Columbia, Missouri

Columbia is a city in Boone County, Missouri, United States, and its county seat. It was founded in 1821 and had a population of 126,254 as recorded in the 2020 United States census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Missouri. Known as a Midwestern college town, Columbia is home to the University of Missouri, also called MU or Mizzou, which brings nearly 40,000 students to the city along with other schools like Stephens College and Columbia College.

The city is built on beautiful oak-forested hills and rolling prairies near the Missouri River. It has many parks and trails, including Rock Bridge Memorial State Park and the Katy Trail State Park. Education and healthcare are important to Columbia, with many jobs in these areas. The city is also known for its cultural places, such as the Museum of Art and Archaeology and the Missouri Theatre. Sports fans enjoy watching the Missouri Tigers play football and basketball. Columbia is often called "CoMo" by its residents.

History

Main article: History of Columbia, Missouri

Columbia began as a settlement by pioneers from Kentucky and Virginia in the early 1800s in an area called the Boonslick. After the War of 1812 ended, more settlers arrived, often traveling with their families along the Boone's Lick Road and bringing enslaved African Americans. By 1818, it was clear a new county was needed from Howard County, with Moniteau Creek and Cedar Creek as natural boundaries.

In 1819, a group formed the Smithton Land Company to create a village called Smithton. But finding water was hard there, so in spring 1821, settlers moved to a spot by Flat Branch Creek and founded Columbia. It became the county seat that same year, and the Boone's Lick Road was redirected through the new town.

Columbia's early growth included founding schools, a hospital, a newspaper, a theater, and an agricultural fair. It also became a stop for travelers on the Santa Fe and Oregon trails and later for railroads. The University of Missouri was established here after local leaders raised funds and donated land.

In the 21st century, Columbia has grown to become an important center for education, insurance, and transportation. Major highways and an airport connect the city to other places. In 2017, many visitors came to Columbia to see a total solar eclipse. In April 2025, a small tornado caused some damage in downtown Columbia and residential areas, affecting a recycling facility.

Geography

Columbia is a city in northern mid-Missouri. It is about 120 miles from both St. Louis and Kansas City, and 29 miles north of the state capital, Jefferson City. The city is close to the Missouri River, between the Ozark Plateau and the Northern Plains.

The city covers an area of 67.45 square miles, most of which is land with a small amount of water. Columbia's land slopes down towards the Missouri River. There are creeks and valleys around the city, giving it hilly areas mixed with flat prairies. The city has many parks and green spaces with trails.

Columbia is home to many animals, including coyotes, red foxes, whitetail deer, Eastern gray squirrel, rabbits, opossums, and raccoons. Birds like Canada geese, mallard ducks, and bald eagles can be seen, especially near the river. The city is along a path used by many migrating birds.

Columbia has a climate with big temperature changes between seasons. Winters can be cold, with temperatures sometimes dropping below freezing, and summers can be hot, often reaching above 90 °F. The city gets most of its rain in the spring, and snow usually falls from December to March.

Cityscape

Columbia has many interesting buildings, especially in its downtown area and on university campuses. Two famous buildings are Jesse Hall and the neo-Gothic Memorial Union. The David R. Francis Quadrangle shows ideas from Thomas Jefferson’s academic village.

The city has nine historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include Downtown Columbia, the East Campus neighborhood, the West Broadway neighborhood, and others. Downtown Columbia is a busy area surrounded by colleges and serves as the city’s financial and business center.

Recently, many tall apartment buildings have been built in downtown Columbia. Some people worry these new buildings might change the historic feel of the area or that the city isn’t ready for them yet. The city’s older homes are mainly found around downtown, especially to the west and south. There are many neighborhood groups, and the busiest shopping areas are along major roads like Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 63.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 126,254 people in Columbia. The city had many different groups of people living there. Most were White, but there were also many Black, Asian, and Hispanic people.

Many young people lived in Columbia, with a median age of about 29 years. Some families lived together, while others were single people or couples without children.

2010 census

In 2010, Columbia had fewer people than today, with about 108,500 residents. Like in 2020, the city had many different racial groups, with most people being White.

Young adults made up a large part of the population, and many people lived alone or in small groups.

2000 census

In the year 2000, Columbia had about 84,531 people. Again, most people were White, but there were also many Black and Asian residents.

Many young people lived in Columbia, and families were common, though many people also lived alone or in small groups.

Economy

Columbia's economy is mainly based on education, healthcare, and insurance. There are also many jobs in government, either in Columbia or nearby Jefferson City. The Columbia Regional Airport and the Missouri River Port of Rocheport help connect the area with trade and transportation.

The city’s economy was worth about $9.6 billion in 2018, which is about 3% of Missouri’s total economy. Some big companies based in Columbia include Shelter Insurance, StorageMart, and Veterans United Home Loans. The unemployment rate in Columbia has been rising slowly and reached 3.5% by February 2025.

Culture

The Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts and Jesse Auditorium are Columbia's largest places for art shows and performances. Ragtag Cinema holds the True/False Film Festival every year.

The North Village Arts District on the north side of downtown has many places like art galleries, restaurants, theaters, music spots, and the Mareck Center for Dance.

