Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is a city of 128,548 people in Boone County, Missouri, founded in 1821.
Why visit Columbia
Townapedia lists 59 museums and landmarks, 90 parks and trails, 238 places to eat, 26 places to stay and 18 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Missouri Theatre, Ragtag Cinema, Frederick Douglass High School and Coca-Cola Bottling Company Building.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 89°F; January lows average 22°F.
Weather in Columbia
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Columbia
Columbia is a city in Boone County, Missouri, United States, and its county seat. It was founded in 1821 and had a population of 126,254 as recorded in the 2020 United States census, making it the fourth-most-populous city in Missouri. Columbia is a Midwestern college town, home to the University of Missouri, a major research institution also known as MU or Mizzou. In addition to the university and surrounding downtown Columbia are Stephens College and Columbia College, giving the city its educational focus and nearly 40,000 college students.
From the Wikipedia article Columbia, Missouri (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do18
University of Missouri
School
Public research university in Columbia, Missouri, USA
3M Wetlands Overlook
Scenic view · 2.1 mi
A covered overlook for the 3M wetlands. A Birder's delight and on the http://greatmissouribirdingtrail.com/Wordpress/home/
6 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks59
Frederick Douglass High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
High school in Columbia, Boone County, Missouri
310 North Providence Road, Columbia
Coca-Cola Bottling Company Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Commercial building in Missouri, United States of America
10 Hitt Street, Columbia
Francis Quadrangle
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic district in Columbia, Missouri
Frederick Apartments
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Apartment building in Columbia, Missouri
1001 University Avenue, Columbia
Hamilton-Brown Shoe Factory
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Columbia, Missouri, United States
1123 Wilkes Boulevard, Columbia
Kress Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Former five and dime store in Columbia, Missouri
1025 East Broadway, Columbia
Samuel H. and Isabel Smith Elkins House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic house in Columbia, Missouri, United States
315 North 10th Street, Columbia
Sanford F. Conley House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Ornate nineteenth century residence in Columbia, Missouri, United States
602 Sanford Street, Columbia
Ballenger Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
29 South 9th Street, Columbia
Central Dairy Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
1104-1106 East Broadway, Columbia
Columbia Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Cemetery in Columbia, Missouri, United States
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Columbia National Guard Armory
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Armory in Missouri, United States of America
47 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds90
Armory Sports & Recreation Center
Sports field and stadium · 0.5 mi
701 East Ash Street, Columbia
Mo-Fr 08:00-17:00
Albert Oakland Park
Park · 2.6 mi
Park in Missouri, United States of America
Cosmo Park
Park · 2.7 mi
Park in Missouri, United States of America, United States of America
78 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes238
Cafe Poland
Cafe · Polish, Coffee Shop
807 Locust Street, Columbia
Th 11:00-15:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-20:00; Su 11:00-19:00
China Garden
Restaurant · Chinese, Buffet · 2.4 mi
3420 Clark Lane, Columbia
Mo 11:00-21:30; Tu 11:00-21:30; We 11:00-21:30; Th 11:00-21:30; Fr...
Irene's
Restaurant · Barbecue, Mexican, Tex-Mex, Caribbean · 0.8 mi
711 North College Street, Columbia
Tu 16:00-21:00; We-Fr 11:00-21:00, Sa 10:00-21:00
Lakota Coffee Company South
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.2 mi
3111 Green Meadows Way, Columbia
Mo-Su 06:00-22:00
Le Bao Asian Eatery
Restaurant · Asian, Ramen · 0.5 mi
1009 Park Avenue, Columbia
Tu-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-20:30
Murry's
Diner · American · 2.2 mi
3107 Green Meadows Way, Columbia
Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00
Ocha Noodles and Ramen
Restaurant · Ramen · 2.5 mi
1101 Grindstone Parkway, Columbia
Mo-Sa 10:30-20:30; Su 12:00-20:00
Pasta La Fata
Restaurant · Italian · 0.7 mi
1207 Rogers Street, Columbia
Tu-Fr 11:00-19:00; Sa-Su 10:00-15:00
Shawarma Star At The Syrian Kitchen
Restaurant · Mediterranean · 1.6 mi
600 Business Loop 70 West
We-Mo 11:00-21:00
226 more on the map.
History
Columbia's origins begin with the settlement of American pioneers from Kentucky and Virginia in an early 1800s region known as the Boonslick. Before 1815, settlement in the region was confined to small log forts due to the threat of Native American attack during the War of 1812. When the war ended, settlers came on foot, horseback, and wagon, often moving entire households along the Boone's Lick Road and often bringing enslaved African Americans. By 1818, the increased population clearly would necessitate a new county be created from territorial Howard County. The Moniteau Creek on the west and Cedar Creek on the east were obvious natural boundaries.
