Columbia, Missouri
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Columbia, Missouri | ||
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| Nickname: ""College Town, USA"" | ||
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| Coordinates: | ||
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Missouri | |
| County | Boone | |
| Mayor | Darwin Hindman | |
| Area | ||
| - City | 138.1 km² (59 sq mi) | |
| - Land | 137.5 km² (53.1 sq mi) | |
| - Water | 0.7 km² (0.3 sq mi) | |
| Population | ||
| - City (2006) | 91,877 (city proper) | |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) | |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) | |
| Website: http://www.gocolumbiamo.com | ||
The City of Columbia was founded in 1818 and is located in Boone County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the principal city of the Columbia, Missouri Metropolitan Area which encompasses all of Boone and Howard counties. As of 2006 the city had a population of 91,877 [1] and the surrounding Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 153,283. [2] The city is a major educational center being home to the University of Missouri-Columbia, the flagship campus, and location of the University of Missouri System headquarters. The city is also home to Stephens College and Columbia College. The location of these three 4-year colleges as well as a number of community colleges have led to the city being known by the nicknames "The Athens of Missouri" and "College Town USA". [3]
National magazines consistently rank Columbia as a top city in which to live for safety, educational facilities, high quality health care, technological savvy, economic growth, cultural opportunities and cost of living. [4] It has been ranked as high as the #2 best place to live in the US by Money Magazine's annual list and is regularly in the top 100. [5] [6] The city's nationally recognized public school system [7] and plentiful educational institutions maintain Columbia's status as one of the most well-educated cities in America. [8] Columbia's health care is second only to Rochester, Minnesota, in patient capacity per capita.[9] The City generally supports progressive causes (see politics).
The city has an unusually young and active population. [10] Much of which is made up of over 33,000 students attending college in Columbia. [11] Columbia's Downtown, known as The District is the cultural, entertainment, and economic heart of Mid-Missouri.[12]]It is sandwiched between Columbia's two colleges and the University of Missouri and contains a diversity of restaurants, bars, live music, indie films, book stores, art galleries, and loft apartments. [13] Downtown is also host to many events including the True/False Film Festival, Art in the Park, The Blind Boone Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival, and the Twilight Festivals in June and September.
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[edit] History
The City of Columbia was founded in 1818 as the town of Smithton, Missouri. Soon after settling the population moved across the Flat Branch Creek to locate a better water source, they renamed the town Columbia. The original location of the town was half a mile from where the center of Columbia stands today. The roots of Columbia's three economic foundations, education, medicine, and the insurance industry can be traced back almost to the beginning. Original plans for the town set aside land for a state university. Soon after becoming incorporated in 1821, the same year Missouri became a state, the citizens of Columbia began to prepare their city to be the educational center it is today by founding Columbia College (not the current one) in 1834 as the forerunner of the University of Missouri. It was decided by the state legislature that Missouri needed a state university competing cities across the state raised funds for the location of the University. The citizens of Columbia were able to raise three times the amount of money the runner-up raised as well as donated all the land that makes up the present day Francis Quadrangle. Soon other educational institutions were founded in Columbia such as Christian Female College, the first college for women west of the Mississippi, which later became the current Columbia College. In 1856 Columbia Baptist Female College opened, which later became Stephens College.
[edit] Geography
[edit] Size
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 138.1 km² (53.3 mi²). 137.5 km² (53.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (0.51%) is water.
[edit] Flora and Fauna
Before the founding of the city, the area was prairie and open forest maintained by burning by Native Americans. Trees are mainly oak, maple, and hickory, similar to the forests of the nearby Ozarks; common understory trees include Eastern Redbud, Serviceberry, and Flowering Dogwood. Riparian areas are forested with mainly American sycamore. Most of the residential area of the city is planted with large native shade trees. In Autumn, the changing color of the trees is notable. Most species here are typical of the Eastern Woodland, although numerous decorative non-native species are found; the most notable invasive species is Japanese honeysuckle.
