cultural scene, an active arts community and plenty of scenic and outdoor beauty. Close to both beaches and mountains, it claims to be a “fair weather dream.” Columbia offers year round outdoor activities with about 300 days a year of sunshine.

Columbia was the second planned city in the United States. The town also features extraordinarily wide roads because of the theory that the dangerous mosquito could not fly more than 60 feet without dying of starvation along the way. Columbia is home of Fort Jackson which is the nation's largest U.S. Army training facility. Fort Jackson was established to prepare soldiers for World War I. In 2006, the National Civic League nominated Richland County the “All-American City.”

If it is outdoor activities that you love, then Columbia is your place. Outdoor attractions include the Carolina Children’s Garden, Cayce Riverwalk Park, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia Riverfront Park & Historic Canal, and the Nature Conservancy. For kayaking and canoeing, Broad River Blue Way at Harbison State Forest and Sesquicentennial State Park offer memorable experiences. Children will enjoy EdVenture and the Children's Museum. Entertainment and sports venues include the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, the Human Resources Center Arena, Carolina Coliseum for Inferno Ice Hockey, the Colonial Center for basketball, and softball at Beckham Field.

Columbia has a ton of annual events each year of all varieties. Popular annual events include the International Festival of Wines and Food, Harambee Festival at the Mays, Andrew Jackson’s Birthday, South Carolina Oyster Festival, Battle of Aiken, Canadian-American Days, South Carolina Book Festival, Battle for Columbia, and Carniball, just to name a few.