| The City of Columbia was founded in 1818 and is an | | | | Boone Hospital Center, City of Columbia, State Farm |
| economical and recreational core for Mid-Missouri. | | | | Insurance Companies, Shelter Insurance Companies, |
| Columbia is located along Hwy 70 and Hwy 63 and is | | | | MBS Textbook Exchange, Columbia Foods Inc, 3M, |
| 90 minutes west of St. Louis, Missouri and two hours | | | | Boone County Government, Dana Corporation, |
| east of Kansas City, Missouri. As of 2006, Columbia's | | | | Columbia College, Square D, Boone County National |
| population was 91,877 and the combined population, | | | | Bank, Tribune Publishing Company, Collins & Aikman, |
| which includes the surrounding area, was 153,283. The | | | | MFA, Summit Polymers, ABC Laboratories Inc., and |
| city has been ranked as high as the #2 best place to | | | | CenturyTel. |
| live in the US by Money Magazine and is regularly | | | | The city offers a rich exploration of culture, |
| listed in the top 100. | | | | entertainment, recreation, dining, and shopping. The |
| Making Columbia, Missouri a major educational center | | | | District is Columbia's most sought after venue, |
| are many colleges and universities including the | | | | boasting 110 unique shops, 70 bars and restaurants, |
| University of Missouri, Stephen's College, Moberly | | | | 40 live performances a week as well as its beautiful |
| Area Community College and Columbia College. Also | | | | historical architecture, sidewalk cafes and street |
| nearby are Lincoln University, Westminster College, | | | | musicians. |
| Central Methodist College, William Woods University | | | | Residents and visitors alike enjoy the cultural |
| and Kemper Military School. The city's nationally | | | | experiences given by the Missouri Symphony at The |
| recognized public school system and educational | | | | Missouri Theatre, the Columbia Civic Orchestra and |
| institutes make Columbia one of the most | | | | the University of Missouri Concert Series, which has a |
| well-educated cities in America. | | | | broad selection of opera, ballet, orchestra, chamber, |
| Columbia, Missouri maintains a consistently low cost | | | | jazz, popular, modern dance, Broadway and more. |
| of living and has endless employment opportunities. | | | | The city's famous Maplewood Barn Theatre is a |
| The largest employers to Columbia and the city's | | | | delightful outdoor theatre set under the stars at |
| surrounding area are University of Missouri- Columbia, | | | | Nifong Park near HWY 63 and AC. |
| University Hospitals & Clinics, Columbia Public Schools, | | | | |