Overview

Introduction to Columbia, Missouri

The Missouri city of Columbia, located in Boone County, is home to the University of Missouri as well as Columbia College and Stephens College. The city lies in the heart of the state, almost equidistant from Kansas City (127 miles to the west) and St. Louis (124 miles to the east), both of which are connected to the city by Interstate Highway 70. Columbia is also 30 miles north of Jefferson City.

Founded in 1819 and later incorporated in 1892, Columbia has an economy heavily vested in the education, health care, and insurance industries. Local manufacturers include the 3M Corporation, a major producer of optical and electronic products; Columbia Foods, a division of Oscar Mayer; and Watlow-Columbia, Inc., manufacturers of electrical heating elements.

Attractions and Events in Columbia

Columbia has an exciting mix of entertainment and culture to offer visitors and residents alike. The Twilight Festivals draw thousands to the downtown area every June and September. Art in the Park and the Fall Festival of the Arts are also big attractions, showcasing the work of local, regional and national artists. The Heritage Festival is an annual fall event featuring traditional and contemporary crafts, and the Blind Boone Ragtime & Early Jazz Festival honors one of Columbia’s most renowned citizens, John William "Blind" Boone. The Columbia Festival of the Arts is a weekend-long celebration of visual and performing arts held on the last full weekend of September. To round out the year, Columbia hosts its own First Night Celebration on New Years Eve, capped by a sensational fireworks display at midnight.

Historic and cultural sites include the Walters-Boone County Historical Museum, the Jewell Cemetery State Historic Site, and the University of Missouri Museum of Art and Archaeology. Nearby recreational areas include Finger Lakes State Park, Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, and the 225-mile long Katy Trail State Park.

Sports fans in Columbia closely follow the fortunes of the University of Missouri athletic teams. Known as the Missouri Tigers, the University's teams are members of the Big 12 Conference, to which they have belonged since 1996. Major league professional sports are two hours away in either of two opposite directions. A drive to the west brings sports fans to Kansas City, home to football's Kansas City Chiefs (NFL), baseball's Kansas City Royals (MLB), and soccer's Kansas City Wizards (MLS). The city of St. Louis is two hours east of Columbia, and teams located there are baseball's St. Louis Cardinals (MLB), football's St. Louis Rams (NFL), and hockey's St. Louis Blues (NHL).

Demographics

People

Total Population120,248
Male Share of the Population48.1%
Female Share of the Population51.9%
Senior Citizens10.2%
Employed Population 16+63,266
Age of the Population28

Families

% of people married39.2%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher43.1%
Median Earnings25+$37,636
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$21,575
Median Earnings With High School Degree$27,722

Wealth

Median Family Income$77,867
% Above Poverty Level77.8%
% Below Poverty Level22.2%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time16 minutes
% Working from Home4.2%
% Walking and Biking to Work6.3%
% Using Public Transportation1.6%

Housing

People Living Alone33.1%
Median Gross Rent$854
Median House Value$185,700

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)26.9%
German24.4%
Irish12.4%
English9%
Italian3.6%
French Except Basque2.7%
Polish2.4%
Scottish2.1%
Swedish2.1%
Norwegian1.3%
African1.3%
Dutch1.1%
Welsh0.8%
Arab0.7%
Russian0.7%
Czech0.5%
Austrian0.4%
Ukrainian0.4%
Swiss0.3%
Hungarian0.3%
Croatian0.3%
Bulgarian0.3%
Iraqi0.3%
Greek0.3%
Iranian0.2%
Albanian0.2%
Nigerian0.2%
Canadian0.2%
Slovak0.2%
Danishn0.2%
Finnish0.1%
Lithuanian0.1%
West Indian0.1%
Australian0.1%
Sudanese0.1%
Portuguese0.1%
Kenyan0.1%
Romanian0.1%
Belgian0.1%
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Columbia Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyBoone County
Standard Zip Codes65201, 65202, 65203, 65299
P.O. Box Zip Codes65205
Company Zip Codes65218, 65211, 65212, 65215, 65216, 65217
Phone Area Codes573
Time ZoneAmerica/Chicago
Approximate Latitude38.95
Approximate Longitude-92.32

Columbia Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationCOLUMBIA RGNL AP
Distance11.3 miles
Jan Temp18 to 37 F
Apr Temp43 to 66 F
Jul Temp66 to 89 F
Oct Temp44 to 68 F
Annual Precip40.2 inches
StationBOONVILLE
Distance22.4 miles
Jan Temp18 to 36 F
Apr Temp44 to 66 F
Jul Temp68 to 89 F
Oct Temp45 to 69 F
Annual Precip42.7 inches
StationMEXICO
Distance29 miles
Jan Temp16 to 35 F
Apr Temp40 to 65 F
Jul Temp65 to 89 F
Oct Temp42 to 68 F
Annual Precip39.4 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Ashland3,905$80,689
Hallsville1,579$63,063
Harrisburg329$75,000
Jamestown462$48,594
Prathersville142$63,750
Rocheport260$51,250

Columbia Public Libraries

Daniel Boone Regional Library
100 W BROADWAY
Columbia, Missouri
(573) 443-3161

library logo

More Information for Librarians

Columbia Hospitals

University Of Missouri Health Care
(Government - State)
One Hospital Drive
(573) 882-4141
Rusk Rehab Center, A Jv Of Healthsouth & Univ.
(Proprietary)
315 Business Loop 70 West
(573) 817-2703
Harry S. Truman Memorial VeteransҠhospital
(Government - District/authority)
800 Hospital Dr
(573) 814-6000
Landmark Hospital Of Columbia, Llc
(Proprietary)
604 Old Hwy 63 N
(573) 499-6600
Boone Hospital Center
(Non-profit)
1600 East Broadway
(573) 815-8000
Women's And Children's Hospital
(Government - State)
404 Keene Street Columbia
(573) 875-9200

