HomeSouth CarolinaColumbia

Columbia, South Carolina

Located in Richland County, South Carolina, Columbia was founded in 1786. One of America's first planned cities. Fort Jackson trains ~50% of all Army soldiers.
Founded 1786 | Population 149,078 | Peak 149,078 (2024) | County Richland County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Columbia, South Carolina

undefined
1786Founded as Capital: Planned city at state's geographic center.
undefined
1801USC Founded: One of oldest public universities.
undefined
1865Sherman Burns City: Two-thirds destroyed.
undefined
1917Fort Jackson Opens: Grows into one of largest Army bases.
undefined
20151000-Year Flood: 20+ inches rain; 19 dams fail.
undefined
2015Confederate Flag Removed: Removed from statehouse after Charleston shooting.
🧠
How Well Do You Know Columbia?
5 questions • 2 minutes
Take the Quiz →

Complete Historical Timeline

1786 Government
Founded as Capital
1801 Culture
USC Founded
1865 Disaster
Sherman Burns City
1917 Government
Fort Jackson Opens
2015 Disaster
1000-Year Flood
2015 Politics
Confederate Flag Removed

Did You Know?

1
One of America's first planned cities.
2
Fort Jackson trains ~50% of all Army soldiers.
3
2015 was a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall.
4
Columbia is located in Richland County, South Carolina.
5
Columbia was founded in 1786.

Famous People from Columbia, South Carolina

CB
Charles Bolden
Astronaut, Airman · Born Aug 19, 1946 · Age 79
SD
Stanley Donen
Choreographer, Film Director · Born Apr 13, 1924 · Died Feb 21, 2019 (age 94)
AA
Aziz Ansari
Screenwriter, Actor · Born Feb 23, 1983 · Age 43
J
Jeezy
Actor, Businessperson · Born Sep 28, 1977 · Age 48
JO
Jermaine O'Neal
Basketball Player · Born Oct 13, 1978 · Age 47
See something that needs correcting?
We take accuracy seriously. Help us keep Columbia's history right.