Columbia, Missouri

{{Main|History of Columbia, Missouri}}

File:CoMoPano1869.jpg

Columbia's origins begin with the settlement of American pioneers from Kentucky and Virginia in an early 1800s region known as the Boonslick. Before 1815 settlement in the region was confined to small log forts due to the threat of Native American attack during the War of 1812. When the war ended settlers came on foot, horseback, and wagon, often moving entire households along the Boone's Lick Road and often bringing enslaved African Americans. By 1818 it was clear that the increased population would necessitate a new county be created from territorial Howard County. The Moniteau Creek on the west and Cedar Creek on the east were obvious natural boundaries.

Believing it was only a matter of time before a county seat was chosen, the Smithton Land Company was formed to purchase over {{convert|2000|acre|km2}} to establish the village of Smithton (near the present-day intersection of Walnut and Garth). In 1819 Smithton was a small cluster of log cabins in an ancient forest of oak and hickory; chief among them was the cabin of Richard Gentry, a trustee of the Smithton Company who would become first mayor of Columbia. In 1820, Boone County was formed and named after the recently deceased explorer Daniel Boone. The Missouri Legislature appointed John Gray, Jefferson Fulcher, Absalom Hicks, Lawrence Bass, and David Jackson as commissioners to select and establish a permanent county seat. Smithton never had more than twenty people, and it was quickly realized that well digging was difficult because of the bedrock.

Springs were discovered across the Flat Branch Creek, so in the spring of 1821 Columbia was laid out, and the inhabitants of Smithton moved their cabins to the new town. The first house in Columbia was built by Thomas Duly in 1820 at what became Fifth and Broadway. Columbia's permanence was ensured when it was chosen as county seat in 1821 and the Boone's Lick Road was rerouted down Broadway.

The roots of Columbia's three economic foundations—education, medicine, and insurance— can be traced to the city's incorporation in 1821.{{cite web | url=http://www.columbia.k12.mo.us/columbia/colhis.htm | title=History of Columbia | work=Columbia Public Schools | access-date=January 1, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202045636/http://www.columbia.k12.mo.us/columbia/colhis.htm | archive-date=February 2, 2008 | df=mdy-all }}{{cite web | url=http://www.columbiaredi.com/pdfs/ColumbiaKudos.pdf | archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080216012203/http://www.columbiaredi.com/pdfs/ColumbiaKudos.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 16, 2008 | title=Columbia Kudos | work=Columbia Regional Economic Development (REDI) | access-date=January 1, 2008 | df=mdy-all }} Original plans for the town set aside land for a state university. In 1833, Columbia Baptist Female College opened, which later became Stephens College. Columbia College, distinct from today's and later to become the University of Missouri, was founded in 1839. When the state legislature decided to establish a state university, Columbia raised three times as much money as any competing

city,{{cite book | last =Switzler | first=William | title=History of Boone County, Missouri | publisher=St. Louis Western Historical Company |year=1882 | pages=300–310}} and James S. Rollins donated the land that is today the 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 Columbia College.

The city benefited from being a stagecoach stop of the Santa Fe and Oregon trails, and later from the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad. In 1822, William Jewell set up the first hospital. In 1830, the first newspaper began; in 1832, the first theater in the state was opened; and in 1835, the state's first agricultural fair was held. By 1839, the population of 13,000 and wealth of Boone County was exceeded in Missouri only by that of St. Louis County, which, at that time, included the City of St. Louis.{{cite book | last =Switzler | first=William | title=History of Boone County, Missouri | publisher=St. Louis Western Historical Company |year=1882 | pages=325–327}}

The first movie shown in Columbia was screened in the Haden Opera House.{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Dianna Borsi |date=2010-06-25 |title=Capturing Columbia's Cinema Century |url=https://comomag.com/2010/06/25/capturing-columbias-cinema-century/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250423215930/https://comomag.com/web/20250423215930/https://comomag.com/2010/06/25/capturing-columbias-cinema-century/ |archive-date=April 23, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=COMO Magazine |language=en-US}}

Columbia's infrastructure was relatively untouched by the Civil War. As a slave state, Missouri had many residents with Southern sympathies, but it stayed in the Union. The majority of the city was pro-Union; however, the surrounding agricultural areas of Boone County and the rest of central Missouri were decidedly pro-Confederate. Because of this, the University of Missouri became a base from which Union troops operated. No battles were fought within the city because the presence of Union troops dissuaded Confederate guerrillas from attacking, though several major battles occurred at nearby Boonville and Centralia.

After Reconstruction, race relations in Columbia followed the Southern pattern of increasing violence of whites against blacks in efforts to suppress voting and free movement: George Burke, a black man who worked at the university, was lynched in 1889.{{cite book | last =NAACP | title=Thirty Years of Lynching in the United States, 1889–1918 | publisher=NAACP |year=1919 | page=80}} In the spring of 1923, James T. Scott, an African-American janitor at the University of Missouri, was arrested on allegations of raping a university professor's daughter. He was taken from the county jail and lynched on April 29 before a white mob of roughly two thousand people, hanged from the Old Stewart Road Bridge.

File:University of Missouri - Memorial Union.jpg at the University of Missouri|alt=Photograph of the Memorial Student Union at the University of Missouri]]

In the 21st century, a number of efforts have been undertaken to recognize Scott's death. In 2010 his death certificate was changed to reflect that he was never tried or convicted of charges, and that he had been lynched. In 2011 a headstone was put at his grave at Columbia Cemetery; it includes his wife's and parents' names and dates, to provide a more full account of his life.{{cite web | url = https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/community-celebrates-life-of-lynching-victim-james-t-scott/article_37682fd8-806e-5805-b89e-490b9d63f69e.html | first = Katy | last = Bergen | title = Community celebrates life of lynching victim James T. Scott | website = Columbia Missourian | date = 3 May 2011 | access-date = 25 February 2021 | url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616030212/https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/community-celebrates-life-of-lynching-victim-james-t-scott/article_37682fd8-806e-5805-b89e-490b9d63f69e.html |archive-date=June 16, 2018 }} In 2016, a marker was erected at the lynching site to memorialize Scott.{{cite web |last=Marion |first=Ann |date=30 September 2016 |title=New plaque memorializes 1923 lynching victim James T. Scott |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/new-plaque-memorializes-lynching-victim-james-t-scott/article_a59c3b3a-8765-11e6-ae5c-b7b64a4a45ed.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923231935/https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/new-plaque-memorializes-lynching-victim-james-t-scott/article_a59c3b3a-8765-11e6-ae5c-b7b64a4a45ed.html |archive-date=September 23, 2024 |access-date=15 June 2018 |website=Missourian}} 5 years later, in 2021, the marker was removed in an act of vandalism.{{cite web |last1=City of Columbia |title=City of Columbia and University of Missouri respond to vandalism of James Scott lynching marker |url=https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=7454&tbiframe=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216051115/https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/view.php?id=7454&tbiframe=1 |archive-date=February 16, 2024 |access-date=16 February 2024 |website=City of Columbia, MO}}

In 1901, Rufus Logan established The Columbia Professional newspaper to serve Columbia's large African American population.

In 1963, University of Missouri System{{cite web| url=http://www.umsystem.edu/ums/about/history/| title=History of the University| work=University of Missouri System| access-date=July 18, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820101957/http://umsystem.edu/ums/about/history/| archive-date=August 20, 2008| url-status=dead}} and the Columbia College system established their headquarters in Columbia.{{cite web | url=http://www.ccis.edu/about/ | title=Welcome to Columbia College | work=Columbia College | access-date=July 18, 2008 | archive-date=September 19, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919054037/http://www.ccis.edu/about/ | url-status=dead }} The insurance industry also became important to the local economy as several companies established headquarters in Columbia, including Shelter Insurance, Missouri Employers Mutual, and Columbia Insurance Group. State Farm Insurance has a regional office in Columbia. In addition, the now-defunct Silvey Insurance was a large local employer.

Columbia became a transportation crossroads when U.S. Route 63 and U.S. Route 40 (which was improved as present-day Interstate 70) were routed through the city. Soon after, the city opened the Columbia Regional Airport. By 2000, the city's population was nearly 85,000.

