columbia missouri columbia city county seat missouri united_states founded county seat home estimated population principal city state fourth populous metropolitan area college town city reputation progressive politics public art powerful journalism establishment long city center education culture athletic competition schools surround east south north center avenue columns connects originally agricultural town cultivation mind columbia chief economic concern today major center manufacturing city depends healthcare insurance technology businesses companies cds games founded city cultural institutions include missouri annual true false film festival state major athletic program play football field basketball arena members sec city built forested hills rolling near valley begin transform plains limestone forms rain caves springs water creeks surrounding city rock bridge memorial state park big muddy national fish wildlife refuge form preserving sensitive rare environments humans nomadic hunters entered area thousand years ago later woodland tribes lived villages waterways built high places nations expelled exploration french traders rapid settlement american pioneers arrived hailed slave owning culture especially virginia kentucky tennessee giving little american civil war german irish european immigrants soon joined modern populace unusually diverse percent foreign born white black remain largest largest group today remarkably highly educated culturally traces southern past remain city called athens missouri reference classic beauty educational emphasis commonly called history columbia area culture home european explorers arrived area populated missouri indians claimed missouri france lewis passed area early june sons established salt miles northwest columbia giving area early wound present day group settlers incorporated purchased acres km2 established village mile current day downtown columbia settlers moved lack water flat branch plateau flat branch creeks downtown district renamed settlement columbia poetic united_states roots columbia economic foundations education medicine insurance traced incorporation original plans town set aside land state university opened later distinct today later founded state legislature decided establish state university columbia raised times money competing city donated land today francis soon educational institutions founded columbia college women west mississippi later current city benefited stop oregon trails later missouri kansas texas railroad hospital set newspaper began theater state opened state agricultural fair held population wealth exceeded missouri time included columbia infrastructure relatively untouched civil war missouri slave state southern sympathies remained union majority city surrounding agricultural areas rest central missouri decidedly pro confederate base union troops operated battles fought city presence union troops confederate attacking major battles occurred nearby civil war race relations columbia followed southern pattern black man columbia home headquarters today serves students system today serves students insurance industry important local economy companies established headquarters columbia including missouri employers mutual regional office columbia addition defunct large local employer columbia transportation crossroads route route present day interstate routed city soon city opened 20th century saw tremendous growth population nearly city proper early columbia embarked plan manage continued growth city passed population city continues grow especially east newly opened downtown district maintained status cultural center undergoing significant development residential commercial sectors tremendous economic impact city experienced record enrollment undertaking significant construction geography columbia located northern mid missouri miles away kansas_city miles north state capital city near trees mainly oak maple common trees include eastern flowering areas forested mainly american residential area city planted large native shade trees autumn changing color trees notable species typical according city total area square miles km2 square miles km2 land square miles km2 water topography city generally slopes highest point northeast lowest point southwest prominent tributaries river creeks area found large valleys cliffs cave systems south city creeks largely responsible numerous stream valleys giving columbia hilly terrain similar having prairie typical northern missouri columbia operates trails parks town animal life large mammals found city includes numerous deer eastern gray abundant rabbits nocturnal large bird species abundant parks include canada duck including great great blue common wooded areas occasionally seen recreation trail populations bald eagles found city migrating birds large variety small bird species common eastern tree introduced species limited north_america counties surrounding columbia large areas forested open land areas home wildlife frogs commonly found especially extensive wet periods common species include american species chorus frogs commonly called spring found nearly pond years common insect windows nearly universally fitted screens screened common homes area climate columbia climate marked sharp seasonal contrasts temperature falling humid continental humid subtropical climate respectively located monthly daily average temperature ranges january july high reaches exceeds average days year days nights lows expected precipitation tends greatest frequent half spring severe weather common snow averages inches season december march occasional november accumulation falls april historically seasonal snow accumulation ranged extreme temperatures ranged february july readings uncommon occurrences january july columbia commonly recognizable architectural attributes reside downtown university campuses widely icons city hall neo gothic example academic village concept historic districts listed national_register_of_historic_places city street downtown skyline relatively low dominated story story tower downtown columbia area approximately square mile surrounded south east north area serves columbia financial business district topic large initiative draw tourism includes plans capitalize area historic architecture bohemian characteristics city historic residential core lies ring downtown extending especially west broadway south neighborhoods city government recognizes neighborhood associations city dense commercial areas primarily located interstate route stadium boulevard parkway downtown area demographics census census people households families residing city population density inhabitants square mile km2 housing units average density square mile km2 racial makeup city white african american native american asian pacific races races hispanic latino race population households children age living married couples living female husband present male wife present non families households individuals living years age older average household size average family size city population spread residents age ages years age older median age city years gender makeup city male female census census people households families residing city population density people square mile housing units average density square mile racial makeup city white black african american native american asian pacific races races hispanic latino race population households children age living married couples living female husband present non families households individuals living years age older average household size average family size city population