C h a n g e  o f  A d d r e s s USPS Online Address Change C o u n t y Richland   A r e a   C o d e 803 G e o g r a p h y Columbia, the state capital, is located in the central section of South Carolina at the confluence of the Broad, Saluda and Congaree Rivers. The Columbia Metropolitan Area includes Richland and Lexington Counties. Fort Jackson, a United States Army Training Center, is located just east of Columbia. Terrain of this area varies from level to rolling. Topographic features, in addition to the Broad, Saluda and Congaree Rivers, are several smaller rivers, Lake Murray, Garys Lake, Forest Lake and Lake Katherine. Average elevation is 260 feet above sea level. C l i m a t e Mild. Average temperatures range from 22°F to 92°F. Average annual precipitation totals two inches of snowfall and 47 inches of rainfall. Average relative humidity ranges from 45% to 55%. P o p u l a t i o n City: 104,000 County: 286,000 G o v e r n m e n t City - Council/Manager/Mayor County - Council/Administrator County Seat - Columbia Information about city and county government policies and procedures can be obtained from: Columbia City Hall - 1737 Main Street, Columbia 29201, 733-8300 - City Info Line, 733-8200 - City Hall Operator Richland County Administration Office - 2020 Hampton Street, Columbia 29204, 748-4616 T a x e s Property tax rates may fluctuate yearly and vary according to location of residence. For information contact the County Tax Assessor's Office, phone 343-5300. L i c e n s e s State auto and driver licenses may be obtained from: State Public Safety Department - Division of Motor Vehicles Main Office - 955 Park Street, Columbia 29201, 737-1767 - General Motor Vehicle Info Line, 251-2960 - Vehicle Registration Information Branch Office - 1630 Shop Road, Columbia 29201, 253-4028 Pets - The community has dog control and licensing ordinances. For information contact the City Animal Control Office, phone 776-PETS (7387). E c o n o m y   &   E m p l o y m e n t The local economy is primarily based on government and educational employment, manufacturing, trade, transportation, utilities, construction, finance, real estate, insurance and the service industries. For current information about employment opportunities in the area, contact: State Employment Security Commission - Job Service Office, 700 Taylor Street, Columbia 29201, 737-9935 H o u s i n g Because the availability and cost of homes and apartments change constantly, it is advisable to check the classified columns of the local newspaper, particularly the Sunday editions, for current information. Or, contact the following for assistance and/or names of realtors: Columbia Association of Realtors - 771-8852 Apartment Association of Greater Columbia - 1122 Lady Street, Columbia 29201, 252-5032 Columbia Chamber of Commerce - 930 Richland Street, Columbia 29201, 733-1110, web site address - www.columbiachamber.com U t i l i t i e s Water & Refuse - City of Columbia, Water -733-8285, Refuse - 733-8456 Gas & Electric - South Carolina Electric & Gas Company - 799-9000 Phone - BellSouth - 780-2355 - In State, 800-336-0014 - Outside State Cable - Time Warner Cable - 252-2253 E d u c a t i o n Elementary and secondary public school information may be obtained from: Richland County School District 1 - Administrative Services, 1616 Richland Street, Columbia 29201, 733-6000 Special Education Department - 1225 Oak Street, Columbia 29204, 733-6130 Richland County School District 2 - Administrative Offices, 6831 Brookfield Road, Columbia 29206, 787-1910 Colleges/Universities Public Midlands Technical College (4 campuses) - 738-8324 - Student Information Center University of South Carolina - 777-7000 Private Allen University (254-4165), Benedict College (256-4220), Columbia College (786-3012), Columbia International University (754-4100), Columbia Junior College (799-9082) and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (786-5150). B a n k s The community has 11 banks with a number of branches and one savings bank. In order to transfer credit information, ask your present banker for assistance. New checking accounts may take ten working days to open. Grocery stores will not cash out-of-town checks. New residents may need traveler's checks, cash and/or credit cards. P l a c e s   o f   W o r s h i p The community has three synagogues and numerous churches representing a variety of denominations. Information concerning them may be obtained from: Columbia Chamber of Commerce - 930 Richland Street, Columbia 29101, 733-1110, web site address - www.columbiachamber.com N e w s p a p e r s The local daily newspaper is The State (mornings). To arrange home delivery, contact: The State Newspaper - 1401 Shop Road, Columbia 29201, 771-8380 There are also several weekly and special interest publications available in the area. L i b r a r y Richland County Main Public Library - 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia 29201, 799-9084 Branch libraries in Columbia include: North Main Branch - 5306 North Main Street, 754-7734 Northeast Regional Branch - 7490 Parklane Road, 736-6575 Sandhills Branch - 1 Summit Parkway, 699-9230 Southeast Regional Branch - 7421 Garners