Columbia

About Columbia

Population

131,686 in city
783,493 in metro

Size

330 km² (127 mi²)

Altitude

89.0026822726 m

Located on the banks of the Congaree River in the central potion of the Palmetto State, Columbia is the capital and largest city of South Carolina. The city was both created and established by a 1786 act of the South Carolina state legislature as being the new state capitol upon relocating from Charleston to the southeast. By 1801, the University of South Carolina had been chartered within the city. The institution has seen dramatic growth since its inception and continues to play a major role both economically and as one of the city's most visible civic symbols. The sprawling university campus can be found just to the southeast of downtown. The city has come a long way since being nearly obliterated by General William Tecumseh Sherman and his Union Army during the American Civil War. On February 17, 1865, he would ignite a fire which would destroy nearly three-fourths of the city. Only the South Carolina Statehouse, university, and other public buildings were spared. From its ashes, the city has risen once more to become one of the cultural centers of the state, whilst retaining its traditional southern charm.

Metro Cities

Ballentine, Cayce, Columbia, Gilbert, Irmo, Lexington, West Columbia

No. of Buildings

No.	Current status
187	All Buildings
172	existing
1	under construction
4	unbuilt
10	demolished

Tallest Buildings

#	Building	Height	Year
1	Capitol Center	349 ft	1987
2	The Hub at Columbia	325 ft	1983
3	Tower at 1301 Gervais	278 ft	1973
4	Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel	215 ft	1913
5	1200 Main Street	169 ft	1911

Building types

No.	Type
121	low-rise building
38	high-rise building
11	mast (framework)
6	mast (pole)
4	church
2	open-air structure
1	mast (wired)
1	stadium
1	fountain
1	monumental hall
1	skyscraper

Other buildings

No.	Type
2	Famous buildings
2	Buildings with construction images