Columbia Public Schools

Cedar Ridge Elem.
1100 Roseta Ave
ZIP: 65201
(573) 214-3510
Primary
Total Enrollment 197
Center For Gifted Education
1010 Rangeline St
ZIP: 65201
(573) 214-3750
Primary
Total Enrollment 50
Jefferson Middle School
713 Rogers St
ZIP: 65201
(573) 214-3210
Middle
Total Enrollment 550
New Haven Elem.
3301 New Haven Rd
ZIP: 65201
(573) 214-3640
Primary
Total Enrollment 300
Robert E. Lee Elem.
1208 Locust
ZIP: 65201
(573) 214-3530
Primary
Total Enrollment 336
Shepard Blvd. Elem.
2616 Shepard Blvd
ZIP: 65201
(573) 214-3660
Primary
Total Enrollment 587
Thomas Benton Elem.
1410 Hinkson Ave
ZIP: 65201
(573) 214-3610
Primary
Total Enrollment 316
Alpha Hart Lewis
5801 Arbor Pointe Pkwy
ZIP: 65202
(573) 214-3200
Primary
Total Enrollment 751
Blue Ridge Elem.
3700 Woodland Dr
ZIP: 65202
(573) 214-3580
Primary
Total Enrollment 522
Cornerstone
1250 E Brown School Rd
ZIP: 65202
(573) 449-3756
Other
Total Enrollment 10
Delmar A Cobble School
108 W Craig St
ZIP: 65202
(573) 442-6482
Other
Total Enrollment 40
Derby Ridge Elem.
4000 Derby Ridge Rd
ZIP: 65202
(573) 214-3270
Primary
Total Enrollment 549
John B. Lange Middle
2201 E Smiley Ln
ZIP: 65202
(573) 214-3250
Middle
Total Enrollment 587
Juvenile Justice Ctr.
5665 Roger I Wilson Mem Dr
ZIP: 65202
(573) 886-4450
Other
Total Enrollment 14
Midway Heights Elem.
8130 W Hwy 40
ZIP: 65202
(573) 214-3540
Primary
Total Enrollment 274
Muriel W. Battle High School
7575 St. Charles Road
ZIP: 65202
(573) 214-3300
High
Total Enrollment 1421
Oakland Middle School
3405 Oakland Pl
ZIP: 65202
(573) 214-3220
Middle
Total Enrollment 511
Parkade Elem.
111 Parkade Blvd
ZIP: 65202
(573) 214-3630
Primary
Total Enrollment 466
Two Mile Prairie Elem.
5450 N Hwy Z
ZIP: 65202
(573) 214-3560
Primary
Total Enrollment 339
Ann Hawkins Gentry Middle
4200 Bethel St
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3240
Middle
Total Enrollment 824
Columbia Area Career Ctr.
4203 S Providence Rd
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3800
High
David H. Hickman High
1104 N Providence Rd
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3000
High
Total Enrollment 1689
Fairview Elem.
909 Fairview Rd
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3590
Primary
Total Enrollment 599
Frederick Douglass High
310 N Providence Rd
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3680
Other
Total Enrollment 203
John Ridgeway Elem.
107 E Sexton
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3550
Primary
Total Enrollment 238
Mary Paxton Keeley Elem.
201 Park Deville
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3570
Primary
Total Enrollment 736
Mill Creek Elem.
2200 Nifong Blvd
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3280
Primary
Total Enrollment 740
Rock Bridge Elem.
5151 S Hwy 163
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3290
Primary
Total Enrollment 627
Rock Bridge Sr. High
4303 S Providence Rd
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3100
High
Total Enrollment 1871
Russell Blvd. Elem.
1800 W Rollins Rd
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3650
Primary
Total Enrollment 558
Smithton Middle
3600 W Worley
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3260
Middle
Total Enrollment 732
Ulysses S. Grant Elem.
10 E Broadway
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3520
Primary
Total Enrollment 392
West Blvd. Elem.
319 West Blvd North
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3670
Primary
Total Enrollment 392
West Middle School
401 Clinkscales Rd
ZIP: 65203
(573) 214-3230
Middle
Total Enrollment 576

Columbia Private Schools

Stephens College Childrens School
1400 Windsor St
ZIP: 65201
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 46
Columbia Independent School
1801 N Stadium Blvd
ZIP: 65202
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 339
Christian Chapel Academy
3300 S Providence Rd
ZIP: 65203
Elementary
Total Enrollment 107
Christian Fellowship School
4600 Christian Fellowship Rd
ZIP: 65203
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 286
College Park Christian Academy
1114 College Park Dr
ZIP: 65203
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 54
Good Shepherd Lutheran School
2201 W Rollins Rd
ZIP: 65203
Elementary
Total Enrollment 89
Heritage Academy
606 Ridgeway Ave
ZIP: 65203
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 104
Our Lady Of Lourdes Interparish School
817 Bernadette Dr
ZIP: 65203
Elementary
Total Enrollment 588
Islamic School Of Columbia-missouri
408 Locust St
ZIP: 65205
Elementary
Total Enrollment 53
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