Columbia is South Carolina's capital city, known as "Soda City," featuring a planned gridwork design from 1786, the historic State House with unique architecture, the University of South Carolina, and the scenic Congaree River recreation areas.
146,933
(2025 estimate)1786
Capital by 1790870,000
Major regional center"Soda City"
From "Cola" abbreviationColumbia is the capital of South Carolina and the county seat of Richland County, with a population of 146,933 (2025 estimate). The Columbia metropolitan area encompasses approximately 870,000 residents, making it a major regional center. The city was established in 1786 as a planned compromise capital to succeed Charleston, making it the first intentionally designed state capital in the United States and the earliest American city named for Christopher Columbus. The State Legislature first met in Columbia in 1790. The city is located at the confluence of the Saluda and Broad rivers, which merge at Columbia to form the Congaree River. Columbia's nickname "Soda City" derives from the abbreviation "Cola" used for the city name. Positioned in the center of South Carolina, Columbia combines government, education, military, and business sectors with an economy including 31 Fortune 500 companies and operations from dozens of international corporations. The city's largest area by size in South Carolina and a vibrant center of culture, education, and economic development.
Pre-Colonial Trading Post Era: Before Columbia was formally established, the area known as The Congarees served as a strategic frontier outpost and trading point at the head of navigation for the Santee River system. European settlers established small villages, a fort, and a trading post on the west bank of the Congaree River. By the 1760s, the settlement of Granby emerged along the river within Saxe-Gotha Township, serving as an important trading post and overshadowing earlier settlements like the original Saxe Gotha town center.
Founded as Planned Capital: On March 22, 1786, State Senator John Lewis Gervais introduced a bill approved by the legislature to create a new state capital at a central location within South Carolina. Columbia was selected for its geographic position and accessibility. Named for Christopher Columbus and designed as the nation's first truly planned capital city, Columbia's commissioners created a town of 400 blocks in a 2-mile square along the river, with each block divided into 0.5-acre lots sold to speculators and prospective residents. The State Legislature held its first session in Columbia in 1790.
South Carolina College Founding: In 1801, South Carolina College (now the University of South Carolina) was founded in Columbia, establishing the city as an education center that continues to this day.
Civil War and Reconstruction: Columbia experienced significant challenges during the Civil War. General William T. Sherman's Union Army captured the city in February 1865, which halted construction on the State House. Reconstruction efforts in the city became the focus of extensive historical documentation and commemoration.
South Carolina State House: The South Carolina State House is an architectural masterpiece of Neo-Classical design, constructed as a three-story, domed structure primarily of blue granite—South Carolina's official state stone. The building's design was initiated by architect P. H. Hammarskold with construction beginning in 1851, but he was dismissed for fraud. Vienna-born architect John Rudolph Niernsee was hired to revise the plans and oversee completion. Construction began in earnest in 1854 but was halted in February 1865 when Sherman's forces captured Columbia. Construction finally resumed after the Civil War and was completed in 1903—almost 50 years after it began. The State House features unique architectural elements including a false dome centered in the main lobby and an outer dome of copper on the exterior. Enormous rare mosaic stained glass windows designed and created by a friend of the original architect provide distinctive lighting. Between 1995-1998, an extensive renovation reinforced the building with seismic isolators to protect it from earthquakes.
Columbia lies at the confluence of the Saluda and Broad rivers, which merge to form the Congaree River, defining the city's geography and providing exceptional recreational opportunities. The Congaree River Blue Trail is the first water trail designated a National Recreation Trail in South Carolina, extending 50 miles downstream from Columbia to Congaree National Park.
Government Employment: State government employs over 25,000 people annually. Richland County and the City of Columbia each employ approximately 2,400 people, making government a major economic driver in the capital city.
Diverse Business Environment: Columbia has a diverse and stable economy based on jobs in local and state government, manufacturing, services, and the Fort Jackson military base. Key industries include healthcare, agriculture, research, transportation, insurance, telecommunications, computers, and real estate. The city is home to 31 Fortune 500 companies with headquarters, regional offices, or significant operations.
International Business: Dozens of international companies from Australia, France, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Luxembourg, Taiwan, and Canada operate in the Columbia region. The city's central location provides easy access to world markets by air, land, and sea.
Economic Advantages: Columbia offers a lower cost of living compared to the rest of the country, particularly for housing costs compared to other South Carolina regions. Columbia Economic Development (CED) and the Columbia Area Development Partnership (CADP) serve as catalysts for business growth and economic development.
Columbia is a major education center, home to several institutions of higher learning:
Columbia was established in 1786 as the nation's first intentionally designed state capital, chosen to replace Charleston due to its central location within South Carolina. The legislature first met in Columbia in 1790. State Senator John Lewis Gervais introduced the bill approved on March 22, 1786, to create the new planned city with 400 blocks in a 2-mile square along the Congaree River.
Columbia is nicknamed "Soda City" due to the common abbreviation of the city name as "Cola." This informal nickname has become part of the city's identity and is frequently used by residents and in local culture and branding.
The South Carolina State House is a Neo-Classical masterpiece constructed primarily of blue granite (South Carolina's official state stone) as a three-story domed structure. Notable features include a false dome in the main lobby and an outer copper dome on the exterior, plus enormous rare mosaic stained glass windows designed by a friend of the original architect. Construction began in 1851, was halted during the Civil War in 1865, and finally completed in 1903. Between 1995-1998, the building was retrofitted with seismic isolators to protect it from earthquakes.
Columbia features the South Carolina State Museum (the state's largest museum), Columbia Museum of Art in downtown, EdVenture Children's Museum (Southeast's largest), S.C. Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum, Woodrow Wilson Family Home (post-Civil War Reconstruction focus), historic house museums including Hampton-Preston Mansion and Robert Mills House, and the Mann-Simons Site documenting African American entrepreneurship.
Columbia offers extensive river recreation including the Riverfront Park with a 2.5-mile trail, Three Rivers Greenway (12 miles), paddling and boating on the Congaree River Blue Trail (50 miles), Congaree National Park with free admission offering hiking, biking, and camping in bottomland hardwood forests, water recreation including paddling and fishing, and multiple parks with ADA-accessible facilities.
The University of South Carolina (USC-Columbia) is the state's flagship university founded in 1801 as South Carolina College. It has over 34,500 students from all 50 states and over 100 countries, offering 320+ degrees at all educational levels through colleges including Business, Education, Engineering, Hospitality Management, and others.
The Congaree River is formed at Columbia by the confluence of the Saluda and Broad rivers. It is the major defining geographic feature of the city and provides extensive recreation including the Congaree River Blue Trail—the first water trail designated a National Recreation Trail in South Carolina, extending 50 miles downstream to Congaree National Park.
Congaree National Park is South Carolina's only national park, located downstream from Columbia and free to visit. It protects the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern United States. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, camping, paddling, and exploring this unique ecosystem.
Last updated on November 24, 2025