From the History section of Columbia, Missouri on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay26
Comfort Suites Columbia - University Area
Motel and hotel · 2.0 mi
1010 West Business Loop 70, Columbia
Hampton Inn & Suites Columbia (at the University of Missouri)
Motel and hotel · 0.9 mi
1225 Fellow's Place Boulevard, Columbia
Churches and places of worship38
First Christian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
101 North 10th Street, Columbia
Missouri United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · National Register of Historic Places
204 South 9th Street, Columbia
Second Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
407 East Broadway, Columbia
Second Christian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
401 North 5th Street, Columbia
St. Paul A.M.E. Church
Church · African Methodist Episcopal · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
501 Park Avenue, Columbia
Columbia Institute of Religion
Church · The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints
Shopping51
Gas and EV charging25
Schools, colleges and libraries65
Healthcare22
Sweet Previews 3D Ultrasound
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.5 mi
3600 Interstate 70 Drive Southeast, Columbia
Map of Columbia
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 22°F | 2.4 in | 5.9 in |
| Feb | 45°F | 26°F | 2.3 in | 4.8 in |
| Mar | 56°F | 36°F | 3.2 in | 2.0 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 46°F | 4.8 in | 0.3 in |
| May | 76°F | 56°F | 5.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 65°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 88°F | 67°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 59°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 47°F | 3.5 in | 0.1 in |
| Nov | 55°F | 36°F | 3.0 in | 0.8 in |
| Dec | 44°F | 27°F | 2.2 in | 3.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Columbia U Of M (0 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
Boone County has had 21 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2021-09-01: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-07-09: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2017-06-02: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding (Flood)
- 2016-01-02: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Sugar Branch Airport (MU32) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Wabash Station map
- Ashland 10 mi southeast, about 17 min by car
- Hallsville 13 mi northeast, about 21 min by car
- Harrisburg 15 mi northwest, about 24 min by car
- Sturgeon 20 mi north, about 32 min by car
- New Bloomfield 20 mi southeast, about 33 min by car
- Fulton 21 mi east, about 34 min by car
- Centralia 21 mi northeast, about 34 min by car
- Boonville 23 mi west, about 36 min by car
- Holts Summit 24 mi southeast, about 38 min by car
- Jefferson City 27 mi south, about 44 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
- CoMoSkyline3, Me5000 at English Wikipedia, Public domain
- Columbia Missourian headquarters, Marcus Qwertyus, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Columbia, MO) - exterior, front, Nheyob, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Tiger Hotel Entrance, Columbia, Missouri - panoramio, VoyagerMU, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Columbia hall Stephens college, User:Grey Wanderer, CC BY-SA 3.0
- FrederickDouglassHighSchool, HornColumbia, CC0
- FirstChristianChurchColumbiaMissouri, HornColumbia, CC0
- StPaulAME, HornColumbia, CC0
- Frederick building CoMo, User:Grey Wanderer, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kress Building Columbia Missouri, Sesamehoneytart, CC BY-SA 4.0
- SecondChristianChurchColumbia, HornColumbia, CC0
- Mizzou Jesse, Unknown author, Public domain
- Ragtag cinema, Me5000 ( talk ), Public domain
- Hamilton-BrownShoeFactory, HornColumbia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SanfordFConleyHouse, HornColumbia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ElkinsHouse, HornColumbia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MissouriUMC Front, Grey Wanderer ( talk ) 18:34, 6 July 2009 (UTC), Public domain
- SecondBaptistChurchColumbiaMissouri, HornColumbia, CC0
- Tiger Hotel - 2013, Marcus Qwertyus, CC BY-SA 3.0
- David Guitar House, Sesamehoneytart, CC BY-SA 4.0
- TaylorHouse, HornColumbia, CC0
- KatyStation, HornColumbia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MaplewoodHouse, HornColumbia, CC0
- SAE University of Missouri, Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Missouri Alpha Chapter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- William Hunt House SSW, User:Grey Wanderer, CC BY-SA 3.0
- NationalGuardArmoryBuildinginColumbiaMissouri, HornColumbia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- WabashStation, HornColumbia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 1316 Bass Avenue east campus, User:Grey Wanderer, CC BY-SA 3.0
- P1040733, Me, CC BY 3.0
- Jesse Hall and Columns, DSparrow14, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The University of Missouri, North Entrance - panoramio, VoyagerMU, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jesse Hall Aerial, Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Université du Missouri 2, stannate, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Jesse Hall, University of Missouri - panoramio, VoyagerMU, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Sun through the Columns, University of Missouri - panoramio, VoyagerMU, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jesse Hall and the Columns, University of Missouri - panoramio, VoyagerMU, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Columns, University of Missouri - panoramio, VoyagerMU, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jesse Hall and The Columns on the Francis Quadrangle, Fresaj, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Switzler Hall - The oldest continually operating academic building at the University of Missouri, Callaweigan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lowry Mall and Memorial Tower, University of Missouri - panoramio, VoyagerMU, CC BY-SA 3.0
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