In 2017, Columbia was in the path of totality for the Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017. The city was expecting upwards of 400,000 tourists coming to view the eclipse.{{cite web |last=May |first=Ethan |date=28 July 2017 |title=Solar Eclipse 2017: Here's what you need to know |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/solar-eclipse-here-s-what-you-need-to-know/article_95e58ca2-603e-11e7-86f0-4bdde9f6960f.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417023200/https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/solar-eclipse-here-s-what-you-need-to-know/article_95e58ca2-603e-11e7-86f0-4bdde9f6960f.html |archive-date=April 17, 2025 |access-date=September 7, 2017 |work=Columbia Missourian}}

On April 21st, 2025, an EF1 tornado formed in Columbia, it caused minor damage to downtown Columbia, residential areas, and destroyed the recycling sorting facility,{{Cite web |last=Jacob |first=Richey |date=2025-04-21 |title=Columbia city manager declares emergency in the city after tornado |url=https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/columbia-city-manager-declares-emergency-in-the-city-after-tornado/article_e7b0915d-34d6-4b29-b4c2-bb9f54046569.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250518190132/https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/columbia-city-manager-declares-emergency-in-the-city-after-tornado/article_e7b0915d-34d6-4b29-b4c2-bb9f54046569.html |archive-date=May 18, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=KOMU 8 |language=en}} which could take two to three years to rebuild.{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Taylor Brooks, KOMU 8 |date=2025-04-21 |title=Columbia indefinitely suspends recycling after tornado destroys facility |url=https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/columbia-evaluating-options-for-recycling-after-storm-destroys-sorting-facility/article_c3f416ad-e975-425c-a3aa-ccd8843df4a9.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250421224824/https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/columbia-evaluating-options-for-recycling-after-storm-destroys-sorting-facility/article_c3f416ad-e975-425c-a3aa-ccd8843df4a9.html |archive-date=April 21, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=KOMU 8 |language=en}}Shortly after, the city announced that recycling would go to the landfill until a solution get worked out.{{Cite web |date=April 24, 2025 |title=Recyclable materials to be collected as trash starting April 28 |url=https://www.como.gov/featured/crews-restart-recycling-collection/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250529162531/https://www.como.gov/featured/crews-restart-recycling-collection/ |archive-date=May 29, 2025 |access-date=April 29, 2025}}

Columbia, in northern mid-Missouri, is {{convert|120|mi|km}} away from both St. Louis and Kansas City, and {{convert|29|mi|km}} north of the state capital of Jefferson City.{{cite web | url=http://www.medpedsresidency.missouri.edu/columbia_missouri.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010035724/http://medpedsresidency.missouri.edu/columbia_missouri.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 10, 2004 | title=About Columbia | work=MU internal Medicine and Child Health | access-date=January 11, 2008 }} The city is near the Missouri River, between the Ozark Plateau and the Northern Plains.{{cite web | url=http://chamber.columbia.mo.us/community/about.asp?Maps | title=Maps | work=Columbia Chamber of Commerce | access-date=January 11, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080209060935/http://chamber.columbia.mo.us/community/about.asp?Maps |archive-date = February 9, 2008|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=Early Settlement Rural...Ozark Frontier |url=http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/ozar/hrs3.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109070731/http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/ozar/hrs3.htm |archive-date=November 9, 2013 |access-date=January 11, 2008 |work=National Park Service}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|67.45|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|67.17|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.28|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=July 2, 2012 |df=mdy }}

The city generally slopes from the highest point in the Northeast to the lowest point in the Southwest towards the Missouri River. Prominent tributaries of the river are Perche Creek, Hinkson Creek, and Flat Branch Creek. Along these and other creeks in the area can be found large valleys, cliffs, and cave systems such as that in Rock Bridge State Park just south of the city. These creeks are largely responsible for numerous stream valleys giving Columbia hilly terrain similar to the Ozarks while also having prairie flatland typical of northern Missouri.{{cite book|first=A.G.|last=Unklesbay|publisher=Missouri Geological Survey|year=1952|title=Geology of Boone County, Missouri}} Columbia also operates several greenbelts with trails and parks throughout town.

Large mammals found in the city include urbanized coyotes,{{cite web | url=http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/mammals/coyote/ | title=Coyote | work=Missouri Department of Conservation | access-date=January 11, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060928232433/http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/mammals/coyote/ |archive-date = September 28, 2006}} red foxes, and numerous whitetail deer.{{cite web | url=http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/mammals/deer2/ | title=Whitetale deer | work=Missouri Department of Conservation | access-date=January 11, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060928232140/http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/mammals/deer2/ |archive-date = September 28, 2006}} Eastern gray squirrel, and other rodents are abundant, as well as cottontail rabbits and the nocturnal opossum and raccoon.{{cite web | url=http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/mammals/squirrel/ | title=Eastern Gray Squirrel | work=Missouri Department of Conservation | access-date=January 11, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060928232328/http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/mammals/squirrel/ |archive-date = September 28, 2006}}{{cite web | url=http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/MDCLibrary/MDCLibrary2.aspx?NodeID=394 | title=Mammals (In Missouri) | work=Missouri Department of Conservation | access-date=January 11, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203234523/http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/MDCLibrary/MDCLibrary2.aspx?NodeID=394 | archive-date=February 3, 2008 | df=mdy-all }} Large bird species are abundant in parks and include the Canada goose, mallard duck, as well as shorebirds, including the great egret and great blue heron. Turkeys are also common in wooded areas and can occasionally be seen on the MKT recreation trail. 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. Columbia has large areas of forested and open land and many of these areas are home to wildlife.

The Devil's Icebox Cave in Columbia's Rock Bridge State Park is the only natural home of the planarian Kenkia glandulosa, an eyeless and de-pigmented flatworm.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-19 |title=Turbellarians (Planarians; Free-Living Flatworms) |url=https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/turbellarians-planarians-free-living-flatworms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250228193111/https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/turbellarians-planarians-free-living-flatworms |archive-date=February 28, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Missouri Department of Conservation |language=en}} The cave is also home to species of salamanders, frogs, troglobites, millipede, spiders, bats, and springtail.{{Cite web |last=Pycior |first=Danielle |date=2019-12-23 |title=Explore the science behind local landmarks from Devil's Icebox to the Pinnacles |url=https://www.voxmagazine.com/magazine/explore-the-four-natural-wonders-of-columbia/article_57f4362c-1d11-11ea-95b4-b7632dccf81d.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207081105/https://www.voxmagazine.com/magazine/explore-the-four-natural-wonders-of-columbia/article_57f4362c-1d11-11ea-95b4-b7632dccf81d.html |archive-date=December 7, 2024 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Vox Magazine |language=en}}

Columbia has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) marked by sharp seasonal contrasts in temperature, and is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a.{{cite web|url= http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/#|title= USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map|year= 2012|website= planthardiness.ars.usda.gov|publisher= Agricultural Research Center, PRISM Climate Group Oregon State University|access-date= 2014-05-30|url-status= dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/|archive-date= February 27, 2014|df= mdy-all}} The monthly daily average temperature ranges from {{convert|31.0|°F|1}} in January to {{convert|78.5|°F|1}} in July, while the high reaches or exceeds {{convert|90|°F|0}} on an average of 35 days per year, {{convert|100|°F|0}} on two days, while two nights of sub-{{convert|0|°F|0}} lows can be expected. Precipitation tends to be greatest and most frequent in the latter half of spring, when severe weather is also most common. Snow averages {{convert|16.5|in|cm}} per season, mostly from December to March, with occasional November accumulation and falls in April being rarer; historically seasonal snow accumulation has ranged from {{convert|3.4|in|cm|abbr=on}} in 2005–06 to {{convert|54.9|in|cm|abbr=on}} in 1977–78. Extreme temperatures have ranged from {{convert|−26|°F|0}} on February 12, 1899 to {{convert|113|°F|0}} on July 12 and 14, 1954. Readings of {{convert|−10|°F|0}} or {{convert|105|°F|0}} are uncommon, the last occurrences being January 7, 2014 and July 31, 2012.

{{Columbia, Missouri weatherbox}}

File:Tiger hotel.jpg

Columbia's most significant and well-known architecture is found in buildings located in its downtown area and on the university campuses. The University of Missouri's Jesse Hall and the neo-Gothic Memorial Union have become icons of the city. The David R. Francis Quadrangle is an example of Thomas Jefferson's academic village concept.{{Cite web |title=Jefferson’s Masterpiece |url=https://www.virginia.edu/visit/grounds/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330195253/https://www.virginia.edu/visit/grounds/ |archive-date=March 30, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=The University of Virginia |language=en}}

Nine historic districts located within the city are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Downtown Columbia, the East Campus neighborhood, the West Broadway neighborhood, the Francis Quadrangle, the south campus of Stephens College, the Pierce Pennant Motor Hotel, Maplewood, and the David Guitar House.{{Cite web |title=ArcGIS Web Application |url=https://modnr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e3a6d822d215486ba20aadb6badd7174 |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=modnr.maps.arcgis.com}} The downtown skyline is relatively low and is dominated by the 10-story Tiger Hotel and the 15-story Paquin Tower.