spread age years age older median age years females males females age males median income household city median income family males median income versus females capita income city families population poverty line including age age economy columbia economy historically dominated education healthcare insurance industry jobs government common columbia half hour south city common city day time population connect region trade transportation far city largest employer economy columbia metro area slightly larger bahamas gross metropolitan product billion columbia economy makes missouri insurance corporations headquartered columbia include organizations include companies inc longer existent cds games founded columbia employers according columbia comprehensive annual financial report employers city culture arts columbia largest fine arts venues annually hosts known true false film festival filmmaker completed filmed entirely columbia displays works art archaeological objects galleries charge public libraries include million volumes missouri swing jazz series bring country finest jazz blues columbia central missouri remaining traditional arcades country popular destination gamers columbia progressive music scene thanks large acts come university indie band formed members students moving brooklyn record gain higher profile musical artists columbia compiled anthology series das release hip genre continues columbia music recognition progressive psychedelic heavy metal music scene garnered attention local punk hip hop scenes gaining momentum locally country music singer songwriter native columbia song whiskey bottle rumored city columbia makes specific reference sign displayed columbia tackle shop sign read liquor guns sign displayed downtown location shakespeare pizza sports sports teams play significant role city sports culture field memorial stadium capacity host home football games concerts center large sport event venues home arena basketball team host baseball team regional host ncaa baseball championship men women collegiate sports teams columbia hosted lady participated columbia hosts non profit program missouri governor largest state games united_states games consist missouri amateur athletes total ages ability levels compete olympic style sports festival july august year recently espn list things sports fans experience die situated midway kansas_city professional sports teams housed held columbia year lucrative shooting sports championships media city daily newspapers morning afternoon directed professional editors staffed students reporting design copy editing information graphics photography associated spanish english bilingual publication magazine daily circulation nearly widely read newspaper central missouri independent official student newspaper called printed weekly defunct published columbia fall launched operations entirely student run news organization airs daily pulse city radio stations television channels government politics current government established home rule charter adopted voters november established council manager government invested power city_council city_council seven members elected columbia plus large council member mayor elected city voters mayor currently receives annual remaining council members receive annual elected year terms mayor addition voting member city_council recognized head city government ceremonial purposes chief executive authority invested city manager oversees day day operations government columbia county seat county court government center located city located missouri 4th congressional district 19th senate district covers districts city columbia home attorneys serves legal hub testing grounds new laws efforts principal law enforcement agency providing fire protection patrols areas campus jurisdiction city coordinates efforts organizations operates population generally supports progressive causes extensive city recycling programs medical recreational use municipal level scope restricted city state offer medical benefits sex partners city employees new health plan extends health benefits unmarried domestic partners city employees october city_council approved ordinance prohibit smoking public places including restaurants bars ordinance passed protest amendments ordinance reflect today unusually highly educated half citizens possess bachelor degree quarter hold graduate degree making thirteenth highly educated municipality united_states education columbia surrounding area lies district students revenue nearly million school year state average attendance percentage graduation rate city operates public high schools cover grades rock bridge high school rock bridge missouri high schools receive silver medal putting high schools nation newsweek magazine list schools country past years named presidential scholars public high school united_states private high schools including newly constructed father city institutions higher education surround city headquarters operates campuses kansas_city founded state university west mississippi_river prepares students leaders rapidly changing world engages lifelong educational experience characterized intellectual creative expression professional practice offering innovative career focused programs sound liberal arts focuses creative arts sciences offers day evening classes extension courses nationwide campuses ties military bases including cuba online courses infrastructure transportation provides public bus transit service owned operated city passengers boarded system fixed routes shuttle routes boarded transit service system constantly experiencing growth service technology million project expand station rail depot built converted city transit center mid-1980s completed summer transit master plan created address future transit needs city county comprehensive plan add infrastructure key phases year plan intends add service southwest southeast northeast sections columbia develop alternative transportation models adults children students valid handicapped recipients senior citizens age columbia transit offers electronic fare cards issues electronic transfers accuracy convenience transit way trip service area includes columbia buses operate monday saturday monday wednesday thursday friday saturday buses operate sunday city mayor largely favor non transportation system seen riding bicycle city columbia known trail spur trail state park allows foot bike traffic city state consists soft gravel surface excellent running columbia preparing embark construction new bike paths street bike lanes thanks million grant federal government city served columbia regional airport commercial airport mid missouri concurrent main freeways travel columbia city state highways routes providence stadium rail service provided city owned railroad runs north columbia connection health systems health care big columbia economy nearly people working health care related profession physician density times united_states average columbia hospitals supporting facilities large center state medical related trips city common hospital systems city hospitals total beds operates hospitals columbia administered operates locations memorial veterans hospital located administered large number medically related industries columbia uses university owned facilities teaching hospitals largest research united_states produces nuclear medicine center serves sole supplier active ingredients approved produces pet imaging sister cities accordance operates conjunction paired international sister cities attempt foster cross cultural understanding
Columbia, Missouri