Columbia, Maryland
Columbia is a community of 104,338 people in Howard County, Maryland, founded in June 21, 1967.
Why visit Columbia
Townapedia lists 33 museums and landmarks, 52 parks and trails, 290 places to eat, 14 places to stay and 10 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, Enchanted Forest, Avondale Mill and Bollman Truss Railroad Bridge.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 89°F; January lows average 26°F.
Weather in Columbia
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Columbia
Columbia is a planned community in Howard County, Maryland, United States, consisting of 10 self-contained villages. With a population of 104,681 at the 2020 census, it is the second-most-populous community in Maryland, after Baltimore. Columbia, located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., is part of the Baltimore metropolitan area and is tracked by the United States Census Bureau as a census-designated place. Columbia proper consists only of territory governed by the Columbia Association, a not-for-profit management company.
From the Wikipedia article Columbia, Maryland (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do10
Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts
Cinema and theater · 2.1 mi
Theater school in Columbia, Maryland, USA
Enchanted Forest
Monument and historic site · 5.5 mi
Former theme park in Maryland
Guilford Quarry Pratt Through Truss Bridge
Bridge · 2.6 mi
Bridge in Guilford, Maryland
Patapsco Swinging Bridge
Bridge · 6.5 mi
Pedestrian suspension bridge in Maryland
Toby's Dinner Theatre
Cinema and theater · 0.5 mi
Dinner theater based in Columbia, Maryland, US
AMC Columbia 14
Cinema and theater · 1.1 mi
10300 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia
Museums and landmarks33
Avondale Mill
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 6.5 mi
United States historic place
Bollman Truss Railroad Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
Historic truss bridge in Savage, Maryland, United States
Brick House on the Pike
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.5 mi
Historic house in Maryland
Burleigh
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.3 mi
Building in Maryland, United States
Commodore Joshua Barney House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Historic house in Maryland, United States
Curtis-Shipley Farmstead
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Building in Maryland, United States
Dorsey Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Building in Maryland, United States
Doughoregan Manor
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.5 mi
Historic house in Maryland, United States
Ellicott City Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.7 mi
Historic district in Maryland, United States
Ellicott City Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.7 mi
Railway station in Ellicott City, the United States of America
Ellicott's Mills Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.8 mi
Historic district in Maryland, United States
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_from_the_overpass_for_Broken_Land_Parkway_in_Columbia,_Howard_County,_Maryland.jpg){kind=link}
_at_Exit_18_(Broken_Land_Parkway,_Columbia_Town_Center,_Oakland_Mills)_in_Columbia,_Howard_County,_Maryland.jpg){kind=link}
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Enniscorthy
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.8 mi
Building in Maryland, United States
21 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds52
Centennial Park
Park · 2.8 mi
Park in Ellicott City, Maryland, United States
Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum
Park · 6.5 mi
A park and museum commemorating free African-American naturalist Benjamin Banneker
Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods
Park · 0.6 mi
Urban park in Columbia, Maryland
Rockburn Branch Park
Park · 5.3 mi
Park in Howard County, Maryland, United States of America
Middle Patuxent Environmental Area
Hiking and trails · 2.7 mi
5795 Old Clarksville Pike, Columbia
40 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes290
Facci
Restaurant · Italian, Pizza · 3.3 mi
Casual restaurant serving delicious Neopolitan wood-fired pizza & classic Italian cuisine.
7530 Montpelier Road, Laurel
Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Ginza of Tokyo
Restaurant · Japanese · 3.3 mi
Japanese steakhouse serving cooked-to-order meats on a hibachi grill, sushi, udon & bento lunches.
7530 Montpelier Road, Laurel
Mo-Th 11:00-14:00, 16:30-21:00; Fr 11:00-14:00, 16:30-22:00; Sa...
Kloby's Smokehouse
Restaurant · Barbecue · 3.3 mi
Restaurant serving finger licking BBQ in a casual dining atmosphere. Pulled pork, beef brisket, ribs, chicken and more!
7500 Montpelier Road, Laurel
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Su 11:00-22:00
La Palapa Too
Restaurant · Mexican · 3.3 mi
A fun, festive, & casual neighborhood Mexican restaurant, serving traditional fare with margaritas, sangria & other drinks.
7500 Montpelier Road, Laurel
Su-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30
Tribos - Peri Peri Chicken
Restaurant · Chicken, Indian, Mediterranean · 3.4 mi
Small italian place
6010 University Boulevard, Ellicott City
Su-We 11:00-21:00; Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Akira Ramen & Izakaya
Restaurant · Japanese, Ramen, Noodle, Sushi · 1.0 mi
10101 Twin Rivers Road, Columbia
Mo-Th 11:30-15:00,17:00-22:00; Fr 11:30-15:00,17:00-22:30; Sa...
Ananda
Restaurant · Fine Dining, Indian · 3.7 mi
7421 Maple Lawn Boulevard, Fulton
Su, Tu-Th 16:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 16:00-23:00
Anegada Delights Caribbean Cuisine
Restaurant · Caribbean · 1.3 mi
9861 Broken Land Parkway, Columbia
Mo-Fr 11:00-14:00, 17:00-20:00
Banditos Tacos & Tequila
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.4 mi
6000 Merriweather Drive, Columbia
Mo-We 15:00-00:00; Th 15:00-02:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-02:00; Su 11:00-00:00
278 more on the map.