Downtown Columbia is an area of approximately one square mile surrounded by the University of Missouri on the south, Stephens College to the east, and Columbia College on the north. The area serves as Columbia's financial and business district.{{cite web|url=http://www.downtown.org/index.html |title=Discover The District |work=The District |access-date=January 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122081217/http://www.downtown.org/index.html |archive-date=January 22, 2008 |df=mdy }}

File:Columbia MO downtown area 2017.jpg in June 2017|alt=Photograph of the Missouri United Methodist Church from south 9th street]]

Since the early-21st century, a large number of high-rise apartment complexes have been built in downtown Columbia. Many of these buildings also offer mixed-use business and retail space on the lower levels. These developments have not been without criticism, with some expressing concern the buildings hurt the historic feel of the area, or that the city does not yet have the infrastructure to support them.{{cite web |last1=Jr. |first1=Jodie Jackson |title=Council candidates: City needs to address growing pains |url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/8a143965-d376-5682-926a-3f36982fda25.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616030141/http://www.columbiatribune.com/8a143965-d376-5682-926a-3f36982fda25.html |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |access-date=19 March 2017 |work=Columbia Daily Tribune}}

The city's historic residential core lies in a ring around downtown, extending especially to the west along Broadway, and south into the East Campus Neighborhood. The city government recognizes 63 neighborhood associations.{{cite web|url=http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Neighborhood_Associations/documents/NAContactList.pdf |title=Columbia, Missouri Neighborhood Associations |work=City of Columbia |access-date=February 16, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216012204/http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Neighborhood_Associations/documents/NAContactList.pdf |archive-date=February 16, 2008 }} The city's most dense commercial areas are primarily along Interstate 70, U.S. Route 63, Stadium Boulevard, Grindstone Parkway, and Downtown.

{{Historical populations

|type= USA

|1823|130

|1830|600

|1840|750

|1850|651

|1860|1414

|1870|2236

|1880|3326

|1890|4000

|1900|5651

|1910|9662

|1920|10392

|1930|14967

|1940|18399

|1950|31974

|1960|36650

|1970|58521

|1980|62061

|1990|69101

|2000|84531

|2010|108500

|2020|126254

|2024|130900

|align-fn= center

|source={{center|U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016|df=mdy }}}}

|footnote=For the year 1850, slaves and free minorities were not counted.
U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 1, 2015|df=mdy }} U.S. Census July 1, 2024 estimates of population for incorporated places in Missouri https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2024/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2024-POP-29.xlsx}}

}}

The 2020 United States census{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov| access-date=2023-08-22 |website=data.census.gov}} counted 126,254 people, 49,371 households, and 25,144 families in Columbia. The population density was {{convert|1,879.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 53,746 housing units at an average density of {{convert|800.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup (including Hispanics in the racial counts) was 72.49% (91,516) White, 11.91% (15,038) Black or African-American, 0.32% (398) Native American, 5.61% (7,084) Asian, 0.07% (89) Pacific Islander, 2.17% (2,734) from other races, and 7.44% (9,395) from two or more races.{{Cite web |title=United States Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/columbiacitymissouri/PST045224 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250529164836/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/columbiacitymissouri/PST045224 |archive-date=May 29, 2025 |access-date=April 28, 2025 |website=United States Census Bureau census.gov}} Hispanic or Latino of any race was 4.9% (6,195) of the population.

Of the 49,371 households, 24.0% had children under the age of 18; 38.7% were married couples living together; 31.4% had a female householder with no husband present. Of all households, 34.7% were individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.3 and the average family size was 3.0.

18.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 23.8% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 89.8 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov|access-date=2023-08-22|website=data.census.gov}} estimates show that the median household income was $53,447 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,355) and the median family income $81,392 (+/- $5,687). Males had a median income of $30,578 (+/- $2,131) versus $23,705 (+/- $1,849) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $26,870 (+/- $1,429). Approximately, 8.5% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under the age of 18 and 5.2% of those ages 65 or over.

As of the census of 2010, 108,500 people, 43,065 households, and 21,418 families resided in the city.{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 8, 2012}}{{Cite web |last=Steffen |first=Caitlin |date=2011-04-23 |title=Columbia, Boone County report growth in 2010 census |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/columbia-boone-county-report-growth-in-2010-census/article_42e73328-a9aa-579c-98a5-bb681cb4c2d0.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250529165438/https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/columbia-boone-county-report-growth-in-2010-census/article_42e73328-a9aa-579c-98a5-bb681cb4c2d0.html |archive-date=May 29, 2025 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Columbia Missourian |language=en}} The population density was {{convert|1720.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}.[https://www.como.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/FY2008-FY2017-Ten-Year-Trend-Manual.pdf Columbia, Missouri Ten Financial Year Trend Line] [https://web.archive.org/web/20231104002337/https://www.como.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/FY2008-FY2017-Ten-Year-Trend-Manual.pdf Archived] on November 4, 2023 There were 46,758 housing units at an average density of {{convert|741.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}.[https://usa.ipums.org/usa/resources/voliii/pubdocs/2010/CPH-2.%20Population%20and%20Housing%20Unit%20Counts/cph-2-27.pdf Missouri: 2010] [https://web.archive.org/web/20220308145628/https://usa.ipums.org/usa/resources/voliii/pubdocs/2010/CPH-2.%20Population%20and%20Housing%20Unit%20Counts/cph-2-27.pdf Archived] on March 8, 2022 The racial makeup of the city was 79.0% White, 11.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 5.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.{{Cite web |last=bryans |date=2013-02-14 |title=2010 Census Data |url=https://oa.mo.gov/budget-planning/demographic-information/2010-census-data |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250502031053/https://oa.mo.gov/budget-planning/demographic-information/2010-census-data |archive-date=May 2, 2025 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Missouri Office of Administration |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Feinberg |first=Srijita Datta and Allie |date=2021-09-18 |title=The 2020 Census sheds light on Boone County growth |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/the-2020-census-sheds-light-on-boone-county-growth/article_f30bd862-17e3-11ec-a793-db9a21b01b27.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250502031053/https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/the-2020-census-sheds-light-on-boone-county-growth/article_f30bd862-17e3-11ec-a793-db9a21b01b27.html |archive-date=May 2, 2025 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Columbia Missourian |language=en}}

There were 43,065 households, of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 50.3% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out, with 18.8% of residents under the age of 18; 27.3% between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% from 25 to 44; 18.6% from 45 to 64; and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age in the city was 26.8 years. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 84,531 people, 33,689 households, and 17,282 families residing in the city.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website |df=mdy }} The population density was {{convert|1,592.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 35,916 housing units at an average density of {{convert|676.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.05% of the population.

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. However, traditional statistics of income and poverty can be misleading when applied to cities with high student populations, such as Columbia.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/poverty/cb13-tps73.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801112834/http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/poverty/cb13-tps73.html |archive-date=August 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |title=When Off-Campus College Students are Excluded, Poverty Rates Fall in Many College Towns - Poverty - Newsroom - U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=November 10, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.policyblognh.org/policy_blog_nh/2011/11/a-study-in-poverty-or-how-college-towns-skew-census-data.html|title=A study in poverty, or how college towns skew Census data - Policy Blog NH|publisher=policyblognh.org|access-date=November 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110233521/http://www.policyblognh.org/policy_blog_nh/2011/11/a-study-in-poverty-or-how-college-towns-skew-census-data.html|archive-date=November 10, 2014|url-status=usurped|df=mdy-all}}

Columbia's economy is historically dominated by education, healthcare, and insurance. Jobs in government are also common, either in Columbia or a half-hour south in Jefferson City.{{cite web|url=http://www.columbiaredi.com/area_data/LargestEmployers.php |archive-url=https://archive.today/20061102023838/http://www.columbiaredi.com/area_data/LargestEmployers.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 2, 2006 |title=Largest Employers |work=Columbia REDI |access-date=January 1, 2008 }} The Columbia Regional Airport and the Missouri River Port of Rocheport connect the region with trade and transportation.

With a Gross Metropolitan Product of $9.6 billion in 2018, Columbia's economy makes up 3% of the Gross State Product of Missouri.{{cite web|url=https://www.usmayors.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mer-2019-09.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930163445/https://www.usmayors.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/mer-2019-09.pdf |archive-date=2019-09-30 |url-status=live|title=September 2019 Metro Economies Report|date=September 2019|work=U.S. Conference of Mayors|page=5|access-date=January 3, 2020}} Columbia's metro area economy is slightly larger than the economy of Rwanda.{{cite web |date=2018 |title=2018 Country GDP |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true&view=map |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250509070918/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true&view=map |archive-date=May 9, 2025 |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=World Bank}} Insurance corporations headquartered in Columbia include Shelter Insurance and the Columbia Insurance Group. Other organizations include StorageMart, Veterans United Home Loans, MFA Incorporated, the Missouri State High School Activities Association, and MFA Oil. Companies such as Socket, Datastorm Technologies, Inc. (no longer existent), Slackers CDs and Games, Carfax,{{cite web |last=McCormick |first=Lisa Wade |date=October 10, 2006 |title=Carfax History |url=http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/10/carfax_history.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002065628/http://www.consumeraffairs.com:80/news04/2006/10/carfax_history.html |archive-date=October 2, 2008 |access-date=January 4, 2008 |publisher=Consumer affairs}} and MBS Textbook Exchange were all founded in Columbia.