Large mammals found in the city include urbanized coyotes and occasionally a stray whitetail deer. Eastern Gray Squirrel, Cottontail rabbit, and other rodents are abundant, as well as the nocturnal and rarely seen Opossum. Large bird species are abundant in parks and include Canada goose, Mallard duck, as well as shorebirds, including the Great Egret and Great Blue Heron. Populations of Bald Eagles are found by the Missouri River. The city is on the Mississippi Flyway, used by migrating birds, and has a large variety of small bird species, common to the eastern U.S. The Eurasian Tree Sparrow, an introduced species, is limited in North America to the counties surrounding St. Louis.
Frogs are commonly found in the springtime, especially after extensive wet periods. Common species include the American toad and species of chorus frogs, commonly called "spring peepers" that are found in nearly every pond. Some years have outbreaks of cicadas or ladybugs. Mosquitos and houseflies are common insect nuisances; because of this, windows are nearly universally fitted with screens, and "screened-in" porches are common in homes of the area. Populations of honeybees have sharply declined in recent years, and numerous species of pollinator insects have filled their ecological niche.
[edit] Demography
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 84,531 people, 33,689 households, and 17,282 families residing in the city. The population density was 615.0/km² (1,592.8/mi²). There were 35,916 housing units at an average density of 261.3/km² (676.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.54% White, 10.85% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 4.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. 2.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 33,689 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.2% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.7% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 26.7% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,729, and the median income for a family was $52,288. Males had a median income of $34,710 versus $26,694 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,507. About 9.4% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Politics
The population generally supports progressive causes such as the extensive city recycling programs and the legalization of marijuana's use medicinally at the municipal level (though this law has since been tightened). The mayor of Columbia is Darwin Hindman. On October 10, 2006, the City Council approved an oridinance to prohibit smoking in restaurants and bars. The ordinance was passed with protest, and several amendments to the ordinance reflect this. [1].
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Major Highways
[edit] State Highways
[edit] Public
The Columbia Transit operates an extensive bus system focusing around downtown
[edit] Non-motorized
Mayor Darwin Hindman is largely in favor of a non-motorized transportation system, and can often be seen riding his bicycle around the city. Columbia is also known for its MKT Spur of the Katy Trail State Park, which allows foot and bike traffic across the city, and, conceivably, the state. It consists of a soft gravel surface, excellent for running and biking.
[edit] Music Scene
Columbia has a flourishing and progressive music scene thanks to many acts that come out of the local university, Mizzou. The post-punk electronic band, Mahjongg and the garage rock band The Untamed Youth are two of the larger known groups to come from the area. Other notable acts are: the Doxies, Bald Eagle, Shirelle C Limes and the Lemons, Megazilla, Slug Trail, Black$mith, Warhammer 48k, Witch's Hat, Foundry Field Recordings, Sabertooth, Dadbot!, and Miami Dragons (the latter recently disbanded in 2005). Over 100 musical artists from Columbia have been compiled by Painfully Midwestern Records with the ComoMusic Anthology series, and the "Das Kompilation" release. Although the hip genre continues to give Columbia its music recognition is their progressive psychedelic-heavy metal music scene.
[edit] Sister Cities
Columbia has five sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI)
[edit] Education
- University of Missouri–Columbia
- Stephens College
- Columbia College
- Hickman High School
- Rock Bridge High School
- Douglass High School
- The Columbia Career Center
- Columbia Independent School
- Christian Fellowship School
- Columbia Catholic School
- Good Shepherd Lutheran School
- Fellowship Academy
- West Junior High School
- Oakland Junior High School
- Jefferson Junior High School
- Gentry Middle School
- Lange Middle School
- Smithton Middle School
- Benton Elementary School
- Blue Ridge Elementary School
- Cedar Ridge Elementary School
- Derby Ridge Elementary School
- Fairview Elementary School
- Field Elementary School
- Grant Elementary School
- Lee Elementary School
- Midway Heights Elementary School
- Mill Creek Elementary School
- New Haven Elementary School
- Parkade Elementary School
- Paxton Keeley Elementary School
- Ridgeway Elementary School
- Rock Bridge Elementary School
- Russell Boulevard Elementary School
- Shepard Boulevard Elementary School
- Two Mile Prairie Elementary School
- West Boulevard Elementary School
[edit] In The District (Downtown Columbia)
- Booches
- Grill One-5
- Felini Restaurant
- Flat Branch Brewery
- The Blue Note
- Cherry Street Artisan
- Shakespeare's Pizza
- Gumby's Pizza
- Lakota Coffee Co.
