History of Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city of South Carolina. As of 2006, estimates for the population of the city proper is 122,819 [http://www.centralsc.org/profiles/?nid=19]. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, South Carolina|Richland County, but a small portion of the city extends into Lexington County, South Carolina|Lexington County. The city is the center of a rapidly growing metro area of 703,771. The city's name is derived from a poetic name for Christopher Columbus.
Located just 13 miles northwest of South Carolina's geographic center, Columbia is the primary city of the Midlands, South Carolina|Midlands region of South Carolina, which comprises several counties in the central portion of the state. As such it is centrally located to the rest of the state. Founded in 1786 as the site of South Carolina's new capital city, it was one of the first New Town|planned cities in the United States. The area is often cited for its high quality of life offerings, with its many cultural amenities, parks, and recreational features. At the confluence of two major rivers, Columbia is one of the best destinations in the country for kayak and canoe enthusiasts. It is also known for its large number of independent theater groups. Columbia was recently one of 30 communities named "America's Most quality of life|Livable Communities." The award was given by the Washington, District of Columbia|Washington-based non-profit [http://www.livable.com Partners for Livable Communities] and honors communities that are developing themselves in the creative economy. Columbia has also been named a top midsized market for relocating families in the nation. [http://www.primacy.com/resources/PRIM-5472.pdf] Increasingly, Columbia is becoming recognized as an ideal city for retirees. Where to Retire magazine listed Columbia as one of its 25 best choices for retirement as a "budget town" in its January/February 2007 edition Where to Retire magazine, January/February 2007 edition.
. A RetireHomeSmart.com[http://www.retirehomesmart.com] survey of retirement cities lists Columbia as America's second best retirement city. [http://www.retirehomesmart.com/rhs-rank.php]
source Wikipedia