According to Columbia's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (FY 2022 ACFR) |url=https://www.como.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/City-of-Columbia-MO-ACFR-FY22.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208200553/https://www.como.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/City-of-Columbia-MO-ACFR-FY22.pdf |archive-date=February 8, 2025 |access-date=July 31, 2023 |website=City of Columbia}} the top employers in the city are:

The unemployment rate in Columbia has slowly risen since December 2022 at 3.5 as of February 2025.{{Cite web |title=Columbia, MO Economy at a Glance |url=https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.mo_columbia_msa.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250323215354/https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.mo_columbia_msa.htm |archive-date=March 23, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Bureau of Labor Statistics |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Bureau of Labor Statistics Data |url=https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LAUMT291786000000003?amp%253bdata_tool=XGtable&output_view=data&include_graphs=true |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250324204803/https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LAUMT291786000000003?amp%253bdata_tool=XGtable&output_view=data&include_graphs=true |archive-date=March 24, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Bureau of Labor Statistics |language=en-us}}

File:The blue note.jpg is a rock and pop venue located in Downtown Columbia.|alt=Photograph of the blue note rock and pop venue]]

The Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts and Jesse Auditorium are Columbia's largest fine arts venues. Ragtag Cinema annually hosts the True/False Film Festival.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-16 |title=True/False Film Fest • Ragtag Cinema |url=https://ragtagcinema.org/about/true-false-film-fest/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514082240/https://ragtagcinema.org/about/true-false-film-fest/ |archive-date=May 14, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=ragtagcinema.org |language=en-US}}

In 2008, filmmaker Todd Sklar completed the film Box Elder, which was filmed entirely in and around Columbia and the University of Missouri.{{Cite news |last=Gronvall |first=Andrea |title=Box Elder |url=https://www.timeout.com/movies/box-elder |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918115020/https://www.timeout.com/movies/box-elder |archive-date=September 18, 2024 |access-date=2025-04-28 |work=Time Out Worldwide |language=en-GB |url-status=live }}

The North Village Arts District, located on the north side of downtown,{{Cite web |last=Rossetti |first=Diana |title=Bold Face: No moss appears to be growing in Jackson Twp. |url=https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/2013/01/11/bold-face-no-moss-appears/42595617007/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Columbia Daily Tribune |language=en-US}} is home to galleries, restaurants, theaters, bars, music venues, and the Mareck Center for Dance.{{Cite web |date=2014-12-05 |title=Temporary waiver allows food trucks to operate during new hours |url=https://www.kbia.org/business/2014-12-05/temporary-waiver-allows-food-trucks-to-operate-during-new-hours |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=KBIA |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Riske |first=Heather |date=2018-12-28 |title=Where to dine and drink in Columbia's North Village Arts District |url=https://www.feastmagazine.com/columbia/collection_ebb4bfdc-0a0f-11e9-86f9-ff30b6118e4c.html#3 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Feast Magazine |language=en}}

The University of Missouri's Museum of Art and Archaeology displays 14,000 works of art and archaeological objects in five galleries for no charge to the public.{{cite web | url=http://maa.missouri.edu/collections.html | title=Collections | work=Museum of Art and Archaeology | access-date=January 11, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070819184833/http://maa.missouri.edu/collections.html |archive-date = August 19, 2007|url-status=dead}} Libraries include the Columbia Public Library, the University of Missouri Libraries, with over three million volumes in Ellis Library, and the State Historical Society of Missouri.

The "We Always Swing" Jazz Series{{cite web | url=http://wealwaysswing.org | title=Jazz Series Website | access-date=May 21, 2008}} and the Roots N Blues Festival{{cite web | url=http://rootsnbluesnbbq.com/ | title=Roots 'N Blues 'N Barbeque Festival Website | access-date=May 21, 2008}} is held in Columbia. "9th Street Summerfest" (now hosted in Rose Park at Rose Music Hall) closes part of that street several nights each summer to hold outdoor performances and has featured Willie Nelson (2009),{{cite web |url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/arts_life/go_magazine/willie-nelson-kicking-off-ninth-street-summerfest/article_60bf0408-57a1-5d1e-af1f-f9eada90e422.html |title=Willie Nelson kicking off Ninth Street Summerfest |last=Bland |first=Pete |date=March 19, 2009 |publisher=Columbia Daily Tribune |access-date=19 March 2017}} Snoop Dogg (2010),{{cite web |url=http://www.pitch.com/music/article/20582079/flaming-lips-snoop-dogg-ice-cube-help-celebrate-the-blue-notes-30th-anniversary |title=Flaming Lips, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube help celebrate the Blue Note's 30th anniversary |last=Hudnall |first=David |date=June 28, 2010 |website=The Pitch |access-date=19 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320053022/http://www.pitch.com/music/article/20582079/flaming-lips-snoop-dogg-ice-cube-help-celebrate-the-blue-notes-30th-anniversary |archive-date=March 20, 2017 |url-status=dead }} The Flaming Lips (2010), Weird Al Yankovic (2013),{{cite web |url=https://mizzoumag.missouri.edu/2015/02/comos-abcs/ |title=CoMo's ABCs: Our roundup of the most unexpected things Columbia has to offer/W |date=February 17, 2015 |website=Mizzou Magazine |publisher=The Curators of the University of Missouri |access-date=19 March 2017}} and others. The "University Concert Series" regularly includes musicians and dancers from various genres, typically in Jesse Hall. Other musical venues in town include the Missouri Theatre, the university's multipurpose Hearnes Center, the university's Mizzou Arena, The Blue Note, and Rose Music Hall. Shelter Gardens, a park on the campus of Shelter Insurance headquarters, also hosts outdoor performances during the summer.{{cite web| url=http://www.visitcolumbiamo.com/directory/shelter-gardens/ |title=Shelter Gardens|work=Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau | access-date=19 March 2017}}

File:Sinquefield Music Center in June 2020 West View.jpg

The University of Missouri School of Music attracts hundreds of musicians to Columbia, student performances are held in Whitmore Recital Hall. Among many non-profit organizations for classical music are included the "Odyssey Chamber Music Series",{{cite web | url=http://www.odysseymissouri.org | title=Odyssey Chamber Music Series Website | access-date=August 24, 2011}} "Missouri Symphony", "Columbia Community Band", and "Columbia Civic Orchestra". Founded in 2006, the "Plowman Chamber Music Competition"{{cite web | url=http://plowmancompetition.org | title=Plowman Competition Website | access-date=July 2, 2012}} is a biennial competition held in March/April of odd-numbered years, considered to be one of the finest, top five chamber music competitions in the nation.

Columbia has multiple opportunities to watch and perform in theatrical productions. Ragtag Cinema is one of the most well known theaters in Columbia.{{Cite web |title=Ragtag Cinema |url=https://www.lewisandclark.travel/listing/ragtag-cinema/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Lewis and Clark Trail Experience |language=en}} The city is home to Stephens College, a private institution known for performing arts.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-28 |title=Home |url=https://stephens.edu/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Stephens College |language=en-US}} Their season includes multiple plays and musicals. The University of Missouri and Columbia College also present multiple productions a year.{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Theatre and Performance Studies - Theatre and Performance Studies |url=https://theatre.missouri.edu/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=theatre.missouri.edu}}

File:Missouri Theatre Interior on July 25th 2018.jpg

The city's three public high schools are also known for their productions. Rock Bridge High School{{Cite web |title=Performing Arts Events and Tickets - Rock Bridge High School |url=https://rbhs.cpsk12.org/academics/performing-arts/performing-arts-events-and-tickets |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=rbhs.cpsk12.org |language=en-US}} performs a musical in November and two plays in the spring. Hickman High School{{Cite web |title=HICKMAN HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE |url=https://www.hickmanhighschooltheatre.com/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=HICKMAN HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE |language=en}} also performs a similar season with two musical performances (one in the fall, and one in the spring) and 2 plays (one in the winter, and one at the end of their school year). The newest high school, Battle High,{{Cite web |date=2025-03-29 |title=Performing Arts {{!}} Battle High School, Columbia, Mo |url=https://bhs.cpsk12.org/battle-spartans/teams/performing-arts |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=bhs.cpsk12.org |language=en-US}} opened in 2013 and also is known for their productions. Battle presents a musical in the fall and a play in the spring, along with improv nights and more productions throughout the year.

