West Columbia, South Carolina
West Columbia is a city of 17,963 people in Lexington County, South Carolina.
Why visit West Columbia
Townapedia lists 84 museums and landmarks, 16 parks and trails, 132 places to eat, 25 places to stay and 5 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Riverbanks Zoo, University of South Carolina, New Brookland Historic District and Saluda Factory Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 93°F; January lows average 35°F.
Weather in West Columbia
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About West Columbia
West Columbia, formerly Brookland, is a city and commuter town in the suburban eastern sections of Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, West Columbia had a population of 17,416. West Columbia is bordered to the east by Columbia, the state capital, across the Congaree River. It is near Columbia's city center or downtown district as well as the South Carolina State House and the Congaree Vista, known locally as "the Vista".
From the Wikipedia article West Columbia, South Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do5
Riverbanks Zoo
Zoo and aquarium · 2.0 mi
Archive organization in Columbia, United States
500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia
University of South Carolina
School · 4.3 mi
Public university in Columbia, South Carolina
Museums and landmarks84
New Brookland Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic district in South Carolina, United States
Saluda Factory Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Historic district in West Columbia (South Carolina)
A.P. Williams Funeral Home
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.4 mi
Building in Columbia, United States of America
Alston House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.5 mi
House in Columbia, South Carolina
Arcade Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
Building in Columbia, South Carolina
Arsenal Hill
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
United States historic place
Babcock Building, South Carolina State Hospital
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.3 mi
Former hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Building at 1210–1214 Main Street
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Historic building in Columbia, South Carolina, USA
Carver Theater
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Former movie theater in Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Champion and Pearson Funeral Home
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Historic commercial building at 1325 Park Street in Columbia, South Carolina
Chesnut Cottage
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.4 mi
Historic house in South Carolina, United States
Columbia Canal
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Canal in Richland county, South Carolina, U.S.A.
72 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds16
Carraway Community Park
Park · 2.7 mi
Carraway Community Park is an inclusive play park that allows for children with a range of physical, mental and other disabilities to...
4 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes132
Oceanview Seafood II
Restaurant · Seafood · 2.0 mi
1000 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce
Su-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00
Tea Pot Chinese Restaurant
Restaurant · Chinese · 2.2 mi
829 Knox Abbott Dr, #F, Cayce
Mo-Th 11:00-22:30; Fr 11:00-23:00; Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:30
Terra Restaurant
Restaurant · Regional · 2.5 mi
100 State Street;100 State St, Columbia
Tu-Th 17:00-22:00;Fr-Sa 17:00-23:00
Groucho's Deli
Restaurant · 0.8 mi
2265 Sunset Boulevard, West Columbia
Mo-Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 11:00-20:00
Bierkeller Brewing Company
Brewery and winery · 2.9 mi
Tu-Fr 16:00-20:00, Sa 12:00-20:00, Su 12:00-19:00
120 more on the map.
History
West Columbia was incorporated in 1894 as "Brookland", but the U.S. Postal Service called the town "New Brookland" since there was another town called Brookland. In 1936, the name was changed to "West Columbia" to emphasize its proximity to Columbia, the capital. Numerous businesses, churches and a high school retain the Brookland and New Brookland names.
The Gervais Street Bridge, Mount Hebron Temperance Hall, New Brookland Historic District, and Saluda Factory Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the History section of West Columbia, South Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay25
Knights Inn Columbia Airport/Cayce
Motel and hotel · 2.4 mi
1987 Airport Boulevard, Cayce
Tru by Hilton Columbia Greystone
Motel and hotel · 2.3 mi
185 Stoneridge Drive, Columbia
Churches and places of worship52
Bethel A.M.E. Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
Ebenezer Lutheran Chapel
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Place of worship · Jehovahs Witness · 2.2 mi
3679 Leaphart Road, West Columbia
Airport Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 2.7 mi
1269 Boston Avenue, West Columbia
Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and School
Church · Evangelical Lutheran · 1.1 mi
2920 Pella Avenue, West Columbia
New Hope Christian Fellowship
Church · Christian · 2.7 mi
1712 Mobile Avenue, West Columbia
Springdale Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 2.1 mi
357 Wattling Road, West Columbia
Shopping27
Gas and EV charging35
Schools, colleges and libraries62
Healthcare12
Map of West Columbia
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 35°F | 3.5 in | 0.6 in |
| Feb | 61°F | 37°F | 3.4 in | 0.4 in |
| Mar | 68°F | 44°F | 3.6 in | 0.1 in |
| Apr | 77°F | 52°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 84°F | 60°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 90°F | 69°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 93°F | 72°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 91°F | 71°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 86°F | 65°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 76°F | 53°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 59°F | 36°F | 3.7 in | 0.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Columbia 72310 (3 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
Lexington County has had 22 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-29: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-05: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2023-08-31: Hurricane Idalia (Hurricane)
- 2022-11-21: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Oak Grove 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- Cayce 4 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- Seven Oaks 5 mi northwest, about 7 min by car
- Forest Acres 8 mi east, about 13 min by car
- Red Bank 9 mi southwest, about 14 min by car
- Irmo 10 mi northwest, about 15 min by car
- Dentsville 10 mi northeast, about 16 min by car
- Columbia 12 mi east, about 19 min by car
- Newberry 35 mi northwest, about 56 min by car
- Orangeburg 37 mi south, about 59 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
- NewBrooklandTavern, Abductive, CC0
- Lakeview School, West Columbia, SC, US, Jud McCranie, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Preston Lorick House, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Richland Cotton Mill, Upstateherd, CC BY-SA 4.0
- SeibelsHouse, Abductive, CC0
- BABCOCK BUILDING, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Alston House, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Moore-Mann House right elevation, Columbia, SC, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- SC Penitentiary, Sargeant Studios, CC0
- Champion and Pearson Funeral Home, Gruffbenji, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chesnut Cottage Columbia SC, Anissa Wood on Flickr, CC BY 2.0
- Taylor House left oblique, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- HamptonPreston, Abductive, CC0
- Wesley United Methodist Church Columbia, SC, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Still Hopes, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Whaley home, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Olympia Mill (today), Batterup55, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Carver Theater front facade, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Armory1, Abductive, CC0
- THOMAS WOODROW WILSON BOYHOOD HOME, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Union Station Columbia left oblique, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gervais Street Bridge, Gervais Street spanning Congaree River, Columbia (Richland County, South Carolina), Jack Boucher, Public domain
- House of Peace Synagogue (Columbia, South Carolina), KudzuVine, Public domain
- Barringer Building; Columbia, South Carolina; February 21, 2016, Stephen Matthew Milligan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Zimmerman House Right Oblique Columbia, SC, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sheraton Bldg (1913), Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Building at 1210 - 1214 Main, Mjcrawf1, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rutherford House 2016, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pacific Community Association Bldg facade, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- William J Cayce House, Bill Fitzpatrick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- FirstPresbyterianColaSC, Abductive, CC0
- 1321 Lady Street, Columbia, SC, Gruffbenji, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Granby-Olympia Mills Village Museum, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Front elevation of the McCord House, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Horry-Guignard House being refurbished in 2016, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Columbia - Carolina Life Insurance Building and Confederate Monument, Curt Teich & Co., Chicago, Public domain
- SOUTH CAROLINA STATE HOSPITAL MILLS BUILDING, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Federal Land Bank Building Columbia, SC, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Florence C. Benson Elementary School, Columbia, SC, Eastward Gypsy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- UniversityNeighborhoodHistDist, Abductive, CC0
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