Columbia tourist information

Columbia is a city in Boone County, Missouri, USA. The city has an estimated population of 90,947, as of 2006.

The city was founded in 1819. The surrounding Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 151,129, as of 2006. Columbia is located roughly equidistant from St. Louis and Kansas City on Interstate 70.

It has the reputation of combining the quality and culture of larger metropolitan areas with the warm hospitality of the Midwest. Columbia is consistently ranked as one of the top places in the United States to live by publications such as Money Magazine because of its excellent quality of life. The city is also home to the University of Missouri–Columbia, the flagship campus of the University of Missouri System. The city is also home to Stephens College, a traditionally-female college, and Columbia College, which led in the past to Columbia being known by the nickname "College Town USA".

As a whole the city has a very young and active population. The downtown area is self-proclaimed as "Mid-Missouri's cultural and entertainment center, featuring a diversity of restaurants, bars, live music, and independent films." Downtown is also host to many events including the True/False Film Festival, Art in the Park, The Blind Boone Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival, and the Twilight Festivals in June and September. Recently an association of downtown business has initiated a campaign to rename the downtown area to "The District" though this naming has yet to catch on among locals. The population generally supports progressive causes such as the extensive city recycling programs and the decriminalization of marijuana at the municipal level. Politically the city leans to the left, whereas the surrounding rural areas are largely conservative.

Lonely Planet City and Country Guides^{(external sources)}