The city is also home to the indoor/outdoor theatre Maplewood Barn Theatre in Nifong Park{{Cite web |title=Maplewood Barn Theatre – Theatre under the stars |url=https://maplewoodbarn.org/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |language=en-US}} and other community theatre programs such as Columbia Entertainment Company,{{Cite web |title=Columbia Entertainment Company |url=https://www.cectheatre.org/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Columbia Entertainment Company |language=en-US}} Talking Horse Productions,{{Cite web |title=Blackbox theatre {{!}} Talking Horse Productions {{!}} Missouri |url=https://www.talkinghorseproductions.org/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=talkinghorse |language=en}} TRYPS,{{Cite web |title=TRYPS Kids |url=https://www.trypskids.com/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=trypskids |language=en}} Pace Youth Theatre, but closed in March 2020.{{Cite web |last=Gallant |first=Hannah |date=2021-01-05 |title=Pandemic forces closure of PACE youth theater |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/covid19/pandemic-forces-closure-of-pace-youth-theater/article_16b21442-4f7c-11eb-bfaf-53464efcb3a2.html |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Columbia Missourian |language=en}}

File:Farout field from the air moments before a game.jpg

The University of Missouri's sports teams, the Missouri Tigers, play a significant role in the city's sports culture. Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium, which has a capacity of 62,621, hosts home football games. The Hearnes Center and Mizzou Arena are two other large sport and event venues, the latter being the home arena for Mizzou's basketball team. Taylor Stadium is host to their baseball team and was the regional host for the 2007 NCAA Baseball Championship.{{cite web | url=http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060607aaa.html | title=2007 NCAA Division I College Baseball Regional & Super Regional Schedule & Results | publisher=NCAA | date=June 7, 2007 | access-date=July 19, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070710180029/http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060607aaa.html |archive-date = July 10, 2007}} Columbia College has several men and women collegiate sports teams as well. In 2007, Columbia hosted the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Volleyball National Championship, which the Lady Cougars participated in.{{cite web | url=http://www.columbiacougars.com/naiavolleyball/ | title=NAIA Volleyball National Championship | work=Columbia College | access-date=January 9, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080108060109/http://www.columbiacougars.com/naiavolleyball/ | archive-date=January 8, 2008 | df=mdy-all }}

Columbia also hosts the Show-Me State Games, a non-profit program of the Missouri Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health. They are the largest state games in the United States.{{cite web | url=http://www.smsg.org/news/index.asp?ID=89 | title=Show-Me State Games 2008 | work=Show-Me State Games | access-date=January 9, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202140944/http://www.smsg.org/news/index.asp?ID=89 | archive-date=February 2, 2008 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://360columbia.com/HealthAndBeauty/Fitness/Show-MeStateGames.html | title=Show-Me State Games – About Us | work=360Columbia | access-date=January 9, 2008 | archive-date=January 5, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105081816/http://360columbia.com/HealthAndBeauty/Fitness/Show-MeStateGames.html | url-status=dead }}

Situated midway between St. Louis and Kansas City, Columbians will often have allegiances to the professional sports teams housed there, such as the St. Louis Cardinals, the Kansas City Royals, the Kansas City Chiefs, the St. Louis Blues, Sporting Kansas City, and St. Louis City SC.{{cite web|url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/11/30/chiefs-and-rams-fans-columbia-remain-dedicated-despite-down-years/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728193026/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/11/30/chiefs-and-rams-fans-columbia-remain-dedicated-despite-down-years/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |title=Chiefs and rams fans remain dedicated despite down years |publisher=Columbia Missourian |access-date=February 12, 2009 }}

{{Further|SoccerGrow}}

File:Booches1.jpg

Columbia has many bars and restaurants that provide diverse styles of cuisine, due in part to having three colleges.{{cite book | last=Wise | first=C.C. | title=The Law School Buzz Book | publisher=Vault, Incorporated | series=Law School Buzz Book Series | issue=bk. 2007 | year=2007 | isbn=978-1-58131-424-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=70NxJWIjqPUC&pg=PA375 | access-date=2017-11-08 | page=375}} The oldest is the historic Booches bar, restaurant, and pool hall, which was established in 1884 and is frequented by college students.{{cite web | author=Jarzemsky, Matt | title=Pool hall popularity change over generations | website=Columbia Business Times | date=April 18, 2008 | url=http://columbiabusinesstimes.com/2008/04/18/pool-hall-popularity-change-over-generations/ | access-date=November 7, 2017 | archive-date=November 8, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108035621/http://columbiabusinesstimes.com/2008/04/18/pool-hall-popularity-change-over-generations/ | url-status=dead }} Shakespeare's Pizza was founded in Columbia and is known for its college town pizza.{{Cite web|url=https://www.komu.com/news/shakespeare-s-pizza-wins-national-contest/|title=Shakespeare's Pizza Wins National Contest|website=KOMU.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-03|archive-date=January 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103164209/https://www.komu.com/news/shakespeare-s-pizza-wins-national-contest/|url-status=dead}}

Throughout the city are many parks and trails for public usage managed by Columbia Parks and Recreation. Among the more popularly frequented is the MKT which is a spur that connects to the Katy Trail, meeting up just south of Columbia proper. The MKT ranked second in the nation for "Best Urban Trail" in the 2015 USA Today{{'}}s 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards. This 10-foot wide trail built on the old railbed of the MKT railroad begins in downtown Columbia in Flat Branch Park at 4th and Cherry Streets. The all-weather crushed limestone surface provides opportunities for walking, jogging, running, and bicycling.{{Cite web|url=https://www.como.gov/parksandrec/trail/mkt-nature-and-fitness-trail/|title=MKT Nature and Fitness Trail|website=Columbia Parks and Recreation|language=en|access-date=2020-04-13}}File:Rock-bridge.jpgStephens Lake Park is the highlight of Columbia's park system and is known for its 11-acre fishing/swimming lake, mature trees, and historical significance in the community. It serves as the center for outdoor winter sports, a variety of community festivals such as the Roots N Blues Festival, and outdoor concert series at the amphitheater. Stephens Lake has reservable shelters, playgrounds, swimming beach and spraygrounds, art sculptures, waterfalls, and walking trails.{{Cite web|url=https://www.como.gov/parksandrec/park/stephens-lake-park/|title=Stephens Lake Park|website=Columbia Parks and Recreation|language=en|access-date=2020-04-13}} Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is open year-round giving visitors the chance to scramble, hike, and bicycle through a scenic environment. Rock Bridge State Park contains some of the most popular hiking trails in the state, including the Gans Creek Wild Area.{{Cite web|url=https://mostateparks.com/park/rock-bridge-memorial-state-park|title=Rock Bridge Memorial State Park|last=drupal.symposiarch|date=2010-12-10|website=mostateparks.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-13}}

Columbia is home to [https://www.como.gov/contacts/harmony-bends-championship-disc-golf-course-strawn-park/ Harmony Bends Disc Golf Course], which was named the 2017 Disc Golf Course of the Year by [https://DGCourseReview.com DGCourseReview.com].{{Cite web |title=Harmony Bends Championship Disc Golf Course at Strawn Park |url=https://www.como.gov/contacts/harmony-bends-championship-disc-golf-course-strawn-park/#:~:text=Harmony%20Bends%20Disc%20Golf%20Course%20was%20named%20the%202017%20Disc,the%20Year%20by%20DGCourseReview.com. |access-date=April 28, 2025}} As of June, 2022, Harmony Bends still continues to rank on DGCourseReview.com as the No. 1 public course, and #2 overall course in the United States

File:Columbia Missourian headquarters.JPG

The city has two daily morning newspapers: the Columbia Missourian and the Columbia Daily Tribune. The Missourian is directed by professional editors and staffed by Missouri School of Journalism students who do reporting, design, copy editing, information graphics, photography, and multimedia. The Missourian publishes the monthly city magazine, [https://www.voxmagazine.com/ Vox Magazine].{{cite web | url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/p/about/ | title=About the Missourian | publisher=Columbia Missourian | access-date=January 11, 2008}} The University of Missouri has the independent official bi-weekly student newspaper called The Maneater, and the quarterly literary magazine, The Missouri Review. The now-defunct Prysms Weekly was also published in Columbia. In late 2009, KCOU News launched full operations out of KCOU 88.1 FM on the MU Campus. The entirely student-run news organization airs a weekday newscast, The Pulse.

The city has 4 television channels.{{cite web | url=http://www.visitcolumbiamo.com/web/welcome/community/media.php | title=Local Media | work=Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau | access-date=January 11, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070922144840/http://www.visitcolumbiamo.com/web/welcome/community/media.php | archive-date=September 22, 2007 | df=mdy-all }} Columbia Access Television (CAT or CAT-TV) is the public access channel. CPSTV is the education access channel, managed by Columbia Public Schools as a function of the Columbia Public Schools Community Relations Department. The Government Access channel broadcasts City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Board of Adjustment meetings.

Columbia has 19 radio stations as well as stations licensed from Jefferson City, Macon and, Lake of the Ozarks.