- Main Squeeze
- Columbia spur of the trans-state bicycle and pedestrian Katy Trail.
[edit] Festivals
- True/False Film Festival
- Twilight Festival
- Hot Summer Nights
- Central Missouri Renaissance Festival
- Concert Series with the Missouri Symphony Orchestra
- Art in the Park
- Ninth Street Summerfest
- The Blind Boone Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival
- First Night Columbia
- Living Windows Festival
- Columbia Festival of the Arts
- Boone County Heritage Festival.
[edit] Famous People
- 'Blind' Boone Ragtime musician and composer
- Sheryl Crow (University of Missouri–Columbia), singer
- Brad Pitt (University of Missouri–Columbia) - Actor, attended School of Journalism in early 80's and lived in Mark Twain Dorm.
- Carl Edwards, NASCAR driver
- William Least Heat-Moon, Author of Blue Highways and other novels.
- Darwin Hindman, Mayor
- Tim Kaine, Governor of Virginia (University of Missouri–Columbia - 1979)
- Stan Kroenke, Denver Nuggets owner and Walmart heir
- Ken Lay (Hickman High School & University of Missouri–Columbia) Enron CEO
- Bill Laurie, St. Louis Blues owner and Walmart heir
- Jim Lehrer (University of Missouri–Columbia) PBS news anchor
- Gary Pinkel, current University of Missouri-Columbia football coach
- Quin Snyder, now former University of Missouri–Columbia basketball coach and former Duke University standout
- Norm Stewart, former University of Missouri–Columbia basketball coach
- Thorstein Veblen, economist noted for introducing the concept of conspicuous consumption, University of Missouri–Columbia professor from 1911 to 1918
- Sam Walton (Hickman High School) founder of Walmart
- Norbert Weiner, famous mathematician (born in Columbia)
- Chris Gervino, KOMU-TV-8 Sports Anchor
[edit] External links
- Official city government website
- Columbia Community Voice
- Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Columbia Chamber of Commerce
- Columbia Missourian
- Columbia Daily Tribune
- MUTV (University of Missouri TV Station)
- Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, which is part of the University of Missouri health system, and the first cancer center west of the Mississippi River. Its distinctive Art Deco architectural style building is easily seen from I-70.
- The Maneater
- MyMissourian
- Talk Columbia: Online Community of Columbia residents
- Digital Guide to Columbia MO
- Misery Weekly
- An interesting historical look can be found in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Map of The District
- Comomusic: Columbia's guide to live local music:shows/reviews/community
- The District - Over 70 bars & restaurants, 110 unique shops and 40 live performances a week.
- Painfully Midwestern Records
[edit] Notes
- ^ Columbia Demographics
- ^ Official Census Website
- ^ Columbia College Info
- ^ Columbia Kudos
- ^ Relocate America Facts
- ^ MONEY Magazine: Best Places to Live 2006 - Columbia at #76
- ^ About Us - Columbia Public Schools
- ^ MONEY Magazine: Best Places to Live 2006 - Most educated cities - Columbia at #13 ranked by percentage of residents with graduate degrees
- ^ Columbia History
- ^ REDI - Columbia Age and Gender
- ^ The District's student population
- ^ Mid-Missouri's cultural center
- ^ Downtown Columbia
