Timeline of Columbia, South Carolina facts for kids

Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina, has a long and interesting history. This timeline will take you on a journey through the most important events that shaped Columbia, from its beginnings in the late 1700s to today. You'll learn about how the city grew, important buildings that were built, and key moments that changed its path.

Columbia's Early Years: 1700s and 1800s

• 1786 - Columbia was chosen to be the new capital of South Carolina. Before this, the capital was in Charleston.
• 1788 - Columbia became part of the new state of South Carolina in the United States.
• 1795 - The First Presbyterian Church started its community.
• 1797 - A group called the Commission of Streets and Markets was created to help manage the city.
• 1801 - The University of South Carolina was founded.
• 1803 - Washington Street Methodist built the first church building in Columbia.
• 1804 - The Columbia Library Society was started.
• 1805
  • Columbia officially became a town.
  • John Taylor was elected as the town's first leader, called an intendant.
  • South Carolina College opened its doors.
• 1809 - The First Baptist Church was founded.
• 1813 - Trinity Episcopal Church was founded.
• 1814 - The State Legislative Library was created.
• 1824 - St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church was built.
• 1825 - March: A famous French general, Lafayette, visited the town.
• 1830
  • The Columbia Theological Seminary began its work.
  • The population of Columbia was 3,310 people.
• 1838 - The Southern Chronicle newspaper started publishing.
• 1840 - The population grew to 4,340 people.
• 1842
  • A railroad line connecting Branchville to Columbia began operating.
  • The Arsenal Military Academy was established.
• 1846 - J.T. Zealy, a photographer, started his business.
• 1847 - The Southern Presbyterian Review began publishing.
• 1850
  • The Carolina Times newspaper started.
  • The population reached 6,060 people.
• 1852 - A railway line connecting Charlotte to Columbia began operating.
• 1853
  • A railway line connecting Greenville to Columbia began operating.
  • The First Presbyterian Church built its main building.
• 1854 - The official office of mayor was created for the city.
• 1856
  • Columbia got its own police force.
  • The South Carolina State Fair began.
• 1857
  • The Trinity Episcopal Cathedral building was officially dedicated.
  • The Southern Guardian newspaper started publishing.
• 1865
  • February 17–18: During the American Civil War, Union forces took control of Columbia. Much of the city was burned.
  • The Phoenix newspaper began publishing after the fire.
• 1869 - The South Carolina State House building was constructed.
• 1870
  • Benedict College was founded.
  • The city's area expanded.
• 1871 - October: A "Southern States Convention of Colored Men" was held in Columbia.
• 1874 - A state normal school, which trained teachers, opened.
• 1875 - The US Court House was built.
• 1880 - The population reached 10,036 people.
• 1891 - The State newspaper began publishing.
• 1892 - Columbia Hospital was established.
• 1893 - Sidney Park Colored Methodist Episcopal Church was built.
• 1895 - The Columbia Duck Mill started operating.
• 1896 - The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum was established.
• 1897 - The Columbia Record newspaper began publishing.
• 1899 - The Olympia Mill was built.

Columbia in the 20th Century

• 1908 - Main Street, a major road, was paved.
• 1913
  • The National Corn Show was held in Columbia.
  • The Palmetto Building was constructed.
• 1917 - The military Camp Jackson was established.
• 1920 - The population grew to 37,524 people.
• 1921 - The Bethel A.M.E. Church was built.
• 1922 - February: A trolley strike happened in the city.
• 1924 - The Town Theatre was built.
• 1925 - Part of North Columbia became part of the city.
• 1926-1927 - Several areas like Capital Heights and Rosewood were added to the city.
• 1930
  • The Dreher Shoals Dam began operating.
  • WIS radio started broadcasting.
  • Belk's department store opened for business.
• 1931 - The Carolina Theatre opened.
• 1932 - The Thomas Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home (a museum) opened.
• 1934 - The Richland County Public Library was established.
• 1937
  • The US Courthouse became the Columbia City Hall.
  • The Palmetto Theater opened.
  • The University South Caroliniana Society was founded.
• 1939
  • WCOS radio began broadcasting.
  • The Municipal Association of South Carolina made Columbia its headquarters.
• 1940
  • The Lexington County Airport was built.
  • The US military Fort Jackson became very active.
  • The population reached 62,396 people.
• 1941 - The Carver Theatre was built.
• 1950
  • The Columbia Museum of Art and the Twilite Drive-In cinema opened.
  • The population reached 86,914 people.
• 1953 - WIS-TV and WNOK-TV (television) began broadcasting.
• 1958 - Lester Bates became the mayor.
• 1960 - The South Carolina Department of Corrections made Columbia its main office.
• 1961
  • Richland Mall opened for business.
  • The Historic Columbia Foundation was established.
• 1963 - The Columbia Festival Orchestra was founded.
• 1966 - The Hammond School was founded.
• 1968 - The University of South Carolina's Carolina Coliseum opened.
• 1970
  • Dutch Square shopping mall opened.
  • John Tucker Campbell became mayor.
  • The population reached 112,542 people.
• 1974
  • Riverbanks Zoo opened.
  • The Shambhala Center was founded.
• 1976 - WLTR radio began broadcasting.
• 1977 - The Palmetto Alliance, a group against nuclear power, was founded.
• 1978 - Kirkman Finlay became mayor.
• 1979
  • Masjid as-Salaam, a Muslim center, was built.
  • The Nickelodeon Theater opened.
  • Columbia became part of the Tree City USA program.
• 1980 - The South Carolina Military Museum was established.
• 1981 - The Harvest Hope Food Bank was established.
• 1983 - The Chicora Foundation, a group for historic preservation, was established.
• 1984 - A Hindu Temple was built.
• 1986 - T. Patton Adams became mayor.
• 1987 - The AT&T Building was constructed.
• 1988
  • The South Carolina State Museum opened in the old Columbia Mills Building.
  • The University of South Carolina's Koger Center for the Arts was built.
• 1990
  • Bob Coble became mayor.
  • The population was 98,052 people.
• 1991 - Sidney Park opened.
• 1992 - Masjid Al-Muslimiin, another mosque, was built.
• 1993
  • The Richland County Public Library opened its new main branch building.
  • Jim Clyburn became the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 6th congressional district.
• 1994 - The Sikh Religious Society was founded.
• 1996 - The city's website went online.
• 2000 - January 17: A protest about the Confederate flag took place.

Columbia in the 21st Century

• 2001 - The Columbia Zen Buddhist Priory was founded.
• 2002
  • The Colonial Center (a large arena) opened.
  • The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and Ganden Mahayana Buddhist Center were established.
• 2005 - The Columbia City Paper began publishing.
• 2007 - The Columbia Quadsquad, a roller derby team, was formed.
• 2009 - The Fort Jackson National Cemetery was established.
• 2010
  • Stephen K. Benjamin became the first African-American mayor elected in the city.
  • The city's population was 129,272. The wider metro area had 767,598 people.