Where to stay14
Churches and places of worship39
Christ Church Guilford
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Trinity Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 5.0 mi
Locust United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 1.5 mi
6851 Martin Road, Columbia
Beth Shalom Congregation
Place of worship · 1.6 mi
8070 Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia
Shopping47
Gas and EV charging38
Schools, colleges and libraries105
Healthcare19
Advanced Radiology
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.1 mi
4801 Dorsey Hall Dr #101, Ellicott City
Kaiser Permanente Columbia Gateway Medical Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.3 mi
7070 Samuel Morse Drive, Columbia
Map of Columbia
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 26°F | 3.5 in |
| Feb | 46°F | 28°F | 2.7 in |
| Mar | 55°F | 35°F | 4.2 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 45°F | 3.8 in |
| May | 76°F | 55°F | 4.4 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 64°F | 4.4 in |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.2 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 68°F | 3.8 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 61°F | 4.7 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 50°F | 4.4 in |
| Nov | 57°F | 39°F | 3.5 in |
| Dec | 47°F | 31°F | 3.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Laurel 3 W Hcn (8 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Howard County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-07-02: Severe Storm And Flooding (Flood)
- 2016-09-16: Severe Storm And Flooding (Flood)
- 2016-03-04: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Tipton Airport (FME) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Savage 4 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- Scaggsville 4 mi south, about 7 min by car
- Fulton 4 mi southwest, about 7 min by car
- Ellicott City 5 mi north, about 9 min by car
- North Laurel 5 mi south, about 8 min by car
- Ilchester 5 mi east, about 9 min by car
- Baltimore 15 mi northeast, about 24 min by car
- Washington 22 mi south, about 36 min by car
- Arlington 26 mi southwest, about 42 min by car
- Alexandria 29 mi southwest, about 47 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Aerial View of Columbia, MD, Powerhawk5k, CC0
- 2019-09-03 10 57 42 View south along U.S. Route 29 (Columbia Pike) from the overpass for Broken Land Parkway in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-09-03 10 59 29 View north along U.S. Route 29 (Columbia Pike) from the overpass for Broken Land Parkway in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-08-07 09 04 03 View south along U.S. Route 29 (Columbia Pike) at Exit 18 (Broken Land Parkway, Columbia Town Center, Oakland Mills) in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-09-03 11 03 39 View south along U.S. Route 29 (Columbia Pike) from the overpass for the ramp from northbound U.S. Route 29 to westbound Broken Land Parkway in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-09-03 11 04 27 View north along U.S. Route 29 (Columbia Pike) from the overpass for the ramp from northbound U.S. Route 29 to westbound Broken Land Parkway in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-08-19 17 27 54 View north along U.S. Route 29 (Columbia Pike) at Exit 18 (Broken Land Parkway, Oakland Mills, Owen Brown, Columbia Town Center) in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- New Hope Church - Columbia, Maryland, Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-08-07 09 01 47 View south along U.S. Route 29 (Columbia Pike) at the exit for South Entrance Road (Merriweather Post Pavilion) in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-09-03 11 11 04 View north along U.S. Route 29 (Columbia Pike) from the overpass for the Lake to Lake to Lake Trail in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2019-09-03 11 10 28 View south along U.S. Route 29 (Columbia Pike) from the overpass for the Lake to Lake to Lake Trail in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Curtis-Shipley Farmstead Ellicott City MD Jan 11, Pubdog, Public domain
- Bollman-bridge-1, William E. Barrett, Public domain
- Ellicott City Station 1970, William E. Barrett, Public domain
- Montrose Clarksville MD Jan 11, Pubdog, Public domain
- MacAlpine Ellicott City MD Jan 11, Pubdog, Public domain
- Oella MD row houses, Finin at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5
- South Ellicot City Factory, Nheitjan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Christ Church Guilford Sept 09, Pubdog ( talk ), Public domain
- Brick House on the Pike, Debbieswagner, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Burleigh Ellicott City MD Jan 11, Pubdog, Public domain
- Avondale Mill Site Laurel MD Jan 11, Pubdog, Public domain
- Enniscorthy Ellicott City MD Jan 11, Pubdog, Public domain
- Manor House, Glenelg Country School, Glenelg Country School, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Dorsey Hall Ellicott City MD Jan 11, Pubdog, Public domain
- Doughoregan, Edgar H. Pickering, Public domain
- Temora Ellicott City MD Jan 11, Pubdog, Public domain
- Savage Mill Workers Housing Dec 08, Pubdog ( talk ), Public domain
- Steppermotor7, 1sfoerster, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Steppermotor8, 1sfoerster, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Steppermotor2, 1sfoerster, CC BY-SA 3.0
- AllSteppers, 1sfoerster, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Steppermotor6, 1sfoerster, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Steppermotor1, 1sfoerster, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Steppermotor4a, 1sfoerster, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Steppermotor3, 1sfoerster, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Steppermotor5, 1sfoerster, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chasten Buttigieg at Books in Bloom 2023 (cropped), MyCatIsAChonk, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chasten Buttigieg at Books in Bloom 2023, MyCatIsAChonk, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chasten Buttigieg at Books in Bloom 2023, MyCatIsAChonk, CC BY-SA 4.0
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_at_the_exit_for_South_Entrance_Road_(Merriweather_Post_Pavilion)_in_Columbia,_Howard_County,_Maryland.jpg){kind=link}
_from_the_overpass_for_the_Lake_to_Lake_to_Lake_Trail_in_Columbia,_Howard_County,_Maryland.jpg){kind=link}
_from_the_overpass_for_the_Lake_to_Lake_to_Lake_Trail_in_Columbia,_Howard_County,_Maryland.jpg){kind=link}
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