Columbia is the capital of
the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 as of
the 2020 U.S. Census, it is the second-largest city in South Carolina.
The city serves as the county seat of Richland County, and a portion
of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. It is the center
of the Columbia metropolitan statistical area, which had a population
of 829,470 and is the 72nd-largest metropolitan statistical area in
the nation. The name Columbia is a poetic term used for the United States,
derived from the name of Christopher Columbus, who explored for the
Spanish Crown. Columbia is often abbreviated as Cola, leading to its
nickname as "Soda City." |