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

{{Cite web|url=https://radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=columbia+&state=MO|title = Radio Stations in Columbia, Missouri}}

{{Div col|small=yes}}

• 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

{{Div col end}}{{Columbia MO Radio}}

{{Columbia MO TV}}

{{see also|List of mayors of Columbia, Missouri}}

File:Boone County Courthouse in Columbia, Missouri.jpg within the Boone County Government Center|alt=Photograph of the Boone County Courthouse]]

Columbia's current government was established by a home rule charter adopted by voters on November 11, 1974, which established a council-manager government that invested power in the city council. The city council has seven members: six elected by each of Columbia's six single-member districts or wards and an at-large member, the mayor, who is elected by all city voters. The mayor receives a $9,000 annual stipend, and the six other members receive a $6,000 annual stipend. They are elected to staggered three-year terms. As well as serving as a voting member of the city council, the mayor is recognized as the head of city government for ceremonial purposes. Chief executive authority is invested in a hired city manager, who oversees the government's day-to-day operations.{{cite web | url=http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Council/Columbia_Code_of_Ordinances/Chapter_99/01.html | title=Columbia Code of Ordinances | work=City of Columbia | access-date=January 1, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225210605/http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Council/Columbia_Code_of_Ordinances/Chapter_99/01.html | archive-date=December 25, 2007 | url-status=dead }}

Columbia is the county seat of Boone County,{{Cite web |title=Boone County |url=https://electionexcellence.org/our-community/boone-county/#:~:text=The%20county%20seat%20is%20Columbia,Interstate%2070%20running%20through%20it. |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence |language=en-US}} and houses the county court and government center.{{Cite web |title=Boone County Government |url=https://www.showmeboone.com/hours-location.asp |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.showmeboone.com |language=en}} The city is in Missouri's 4th congressional district.{{Cite web |last=Alford |first=Mark |title=Mark Alford - District Map |url=https://www.congress.gov/member/district/mark-alford/A000379 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.congress.gov}} The 19th Missouri State Senate district covers all of Boone County.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Missouri Senate District 19 |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/elections/missouri-senate-district-19/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Columbia Missourian |language=en}} There are five Missouri House of Representatives districts (9, 21, 23, 24, and 25) in the city.{{Cite web |title=Missouri House of Representatives - Home |url=https://house.mo.gov/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=house.mo.gov}} The Columbia Police Department provides law enforcement across the city,{{Cite news |title=City of Columbia - Official Government Website |url=https://www.como.gov/police/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250419035955/https://www.como.gov/police/ |archive-date=April 19, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-29 |work=City of Columbia Missouri |language=en-US |url-status=live }} while the Columbia Fire Department provides fire protection.{{Cite web |title=City of Columbia - Official Government Website |url=https://www.como.gov/fire/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250309120729/https://www.como.gov/fire/ |archive-date=March 9, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.como.gov |language=en-US |url-status=live }} The University of Missouri Police Department also patrols areas on and around the University of Missouri campus and has jurisdiction throughout the state.{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=University of Missouri Police Department (MUPD) |url=https://mupolice.missouri.edu/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=University Police |language=en-US}} Additionally, the Boone County Sheriff's Department, the law enforcement agency for the county, regularly patrols the city.{{Cite web |title=Boone County Government |url=https://www.boonecountymo.org/sheriff/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.boonecountymo.org |language=en}} The Public Service Joint Communications Center coordinates efforts between the two organizations as well as the Boone County Fire Protection District, which operates Urban Search and Rescue Missouri Task Force 1.{{Cite web |title=Boone County Government |url=https://www.showmeboone.com/bcjc/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.showmeboone.com |language=en}}

File:CoMo city hall front.jpg.|alt=Photograph of Columbia’s City Hall]]

The population generally supports progressive causes, such as recycling programs and the decriminalization of cannabis{{cite web | url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2007/11/08/ideological-scales-look-columbias-political-landsc/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20080111151649/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2007/11/08/ideological-scales-look-columbias-political-landsc/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 11, 2008 | title=Ideological scales: A look at Columbia's political landscape | publisher=Columbia Missourian | last=Willems | first=Spencer | date=November 8, 2007 | access-date=January 1, 2008}}{{cite web | url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2005/11/10/marijuana-law-gets-new-review/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20080112054253/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2005/11/10/marijuana-law-gets-new-review/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 12, 2008 | title=Marijuana law gets new review | publisher=Columbia Missourian | last=Zagier | first=Alan Scher | date=November 10, 2005 | access-date=January 1, 2008}} both for medical and recreational use at the municipal level, though the scope of the latter of the two cannabis ordinances has since been restricted.{{cite web | url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2006/02/21/city-council-revises-pot-ordinance/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20080112054254/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2006/02/21/city-council-revises-pot-ordinance/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 12, 2008 | title=City Council revises pot ordinance | publisher=Columbia Missourian | last=Hammes | first=Joanie |date=February 21, 2006 | access-date=January 1, 2008}} The city is one of only four in the state to offer medical benefits to same-sex partners of city employees.{{cite web | url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2006/12/19/council-oks-benefits-for-domestic-partners/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20080112054304/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2006/12/19/council-oks-benefits-for-domestic-partners/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 12, 2008 | title=Council Oks Benefits for Domestic Partners | publisher=Columbia Missourian | last=Salazar | first=Anne | date=December 19, 2006 | access-date=January 1, 2008}} The new health plan extends health benefits to unmarried heterosexual domestic partners of city employees.

On October 10, 2006, the city council approved an ordinance to prohibit smoking in public places, including restaurants and bars. The ordinance was passed over protest, and several amendments to the ordinance reflect this.{{cite web | url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2006/10/10/smoking-ban-passes/ | title=Smoking Ban Passes | publisher=Columbia Missourian | date=October 10, 2006 | access-date=January 1, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120727065323/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2006/10/10/smoking-ban-passes/ | archive-date=July 27, 2012 | df=mdy-all }} Over half of residents possess at least a bachelor's degree,{{cite web | url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=Columbia&_cityTown=Columbia&_state=04000US29&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010 | title=American Factfinder Columbia, Missouri | work=United States Census Bureau | access-date=January 1, 2008 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20200211180209/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=Columbia&_cityTown=Columbia&_state=04000US29&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010 | archive-date=February 11, 2020 | url-status=dead }} while over a quarter hold a graduate degree.{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/top25s/educated.html |title=Money's best places to live – most educated |work=Money Magazine |access-date=January 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511115112/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/top25s/educated.html |archive-date=May 11, 2012 }} Columbia is the 13th most-highly educated municipality in the United States.

In February 2024, the Columbia City Council voted to legally make and declare the entire city a safe haven for transgender people and cisgender homosexuals.{{cite web | url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/02/this-city-just-declared-itself-a-safe-haven-for-lgbtq-people/ | title=This city just declared itself a safe haven for LGBTQ+ people | date=February 22, 2024 }}

Almost all of the Columbia city limits, and much of the surrounding area, lies within the Columbia Public School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st29_mo/schooldistrict_maps/c29019_boone/DC20SD_C29019.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Boone County, MO|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2023-07-19}} The district enrolled more than 18,000 students and had a budget of $281 million for the 2019–20 school year.{{cite web|url=https://www.cpsk12.org/cms/lib/MO01909752/Centricity/Domain/84/2019-20%20Budget.pdf|title=Columbia Public Schools 2019-20 Budget|work=Columbia Public Schools|access-date=January 3, 2020|archive-date=July 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712170634/https://www.cpsk12.org/cms/lib/MO01909752/Centricity/Domain/84/2019-20%20Budget.pdf|url-status=dead}}

95.4% of adults age 25 and older in the city have a high school diploma. In 2022, Columbia Public Schools recorded a 67.7% attendance rate, lower than the state average of 76.2%.{{Cite web |last=Abovyan |first=Kristina |date=July 19, 2023 |title=CPS records the lowest attendance rate among students in a decade |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/k12_education/cps-records-the-lowest-attendance-rate-among-students-in-a-decade/article_e389c9f6-25fd-11ee-a595-d7e3cdcb452f.html |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=www.columbiamissourian.com}} Last year's graduation rate for the class of 2022 was 90%, while the class of 2021's graduation rate was reported at 89%. According to statewide numbers for 2022, Missouri's overall graduation rate was 91.16%.{{Cite web |last=Landwehr |first=Abby |date=May 20, 2023 |title=Over 1,300 seniors graduate from Columbia Public Schools |url=https://abc17news.com/news/education/2023/05/20/over-1300-seniors-graduate-from-columbia-public-schools/#:~:text=Also%20according%20to%20that%20plan,rate%20was%20reported%20at%2089%25. |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=abc17news.com}} The Columbia school district operates four public high schools which cover grades 9–12: David H. Hickman High School, Rock Bridge High School, Muriel Battle High School, and Frederick Douglass High School. Rock Bridge is one of two Missouri high schools to receive a silver medal by U.S. News & World Report, putting it in the Top 3% of all high schools in the nation.{{cite web | url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Dec/20071203News005.asp | archive-url=https://archive.today/20071208015917/http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Dec/20071203News005.asp | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 8, 2007 | title=Rock Bridge gains national recognition | work=Columbia Daily Tribune | last=Heavin | first=Janese | date=December 3, 2007 | access-date=January 9, 2008}} Hickman has been on Newsweek magazine's list of Top 1,300 schools in the country for the past three years and has more named presidential scholars than any other public high school in the US. There are also several private high schools located in the city, including Christian Fellowship School, Columbia Independent School, Heritage Academy, Christian Chapel Academy, and Tolton High School.{{cite web| last =Braden| first =Jonathon| title =Catholic high has a name as donations still sought| url =http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/oct/03/catholic-high-has-a-name-as-donations-still-sought/| access-date =10 March 2009| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120307080646/http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/oct/03/catholic-high-has-a-name-as-donations-still-sought/| archive-date =March 7, 2012| df =mdy-all}}

