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Columbia, South Carolina provides residents and visitors with an array of activities and benefits. The capital city is alive with culture and history, with many things to see and do with the entire family throughout the city. There are festivals to attend, arts performances to enjoy, sports to watch, and outdoor sports to participate in. The arts community is active and the cultural community is sophisticated. It is a college town and along with that comes a certain degree of aliveness. The population is around 116,000 and its name comes from a poetic name for America.
The arts have a supportive community in Columbia. Many theaters, galleries, dance companies, orchestras, arts schools, and outdoor murals call this place home. Galleries, museums, and festivals all exhibit the work of the city’s many artists. The Colonial Center, Carolina Museum, and the Township Auditorium all provide high quality entertainment from around the world. The South Carolina State Museum has exhibits in science, history, and the arts, and it is the largest museum in the state of South Carolina. EdVenture is the largest children’s museum in the South, with a lively and fun atmosphere that encourages children to explore and learn. The Lexington County Museum gives visitors guided tours of 19th century farm houses and depicts life in pre-Civil War times.
Columbia has everything from Little League baseball all the way up to Southeastern Conference sports events. The University of South Carolina Fighting Gamecocks compete in a wide variety of sporting events. The Columbia city Inferno is a professional hockey team belonging to the East Coast Hockey League. Atlanta and Charlotte are within easy driving distance for Major League Baseball, NFL, and NBA games. Columbia has many beautiful city parks that provide a home for the city’s baseball and softball players, tennis players, and swimmers. Golf enthusiasts will find a variety of low-cost courses throughout the city and the surrounding metro area.
There are many lakes and rivers in the nearby area, offering those interested in boating, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking the chance to participate in these activities. The weather in the fall, winter, and spring is mild, and the spring features huge quantities of blooming azaleas and other flowers. Summers are hot, but Lake Murray has 78 square miles of refreshing water in which to enjoy many activities like boating, camping, and swimming. Visitors can canoe through calm waters, sail under high winds, or cruise in motor or fishing boats. Many other parks are located throughout the city as well.
Nightlife is abundant in Columbia, and there’s something for everyone. Fine dining, local eateries, national franchises, and interesting cafes are all good choices for eating out. There is live music, comedy acts, theater, dance clubs, and many outdoor concerts and other events. The Columbia City Ballet is an internationally renowned ballet specializing in top quality productions. And the Columbia City Jazz Company is a well-known local and regional company that puts on productions, competitions, and community events.
Columbia strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in South Carolina):
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Public Transportation Use (vs. State) | Top 3% |  |
| Walking and Biking to Work (vs. State) | Top 3% | |
| Short Commute Times (vs. State) | Top 6% | |
| College Educated Adults (vs. State) | Top 9% | |
| Affordability of Property Taxes (vs. Peers) | Top 13% | |
| Racial Diversity (vs. State) | Top 14% | |
| Well-Paid Single Men (vs. State) | Top 17% | |
| Well-Paid Single Women (vs. State) | Top 18% | |
Comparing Columbia to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in South Carolina (State):
Ratings range from 
(lowest) to 
(highest).
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Male Share of the Population |  |  |
| Racial Diversity | | |
| Well-Paid Single Women |  | |
| Well-Paid Single Men | | |
| Female Share of the Population |  |  |
| Senior Citizens | | |
| Children Under 5 Years Old | |  |
| Age of the Population | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | | |
| Portion of People Married | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| College Educated Adults |  | |
| Median Family Income | | |
| People in Middle Class or Better | |  |
| People Above Poverty | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Walking and Biking to Work | | |
| Short Commute Times | | |
| Public Transportation Use | | |
| Working at Home | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| People Living Alone | | |
| Affordability of Property Taxes | | |
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals | | |
| Affordability of Rents | | |
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | | |
| Housing Recently Built | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Low Property Crime | | |
| Low Violent Crime | | |
Detailed pages on related topics: Columbia colleges • Columbia travel • Columbia mortgages and property.
 | Columbia Careers Columbia career and employment information. |
 | Columbia Colleges Columbia colleges and trade schools. |
 | Columbia Hotels & Travel Columbia hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
 | Columbia Mortgage Columbia property, mortgage, and real estate. |
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