The University of Missouri's Museum of Art and Archaeology shows over 14,000 pieces of art and history for free.

Columbia has many music events, like the "We Always Swing" Jazz Series and the Roots N Blues Festival. The "9th Street Summerfest" happens each summer with outdoor shows. The University of Missouri School of Music brings in many musicians, and there are also groups like the "Missouri Symphony" and the "Columbia Community Band".

Columbia has many places to watch plays and musicals, from Stephens College to the city's high schools.

The Missouri Tigers sports teams are important to the city. Faurot Field is where their football games are held. Mizzou Arena is where the basketball team plays. Taylor Stadium hosts baseball games.

Columbia has many different kinds of food in its restaurants and bars, thanks to its many colleges. The oldest is Booches, started in 1884, and Shakespeare's Pizza is famous for its pizza.

Parks and recreation

Columbia has many parks and trails for everyone to enjoy, managed by Columbia Parks and Recreation. One popular spot is the MKT, which links up with the Katy Trail just south of the city. In 2015, the MKT was named one of the best urban trails in the country by USA Today. This wide, crushed limestone trail is great for walking, jogging, running, and biking.

Stephens Lake Park is a favorite in Columbia, featuring an 11-acre lake for fishing and swimming, along with trees, playgrounds, and walking paths. It’s also where many community events and concerts happen. Nearby, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park offers year-round hiking and biking through beautiful scenery.

Columbia is also home to Harmony Bends Disc Golf Course, which was named the top disc golf course in the United States in 2017.

Media

Columbia, Missouri, has many places where people can get news and entertainment. Two daily newspapers are available: the Columbia Missourian and the Columbia Daily Tribune. The Missourian is run by students from the Missouri School of Journalism. The University of Missouri also has its own student newspaper called The Maneater.

The city has four television channels, including a public access channel and an education channel. Columbia also has many radio stations, with 19 local stations and others from nearby areas like Jefferson City, Macon, and Lake of the Ozarks.

Television

Radio

AM

• KFAL 900 kHz • Country
• KWOS 950 kHz • News/Talk
• KFRU 1400 kHz • News/Talk
• KTGR 1580 kHz • Sports (ESPN Radio)

FM

• KCOU 88.1 MHz • College
• KOPN 89.5 MHz • Public
• KMUC 90.5 MHz • Classical
• KBIA 91.3 MHz • News (NPR)
• KMFC 92.1 MHz • Christian (K-Love)
• KWJK 93.1 MHz • Variety (JACK FM)
• KSSZ 93.9 MHz • News/Talk
• KWWR 95.7 MHz • Country
• KCMQ 96.7 MHz • Classic Rock
• KDVC 98.3 MHz • Classic Hits
• KCLR 99.3 MHz • Country
• KPLA 101.5 MHz • Variety
• KBXR 102.3 MHz • Alternative
• KZZT 105.5 MHz • Classic Rock
• KOQL 106.1 MHz • Top 40
• KTXY 106.9 MHz Top 40

Government and politics

See also: List of mayors of Columbia, Missouri

Columbia has a special type of government called a council-manager system. This system was created when people voted for it on November 11, 1974. In this system, seven people make the rules for the city. Six of them are chosen by people living in different parts of the city, and one is chosen by everyone in the city — this person is called the mayor. The mayor helps lead the city during special events but does not make all the decisions alone. A city manager, who is hired for the job, runs the city’s everyday work.

Columbia is where the leaders of Boone County work, and it is part of a special area for voting in the U.S. Congress. There are police and fire departments to keep people safe, and there are also special teams that help in emergencies.

The people of Columbia often support ideas that help take care of the environment and make life better for everyone. For example, they have rules about not smoking in public places like restaurants and bars. Many people in Columbia have gone to college, and some have studied even more after that. In February 2024, the city made a decision to support all people, no matter how they think about themselves or who they love.

Education

Columbia, Missouri, has a strong public school system that serves most of the city and nearby areas. The Columbia Public School District has over 18,000 students and works with many schools to help young people learn.

The city is also home to important colleges and universities, including the University of Missouri, Stephens College, and Columbia College. These schools bring many students and teachers to the area, making Columbia a place where learning is very important.

Infrastructure

Transportation

The Columbia Transit offers public bus and special travel services, run by the city. In 2008, many people used its bus routes and special university shuttles, and the service keeps growing. A big project finished in 2007 updated the Wabash Station, a train depot turned transit center. Plans from 2007 aim to improve bus services in different parts of Columbia over the next several years.

Columbia has its own airport, the Columbia Regional Airport, and is close to Jefferson City station for train travel. The city has the MKT Trail, part of the Katy Trail State Park, great for walking and biking. New bike paths and lanes are coming soon, thanks to a large government grant. The city is connected by major roads like I-70 and US 63, plus several state highways.

Health systems

Health care is very important in Columbia, with many people working in medical jobs. The city has several hospitals and health centers, including the University of Missouri Health Care, which runs three hospitals. There are also other hospitals like Boone Hospital Center and the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital. Columbia is home to many medical research facilities, such as the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center, which helps make important medical tools.

Sister cities

Columbia works with five international sister cities through the Columbia Sister Cities Program, which is part of Sister Cities International. This helps people learn more about different cultures around the world.