
Columbia is the capital of the U.S. state of South Carolina and the second-most populous city in the state. With an estimated population of 147,035 in 2025, it is the principal city of the Columbia metropolitan area, the second-largest metropolitan area in South Carolina, with an estimated population of 879,918 in 2025. Columbia serves as the county seat of Richland County, while portions of the city extend into neighboring Lexington and Kershaw counties. The city's name derives from "Columbia", a historic poetic personification of the United States, and is commonly shortened to "Cola", inspiring the nickname "Soda City".
Read more from Wikipedia
Located near the geographic center of South Carolina at the fall line, Columbia developed at the confluence of the Broad and Saluda rivers, which form the Congaree River. Established in 1786 as South Carolina's first planned capital city, it has served as the seat of state government for more than two centuries and is home to the South Carolina State House. During the American Civil War, much of the city was destroyed in the burning of Columbia in 1865 before being rebuilt during Reconstruction.
Columbia is home to the University of South Carolina, the state's flagship public university, and Fort Jackson, the U.S. Army's largest basic combat training installation.
From the Wikipedia article Columbia, South Carolina, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Weather
Loading…
Forecast by Open-Meteo from national weather models. A forecast, not a measurement.
The past twelve months
Loading…
ERA5 reanalysis from Copernicus, via Open-Meteo. Modelled on a ~25 km grid, not measured at a station.
Air right now
Loading…
CAMS European and global air quality forecast, via Open-Meteo. Modelled on an 11–40 km grid; European AQI bands from the EEA.
Nearby on Wikipedia
Loading…
Articles with coordinates within 10 km, from English Wikipedia.
Towns around Columbia
- West Columbia3.7 km W
- Saint Andrews7.7 km NW
- Seven Oaks12 km NW
- Lexington19 km W
- Sumter65 km E
- Aiken80 km SW
- North Augusta102 km SW
- Rock Hill103 km N
Straight-line distance and compass bearing from the town centre.