Columbia, South Carolina offers its residents a rich tapestry combining the historical and modern. There are numerous points of interest throughout the city for history buffs to enjoy, professional and amateur sporting events, and festivals throughout the year. The city maintains a popular zoo and botanical garden, and is home to the Columbia City Ballet and South Carolina Philharmonic. Located on the Congaree River, Columbia is simultaneously South Carolina's capital as well as a major college town. This creates a diverse array of both residents and employment opportunities in the area.

Nearly 117,000 people call Columbia home. The presence of several colleges and universities skews the median age of its residents to 28 years old. The average household income in the area is approximately $32,000, while housing remains affordable with a median of $170,500. The capital complex and local universities are major employers in the area. Professional, scientific and technical services are the town's largest employment sectors, followed by retail, manufacturing and finance. For adults choosing to begin or continue their educations, Columbia is home to the University of South Carolina, Allen University, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Benedict College and Columbia College.

In their free time, residents enjoy playing golf and tee times here are easier to reserve than in many other cities in the country. There are over two dozen public and private courses for golfers to hone their skills, and many are pleasantly surprised by the affordable greens fees offered by the many public courses. Additionally, the area's mild climate affords golfers the chance to play year round.

Charlotte's Parks and Recreation Department maintains playing fields and courses for nearly every sports interest. There are leagues and tournaments for youth and adult baseball and softball, tennis and swimming. The city of Columbia is also home to beautiful Lake Murray. With 78 square miles of water and 500 miles of shoreline, the lake is a great place for boating and fishing. The University of South Carolina offers spectators the chance to watch Southern Conference players compete. Locals also enjoy cheering on the professional Columbia Inferno hockey team. Nearby Charlotte offers a full array of professional teams, including the NBA Charlotte Hornets, NFL Carolina Panthers, and MLB Charlotte Knights.

The entertainment options in Columbia are virtually endless. The Kroger Center offers local and touring companies' presentations of plays and musicals. The Township facility hosts several national dance troupes throughout the year. Touring musical acts play at the Colonial Center, and Finlay Park sponsors festivals and outdoor concerts. Columbia sponsors a number of festivals throughout the year. Residents can take part in special musical events with the Three Rivers Music Festival and Main Street Jazz. The Riverfest Celebration and Irmo Okra Strut are both large street festivals that offer five and ten kilometer runs, arts and crafts, food and games. At the historic Hampton-Preston Museum locals enjoy the annual October Autmnfest. And November's showcase is the Vista Lights Festival, with carriage rides through the antique district and walking tours of historic buildings.

Columbia offers excellent dining options, from casual fare to fine dining. Many of these are locally owned, resulting in attentive service in the tradition of southern hospitality. Diners can choose from exciting and authentic international fare or American classics, served in historic buildings or on beautiful outdoor patios. The cuisine of the south is well represented here, with barbecue, fried chicken and grits considered local staples.

Columbia is a pleasant and attractive town, whose residents delight in its many year round activities. The area benefits from a mild year-round climate, healthy economy and relatively low cost of living.


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