What is the largest city in South Carolina?
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 116,278 according to the 2000 census (2007 population estimates put the city at 124,818). Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into Lexington County. The city is the center of a steadily growing metro area of 716,030. The city’s name comes from a poetic synonym for America, derived from the name of Christopher Columbus. Located just 13 miles (21 km) northwest of South Carolina’s geographic center, Columbia is the primary city of the Midlands region of South Carolina, which comprises several counties in the central portion of the state. As such it is centrally located to the rest of the state. Founded in 1786 as the site of South Carolina’s new capital city, it was one of the first planned cities in the United States. The area is often cited for its high quality of life offerings, with its many cultural amenities, parks, and recreational fea