CPS also manages seven middle schools: Jefferson, West, Oakland, Gentry, Smithton, Lange, and John Warner.{{Cite web |title=MIDDLE Schools - Columbia Public Schools |url=https://www.cpsk12.org/middle-schools |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=www.cpsk12.org |language=en-US}} John Warner Middle School first opened for the 2020/21 school year.{{Cite web |last=Bower |first=Julia |date=2020-07-12 |title=John Warner Middle School set to open with latest in technology and security |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/k12_education/john-warner-middle-school-set-to-open-with-latest-in-technology-and-security/article_96bb8c62-c382-11ea-8e4d-b7e63336f170.html |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Columbia Missourian |language=en}}

A very small portion of the city limits is in Hallsville R-IV School District. The sole high school of that district is Hallsville High School.

The United States census estimated that 55.3% of adults ages 25 and up in Columbia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Columbia city, Missouri |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/columbiacitymissouri/AGE295222 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}} While only 31.2% of Missourians hold a bachelor's degree.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Missouri |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/MO/PST045223 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}

The city has three institutions of higher education: the University of Missouri, Stephens College, and Columbia College,{{Cite web |title=Schools and Colleges |url=https://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/index.asp?search=1&State=MO&city=Columbia&zipcode=&miles=&itemname=&College=1&CS=E7149D66 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=nces.ed.gov}} all of which surround Downtown Columbia. The city is the headquarters of the University of Missouri System,{{Cite web |title=Contact Information {{!}} University of Missouri System |url=https://www.umsystem.edu/president/contact |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=www.umsystem.edu}} which operates campuses in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Rolla. Moberly Area Community College, Central Methodist University, and William Woods University as well as operates satellite campuses in Columbia.{{Cite web |title=About the University of Missouri System {{!}} University of Missouri System |url=https://www.umsystem.edu/about-us |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=www.umsystem.edu}}

The Columbia Transit provides public bus and para-transit service, and is owned and operated by the city. In 2008, 1,414,400 passengers boarded along the system's six fixed routes and nine University of Missouri shuttle routes, and 27,000 boarded the Para-transit service.{{cite web|url=http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/Transportation/about-transit.php|title=Home - Public Works|website=Public Works|access-date=June 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115211039/http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/Transportation/about-transit.php|archive-date=January 15, 2009|url-status=dead}} The system is constantly experiencing growth in service and technology. A $3.5 million project to renovate and expand the Wabash Station, a rail depot built in 1910 and converted into the city's transit center in the mid-1980s, was completed in summer of 2007.{{cite web | url=http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2007/10/17/moving-greyhound-services-wabash-still-major-goal-/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20080202084514/http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2007/10/17/moving-greyhound-services-wabash-still-major-goal-/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 2, 2008 | title=Moving Greyhound services to Wabash still a major goal for City Council | publisher=Columbia Missourian | last=Latzko | first=Laura | date=October 17, 2007 | access-date=January 9, 2008}}{{cite web | url=http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/Transportation/wabash-station.php | title=Historic Wabash Station Renovation | work=Columbia Public Works | access-date=July 19, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317012225/http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/Transportation/wabash-station.php | archive-date=March 17, 2009 | url-status=dead }} In 2007, a Transit Master Plan was created to address the future transit needs of the city and county with a comprehensive plan to add infrastructure in three key phases. The five to 15-year plan intends to add service along the southwest, southeast and northeast sections of Columbia and develop alternative transportation models for Boone County.{{cite web |url=http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/Transportation/documents/transitmasterplan2007.pdf |title=COMO Connect |publisher=Gocolumbiamo.com |date=2015-03-30 |access-date=2016-03-22 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The city is served by Columbia Regional Airport.{{Cite web |title=Columbia Regional Airport |url=https://www.flycou.com/ |access-date=April 30, 2025 |website=FlyCOU}} The closest rail station is Jefferson City station, in the state capital Jefferson City.{{Cite web |title=Jefferson City, MO (JEF) {{!}} Amtrak |url=https://www.amtrak.com/stations/jef |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.amtrak.com |language=en}}

Columbia is also known for its MKT Trail, a 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 for running and biking. Columbia also is preparing to embark on construction of several new bike paths and street bike lanes thanks to a $25 million grant from the federal government.{{cite web | url=http://www.pednet.org/newsFederalAward.html | title=$25 Million of Federal Funding for Columbia's Bike/Ped Network | publisher=PedNet Coalition | date=July 28, 2005 | access-date=January 1, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080222064635/http://www.pednet.org/newsFederalAward.html |archive-date = February 22, 2008|url-status=dead}} The city is also served by American Airlines at the Columbia Regional Airport, the only commercial airport in mid-Missouri.

I-70 (concurrent with US 40) and US 63 are the two main freeways used for travel to and from Columbia. Within the city, there are also three state highways: Routes 763 (Rangeline Street & College Avenue), 163 (Providence Road), and 740 (Stadium Boulevard).{{Cite web |title=MoDOT Routes |url=https://www.como.gov/public-works/street-division/comosnow/modot-routes/ |access-date=April 30, 2025 |website=Columbia Missouri - Official Governemnt Website}}

Rail service is provided by the city-owned Columbia Terminal Railroad (COLT), which runs from the north side of Columbia to Centralia and a connection to the Norfolk Southern Railway.{{Cite web |title=City of Columbia - Official Government Website |url=https://www.como.gov/utilities/columbia-colt-railroad/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330020645/https://www.como.gov/utilities/columbia-colt-railroad/ |archive-date=March 30, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.como.gov |language=en-US |url-status=live }}

File:Muhospital.JPG is the main hospital of the MU Health Care System, and it is the largest hospital in Columbia.|alt=Photograph of the University of Missouri Hospital]]

Health care is a big part of Columbia's economy, with nearly one in six people working in a health-care related profession{{cite web | url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/OurTown/071.asp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203202556/http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/OurTown/071.asp | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 3, 2008 | title=Hospitals offer a vital indicator of fiscal health | publisher=Columbia Daily Tribune | date=June 17, 2007 | access-date=January 8, 2008}}{{cite web | url=http://www.avapl.org/training/Columbia/columbia.htm | title=The Columbia Area | publisher=Missouri Health Sciences Psychology Consortium | access-date=January 9, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080220185630/http://www.avapl.org/training/Columbia/columbia.htm |archive-date = February 20, 2008|url-status=dead}} and a physician density that is about three times the United States average.{{cite web|url=http://www.academyhealth.org/2006/612/arahoa.ppt |format=PPT |title=Physician Migration to the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia |publisher=Academy Health |access-date=January 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910085314/http://www.academyhealth.org/2006/612/arahoa.ppt |archive-date=September 10, 2008 }}{{cite web | url=http://chamber.columbia.mo.us/community/profile.asp?Medical | title=Community Profile | publisher=Columbia Chamber of Commerce | access-date=January 9, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080203135323/http://chamber.columbia.mo.us/community/profile.asp?Medical |archive-date = February 3, 2008|url-status=dead}} The city's hospitals and supporting facilities are a large referral center for the state, and medical related trips to the city are common.{{cite web | url=http://chamber.columbia.mo.us/community/healthcare.asp?HealthCare | title=Health Care | publisher=Columbia Chamber of Commerce | access-date=January 8, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080209060946/http://chamber.columbia.mo.us/community/healthcare.asp?HealthCare |archive-date = February 9, 2008|url-status=dead}} There are three hospital systems within the city and five hospitals with a total of 1,105 beds.

