Columbia is the capital of the U.S. state of South Carolina and the second-most populous city in the state. With an estimated population of 147,035 in 2025, it is the principal city of the Columbia metropolitan area, the second-largest metropolitan area in South Carolina, with an estimated population of 879,918 in 2025. Columbia serves as the county seat of Richland County, while portions of the city extend into neighboring Lexington and Kershaw counties. The city's name derives from "Columbia", a historic poetic personification of the United States, and is commonly shortened to "Cola," inspiring the nickname "Soda City". Located near the geographic center of South Carolina at the fall line, Columbia developed at the confluence of the Broad and Saluda rivers, which form the Congaree River. Established in 1786 as South Carolina's first planned capital city, it has served as the seat of state government for more than two centuries and is home to the South Carolina State House.

Country: United States
State: South Carolina
County: Richland, Lexington, Kershaw
Approved: March 22, 1786
Chartered (town): 1805
Chartered (city): 1854
Named for: Columbia
Mayor: Daniel Rickenmann (R)
Water: 1.68%
Population (2020): 136,632
Estimate (2024): 144,788
Rank: 205th in the United States, 2nd in South Carolina
Urban: 590,407 (US: 74th)
Metro: 858,302 (US: 70th)
Demonym(s): Columbian
Time zone: EST (UTC−5)
Summer (DST): EDT (UTC−4)
ZIP code(s): 29201–29212, 29214–29230, 29240, 29250, 29260, 29290, 29292
FIPS code: 45-16000
GNIS feature ID: 2404107
Website: [columbiasc.gov]
Twitter profile: CityofColumbia
Instagram profile: cityofcolumbiascgov
Facebook profile: CityofColumbia
Youtube channel: UC6-Zkaz4V41CKJRyqTNAzTg
Official Website: https://columbiasc.gov/
Wikidata description: capital city of the U.S. state of South Carolina and seat of Richland County
Wikidata id: Q38453
Wikidata label: Columbia
Wikidata aliases: Array
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