Columbia
Columbia,
Missouri is an energetic, friendly, and active college town. According to
Census 2000, Columbia's population was 84,531; however, early 2007 estimates
indicate the population increased to nearly 97,000 residents. College students
make up more than 33,000 of that total.
Founded in 1818, this lovely city, known as the “Athens of Missouri”, serves
as the seat and center of commerce for
Boone County. Columbia consistently ranks as a top American city for its
cultural opportunities, cost of living and economic growth. It has earned a
listing as high as second on the annual “Best Places to Live” list put out by
Money Magazine and regularly ranks within the top 100. Columbia also offers
top-notch health care with facilities that rank second only to Rochester,
Minnesota for its patient capacity per capita. In recent years, Columbia, also
known as “College Town U.S.A.”, earned the reputation as one of the most
educated cities in America.
Higher education facilities in this prominent college town include
Columbia College,
Stephens College and the flagship campus of the
University of Missouri–Columbia. Several community colleges, including the
Columbia Career Center also serve the education and training needs of the
public. Columbia offers its residents numerous
public elementary and middle schools, three public high schools and upwards
of a dozen
private and parochial schools.
Not surprisingly, the education sector also serves as the economic lifeblood
of the community, with healthcare and insurance coming in a strong second.
Several insurance companies headquarter in Columbia, including the
Columbia Insurance Group and
State Farm Insurance. The
University of Missouri Health Care system provides job opportunities via
several local clinics, home health facilities and hospitals.
Columbia features a striking
downtown district surrounded by two college campuses and one university.
This hip area is home to art galleries, bars and live music venues, and
continues to undergo significant development in the commercial and residential
areas. Popular destinations here include
Booches, the
David R. Francis Quadrangle and the
Missouri Theater Center for the Arts. Renowned as a vital center for music,
Columbia teems with acts that range from jazz to heavy metal. Numerous record
labels including Cat Jam Records and Painfully Midwestern Records call this
musically inclined city their home. Downtown Columbia also hosts several
community events including the
Blind Boone Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival and the Hot Summer Nights Music
Festival.
Columbia’s Parks & Recreation Department features more than 2,000 acres that
comprise the forty-two parks and recreational facilities. Active individuals
enjoy easy access to various scenic biking and hiking trails, such as the MKT
Nature & Fitness Trail, the
Katy Trail State Park, several athletic clubs, bowling alleys, golf courses,
parks, swimming pools, and facilities at the ARC (Area Recreation Center).
Spectator sports include the events of the
Mid Missouri Mavericks and the
Big 12 Conference MU Tigers. Columbia also plays host to the annual
Show-Me State Games, the nation’s largest state gaming event. This exciting
competition features amateur Olympic-style activities suitable for the whole
family.
Columbia,
Missouri maintains a small-town ambiance despite its reputation as a hip
college town. Set amongst the backdrop of the enchanting
Ozarks, this inviting region offers a well-balanced way of life, with a low
cost of living, and plenty of cultural, educational and recreational
opportunities.
More information about Columbia, MO.
|