File:Boone hospital main.jpg is the second largest hospital in Columbia and is the largest private hospital in Boone County.|alt=Photograph of Boone Hospital Center from a parking lot]]

The University of Missouri Health Care operates three hospitals in Columbia: the University of Missouri Hospital, the University of Missouri Women's and Children's Hospital (formerly Columbia Regional Hospital), and the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.{{Cite web |title=Locations {{!}} MU Health Care |url=https://www.muhealth.org/locations |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.muhealth.org}} Boone Hospital Center was administered by BJC Healthcare, but separated in 2021.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-01 |title=Boone Health Becomes Independent Health Care Provider - Boone Health |url=https://boone.health/about-us/boone-health-becomes-independent-health-care-provider/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |language=en-US}} The Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, adjacent to University Hospital, is administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital {{!}} VA Columbia Missouri health care |url=https://www.va.gov/columbia-missouri-health-care/locations/harry-s-truman-memorial-veterans-hospital/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Veterans Affairs |language=en}}

There are a large number of medical-related industries in Columbia. The University of Missouri School of Medicine uses university-owned facilities as teaching hospitals. The University of Missouri Research Reactor Center is the largest research reactor in the United States and produces radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine.{{cite web | url=http://www.missourilifesciences.org/location.php?id=9 | title=Universities | publisher=The Missouri Life Sciences Project | access-date=January 8, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070808033347/http://www.missourilifesciences.org/location.php?id=9 |archive-date = August 8, 2007}} The center serves as the sole supplier of the active ingredients in two U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved radiopharmaceuticals and produces Fluorine-18 used in PET imaging with its cyclotron.{{cite web | url=http://research.missouri.edu/news/stories/061124_murr.htm | title=MU Research Reactor Submits 20-year License Renewal Application | publisher=MU News Bureau | date=November 24, 2006 | access-date=January 1, 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217010603/http://research.missouri.edu/news/stories/061124_murr.htm | archive-date=December 17, 2007 | df=mdy-all }}

In accordance with the Columbia Sister Cities Program, which operates in conjunction with Sister Cities International, Columbia has been paired with five international sister cities in an attempt to foster cross-cultural understanding:{{cite web| url=http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Sister_Cities/| title=Columbia's Sister Cities| work=The City of Columbia| access-date=January 1, 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002035/http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Sister_Cities/| archive-date=September 28, 2007| df=mdy-all}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-1-of-3}}

• {{flagdeco|GEO}} Kutaisi, Georgia
• {{flagdeco|JPN}} Hakusan, Ishikawa, Japan

{{Col-2-of-3}}

• {{flagdeco|ROU}} Sibiu, Romania
• {{flagdeco|ROK}} Suncheon, South Jeolla, South Korea

{{Col-3-of-3}}

• {{flagdeco|PRC}} Laoshan, Shandong, China
• {{flagdeco|COL}} Armenia, Quindío, Colombia

{{Col-end}}

[https://Como.gov City of Columbia - Official Government Website]

• List of people from Columbia, Missouri
• History of the University of Missouri
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Boone County, Missouri
• USS Columbia (SSN-771)
• The Big Tree

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• Stephens, E. W. (1875) "History of Boone County." An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Boone County, Missouri. Philadelphia: Edwards Brothers
• {{Cite book|last=Switzler|first=William F.|date=1882|title=History of Boone County|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lns_AAAAYAAJ&q=History+of+BOone+County,+Missouri|location=St. Louis, Missouri|publisher=Western Historical Company|page=|oclc=2881554|author-link=William Franklin Switzler}}
• {{Cite book|last=Gentry|first=North Todd|author-link=North Todd Gentry|title=The Bench and Bar of Boone County: Including the History of Judges, Lawyers, and Courts, and an Account of Noted Cases, Slavery Litigation, Lawyers in War Times, Public Addresses, Political Notes, Etc|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k1kWAAAAYAAJ|date=1916|publisher=E.W. Stephens Publishing Company|oclc=205808}}
• {{Cite book|last=Havig|first=Alan R.|title=From southern village to Midwestern city : an illustrated history of Columbia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ji7hAAAACAAJ|date=1984|publisher=Windsor Publications|location=Woodland Hills, California|isbn=9780897811385}}
• {{Cite book|last=Crighton|first=John C.|title=A History of Columbia and Boone County|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_jfnGAAACAAJ|date=1987|location=Columbia, Missouri|publisher=Computer Color-Graphics|oclc=16960014}}
• Sapp, David (2000) "Boone County Chronicles" Columbia: Boone County Historical Society
• Brownlee, Richard S. 1956 The Big Moniteau Bluff Pictographs in Boone County, MO. Missouri Archaeologist 18(4): 49–54
• {{cite book|last=Paten|first=Marty|title=The Columbia Branch Railroad: A Chronological History of the Short Line Railroad from Centralia, Missouri to Columbia, Missouri|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OFSIMwEACAAJ|date=2012|location=Columbia, Missouri|publisher=HAGR Publishing|isbn=978-0-615-52810-6}}
• {{Cite book|last=Daniels|first=Francis Potter|title=The Flora of Columbia, Missouri and Vicinity: An Ecological and Systematic Study of a Local Flora|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lLUYAAAAYAAJ|location=Columbia, Missouri|publisher=University of Missouri|date=1907|oclc=69404603}}
• {{Cite book|author1=Hunt, Doug|title=The Lynching of James Scott and the Trial of George Barkwell|page=|year=2010|publisher=The author |isbn=9781453611852|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Be2dSgAACAAJ}}
• {{Cite book|author1=Hunt, Doug|title=Black and White Justice in Little Dixie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AS7ytgAACAAJ|page=|year=2010|publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=9781460911037}}
• {{Cite book|author1=Batterson, Jack A.|title=Blind Boone, Missouri's Ragtime Pioneer|page=|year=1998|publisher=University of Missouri Press|location=Columbia, Missouri|isbn=0826211984|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uSSey_EChjoC}}
• {{cite book|last=Stephens|first=Frank F.|date=1965|title=History of the Missouri Methodist Church|location=Columbia, Missouri|publisher=Missouri United Methodist Church|page=|isbn= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5BrrAAAAMAAJ|oclc=1144689380|author-link=}}
• {{cite book|last=Dains|first=Mary K.|date=1996|title=Guided by the Hand of God: The History of First Christian Church Columbia, MIssouri 1832-1996|location=Columbia, Missouri|publisher=First Christian Church|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PQLnAAAAMAAJ|isbn=}}
• {{cite book|last=Batterson|first=Paulina A.|title=Columbia College: 150 Years of Courage, Commitment, and Change|date=2001|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4HTGLLZjCJcC|location=Columbia, Missouri|publisher=University of Missouri Press|isbn=9780826213242}}
• {{cite book|last=Hale|first=Allean Lemmon|title=Petticoat Pioneer: The Christian College Story 1851-1951|date=1956|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2cRPAQAAMAAJ|location=Columbia, Missouri|publisher=Artcraft Press|isbn=}}
• {{cite book|last=Crighton|first=John Clarke|title=Stephens: A Story of Educational Innovation|date=1970|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R2o8AAAAIAAJ|location=Columbia, Missouri|publisher=American Press|isbn=}}
• {{cite book|last=Stephens|first=Frank Fletcher|title=A History of the University of Missouri|year=1962|publisher=University of Missouri Press|location=Columbia, Missouri|isbn=9781258386566|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CkhXAAAAMAAJ}}
• {{cite book|last=Olsen|first=James and Vera|year=1988|title=The University of Missouri An Illustrated History|location=Columbia, Missouri|publisher=University of Missouri Press|page=|isbn=9780826206787|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OTWfAAAAMAAJ}}
• Viles, Jonas The University of Missouri, 1839–1939, E.W. Stephens Publishing Company
• {{Cite book|author1=Budds, Michael|title=100 Years of Music-Making at Mizzou|year=2018|publisher=University of Missouri School of Music|location=Columbia, Missouri|isbn=9780692987322|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ayRswEACAAJ|ref={{sfnRef|Budds|2018}}}}
• {{Cite book|author1=Ellis, Elmer|title=My Road to Emeritus|year=1989|publisher=State Historical Society of Missouri|location=Columbia, Missouri|isbn=0962289116|url=}}
• {{Cite book|last=Quarles|first=James Thomas|author-link=James Thomas Quarles|title=University of Missouri Songs|year=1924|edition=1|publisher=Curators of the University of Missouri|location=Columbia, Missouri|oclc=19229550|url= https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/29823244}}

{{Sister project links|voy=Columbia (Missouri)|Columbia, Missouri}}

• [http://www.como.gov Official city government website]
• [http://www.visitcolumbiamo.com Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau]
• [http://www.columbiamochamber.com Columbia Chamber of Commerce]
• Historic maps of Columbia in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138760 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023064521/http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu:138760 |date=October 23, 2017 }} at the University of Missouri

{{Columbia, Missouri}}

{{Missouri county seats}}

{{Boone County, Missouri}}

{{Missouri}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Good article}}

Category:Cities in Missouri

Category:Cities in Boone County, Missouri

Category:Populated places established in 1821

Category:County seats in Missouri

Category:Columbia metropolitan area (Missouri)

Category:Busking venues

Category:Academic enclaves

Category:1821 establishments in Missouri