Ferry Road, 776-0855 St. Andrews Regional Branch - 2916 Broad River Road, 772-6675 Wheatley Branch - 931 Woodrow Street, 799-5873 M e d i c a l   C a r e Local hospitals include Palmetto Baptist Medical Center, Dorn Veterans Hospital, Providence Hospital, Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital and Children's Hospital of Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital. Lexington Medical Center is located in West Columbia. For assistance in selecting a family doctor, contact: Columbia Medical Society - 1214 Henderson Street, Columbia 29201, 765-1498 For Medicare information, contact: Social Security Administration - 1835 Assembly Street, Columbia 29201, 929-7635, 800-772-1213 O r g a n i z a t i o n s A listing of local organizations can usually be obtained from the local chamber of commerce, the phone book, or your present chapter can usually refer you to the local organization in your in your new city. C u l t u r e Columbia is home to numerous historic sites, performing arts groups and cultural attractions. Among the performing art groups are the Columbia Choral Society, South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, Columbia City Ballet, Columbia Classical Ballet, Greater Columbia Children's Choir, South Carolina Shakespeare Company, The Actors' Theatre of South Carolina, Columbia Stage Society/Town Theatre and performances sponsored by the local colleges and universities. For additional information about cultural groups and events in the Columbia area, contact the Cultural Council of Richland & Lexington Counties, phone 799-3115, web site address - www.columbiasc.com. A few of the museums and historic sites in Columbia are the Archives Building, Robert Mills Historic House & Park, Woodrow Wilson's Boyhood Home, Columbia Museum of Art, South Carolina State Museum, Criminal Justice Hall of Fame, McKissick Museum, Columbia Fire Department Museum, Confederate Relic Room & Museum and Governor's Green & Governor's Mansion. Among the area's annual events are the Carolina Craftsmen's Spring Classic (March), Taste of Columbia at Riverbanks (April), South Carolina Poultry Festival (May), Fourth of July Family Celebration, South Carolina State Fair (October), Columbia Veterans Day Parade (November) and Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade (December). R e c r e a t i o n A number of recreational opportunities are available in Columbia and the surrounding area. Among the facilities operated by the City Recreation Department are 33 parks, ten neighborhood centers, six community centers, two art centers, a senior citizens center, tennis courts and a tennis center, two nature areas, swimming pools, playgrounds, picnic areas, jogging and walking trails and a variety of athletic, art and craft classes. For information about recreational activities and facilities, contact: City Recreation Department - 1932 Calhoun Street, Columbia 29201, 733-8331 County Recreation Commission - 754-7275 YMCA - 1420 Sumter Street, Columbia 29201, 799-9187 YWCA Columbia - 1735 Devonshire Drive, Columbia 29204, 252-2151 A sampling of the area's recreational opportunities include the Capital City Bombers, a New York Mets minor league baseball team; the University of South Carolina women's basketball and men's basketball and football teams; Finlay Park, covering 17 acres; the Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Gardens, covering 170 acres and featuring more than 2,000 animals; Sesquicentennial State Park, covering 1,445 acres; and Lake Murray, covering 50,000 acres with more than 540 miles of shoreline. S h o p p i n g Major shopping areas, in addition to the downtown shopping district, include City Market Antiques Mall, Columbia Mall, Columbiana Centre Mall, Dutch Square Mall and Richland Mall. Old Mill Antique Mall is located in West Columbia Major Retail Outlets - Allied, Belk, Dillard's, Dollar General, Family Dollar, J.B. White, J.C. Penney, K-Mart, Marshalls, Parisian, Rich's, Sam's Club, Sears Roebuck, Stein Mart, T.J. Maxx, Target and Wal-Mart. Main Grocers - Bi-Lo, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Kroger Sav-On, Kwik Way, The Pantry, Piggly Wiggly, Publix and Winn Dixie. T r a n s p o r t a t i o n Bus transportation is furnished by Columbia City Bus Service; phone 748-3019 for routes, fares and schedules. Taxicabs and rental cars are also available. Interstate passenger service is provided by Greyhound Bus Lines and Amtrak. Southeastern Stages offers bus service from Columbia to five other cities in South Carolina and to Athens, Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah, Georgia. The Columbia Metropolitan Airport, located seven miles southwest of downtown, is served by several commercial airlines. C h a m b e r  o f  C o m m e r c e Columbia Chamber of Commerce - 930 Richland Street, Columbia 29201, 733-1110, web site address - www.columbiachamber.com   A d d i t i o n a l  I n f o r m a t i o n Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau - P.O. Box 15, Columbia 29202, 254-0479, 800-264-4884, web site address - www.columbiasc.net. The Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitors Center is located at 1012 Gervais Street.