Town Center, Columbia, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Town Center
Downtown Columbia
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Village
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| Columbia Town Center | |
Intersection of Broken Land Parkway and Town Center Avenue
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Downtown Columbia featuring the Town Center and the Villages of Wilde Lake and Harper's Choice.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| City | Columbia |
| Established | 1974 |
| Founded by | James Rouse |
| Named for | Columbia's city center |
Town Center is one of ten special villages in Columbia, Maryland, in the United States. People first started living here in 1974. It's a very diverse and city-like area. You can find tall apartment buildings, office spaces, and even single-family homes all mixed together.
The village has six main residential areas. These include Amesbury Hill, Banneker, Creighton's Run, Lakefront, Vantage Point, and Warfield Triangle.
Contents
Exploring Town Center's History
Town Center was built on land that was once part of a large property called Oakland Manor. Construction of the village began in 1966. Sidewalks were added in 1984 to connect different parts of the area.
Original Attractions and Neighborhoods
- Columbia Exhibit Center: This building was created to show visitors what the new community of Columbia would be like. It was designed by a famous architecture firm. Over 215,000 people visited it in its first year!
- Vantage Point: This area gets its name from a poem by Robert Frost. Many of its street names are also inspired by poems from Frost and William Cullen Bryant. Vantage Point is home to Historic Oakland, a house built in 1811. The main offices for the Town Center village are located inside Historic Oakland. You can also find Oliver's Carriage House here, which was once a stable. Today, it's a place for a community group called Kittamaqundi Community.
- Amesbury Hill: This neighborhood was originally planned for the leaders of the Rouse Company, who developed Columbia. It was part of a larger piece of land known as the Mercer Tract.
- Creighton's Run: This area was developed in 1979. It was named after the head of the construction company that built it.
- Banneker: This neighborhood welcomed its first residents in 1992. It was named after Banneker Road, which in turn was named for Benjamin Banneker, a famous African American scientist and astronomer.
- Vantage House: This is a tall, 13-story building for older adults who want a community living experience. It opened in October 1990.
Downtown Columbia's New Look
Town Center is often called "Downtown Columbia" because it's the main hub of the city. Since 2010, a big project has been underway to redevelop the area. This project is creating a more modern, city-like feel. As part of this, four new neighborhood areas have been created:
- Crescent: This area is located south of the Merriweather-Post Pavilion, a popular outdoor concert venue.
- Lakefront: As its name suggests, this area is west of Lake Kittamaqundi.
- Symphony Overlook: You can find this neighborhood just north of Symphony Woods Park and south of the Columbia Mall Food Court.
- Warfield: This area is located between Broken Land Parkway and Governor Warfield Parkway. The first apartments in Warfield Triangle were ready in 1998. This area is named after Governor Warfield Parkway, which honors Governor Edwin Warfield.
Fun and Services in Town Center
The heart of Town Center, and really the whole city, is the beautiful lakefront of Lake Kittamaqundi. This lake is about 27 acres (109,265 square meters) in size. You'll also see the famous People Tree sculpture there. The lake's name, Kittamaqundi, comes from the Piscataway Indian language. Some say it means "meeting place," while others say it means "Place of the Old Great Beaver." In the summer, the Columbia Association often hosts live music and movies by the lake.
The Mall in Columbia is a very large shopping center located right in Town Center. It has many stores, restaurants, and entertainment options.
Getting Around Town Center
Town Center is a major transportation hub for the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland bus service. The main bus station is at The Mall in Columbia, near the main entrance. Buses from MTA and Metrobus also stop here.
In 2016, Howard County started a new program to let people rent bikes in Columbia. This bike share program covers the Town Center area, stretching from Howard County General Hospital to Blandair Park.
