RICHLAND COUNTY
County Offices
2020 Hampton Street
Columbia 803-929-6000
www.richlandonline.com
Chamber of Commerce
930 Richland Street
Columbia 803-733-1110
www.columbiachamber.com
Major Highways
Interstates 20, 26, 77, 126; US Highways 21, 321, 76, and 176
The heartbeat of Richland County is Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina, the largest city in the state, and one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the nation. Radiating from the city are suburbs, premier lakefront communities, and welcoming small towns.
Services
Students of all ages will find virtually unlimited opportunities for education in public and private schools that offer a strong core curriculum enhanced by high technology. Well-supported public schools excel in academics and extra-curricular programs, evidenced by acclaimed music education programs and foreign language study in elementary school. In addition to parochial or religiously affiliated private schools, the area offers independent schools like the highly respected college preparatory institution of the Hammond School. The only Challenger Center in the state is also located in Columbia, offering a space station that encourages students to experience space-flight simulation and engage in interactive experiments.
Colleges and universities in the Metropolitan Columbia area and Richland County are anchored by the vast campus for the University of South Carolina, conferring undergraduate, graduate, law, and medical degrees. The university is also renowned for the Moore School of Business, recognized internationally for innovative programs that emphasize internships, consulting projects, study abroad programs, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Columbia Junior College and Midlands Technical College are available for two-year certification and degree programs, continuing education, and an affordable start on a four-year degree. Private colleges include Allen University, Benedict College, Columbia College, Columbia International University, and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary.
Healthcare services and facilities in Richland County are among the finest in the state and the nation, combining leading-edge teaching hospitals, multi-specialty practices, centers of excellence, specialty clinics, and every imaginable resource. From acute care to community-based programs that include health screenings and wellness guidance, residents are able to meet routine and advanced needs close to home. Outstanding organizations like Palmetto Health, Lexington Medical and Providence ensure continual improvements, upgrades, advancements, and expansions to serve a growing population. In addition to urban and suburban facilities, Moncrief Army Community Hospital serves residents of Fort Jackson — distinguished as the largest and most active initial entry training center in the United States Army.
Lifestyle
Whether your passion is culture and the arts, outdoor adventure, or attractions designed for family enjoyment, Richland County offers a four-season cornucopia of delights. This panoramic region offers some of the nation’s finest recreational areas, including the three sprawling green spaces of Sesquicentennial State Park, Harbison State Forest, and Congaree Swamp. Nestled in southeastern Richland County, the swamp is one of the last surviving old-growth swamps in the eastern United States and offers boardwalks and trails for lengthy hikes as well as canoeing and fishing. Newcomers can look forward to hundreds of miles of trails in varied terrain as well as opportunities for camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, boating, water sports, fishing, and hunting.
Lake Murray is the crown jewel of water sports and boating, and landings on the Congaree River also provide boat ramps and ideal fishing conditions. Three of the celebrated recreational areas within the city of Columbia are the Columbia Canal, Riverfront Park and Finlay Park, attracting thousands of visitors each year who enjoy relaxing and exercising close to home. Saluda Shoals Park takes advantage of the scenic Saluda River to offer canoeing, kayaking, fishing, picnic areas, and art performances in a new 300-acre recreational development. Other attractions include multi-purpose trails, an environment education center with an exhibit hall, and a river observation deck.
Columbia also boasts one of the finest zoos in the southeast, cradled against the north side of the Saluda River in Columbia. The Riverbanks Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals, duplicating their natural surroundings as closely as possible. Behind the zoo, a bridge leads visitors across the river to the Riverbanks Botanical Garden and scenic nature trails. Students of history will want to visit the beautifully landscaped Capitol Complex with its Confederate Relic Room and Museum, just one stop on a long list of historic sites and superb venues that include the South Carolina State Museum and the Columbia Museum of Art. More than 100 cultural organizations keep the calendar filled with exciting special events that are showcased in elegant venues or state-of-the-art amphitheaters.
Shopping opportunities seem to appear around every corner, from regional malls to historic districts, neighborhood plazas, open-air retail centers, farmers markets, and flea markets. The housing options are as diverse as the communities in Richland County, ranging from country manors and horse properties to lakefront condominiums, executive homes in upscale developments, historic treasure in the heart of a long-established neighborhood, and handsome new loft developments in the heart of the city. Regardless of the community or environment you select in Richland County, the greatest asset will be the warmth and friendliness of your new neighbors. Without a doubt, this area creates an idyllic blend of Southern hospitality and charm with the most contemporary of amenities.
Arcadia Lakes
Municipal Offices
803-782-2272
www.arcadialakes.net
Chamber of Commerce
803-733-1110
www.columbiachamber.com
The small town of Arcadia Lakes offers a tranquil residential community where grand homes in a variety of architectural styles are graced by shade trees, well-kept landscaping, and lush greenery. Views of forested beauty and picturesque small lakes as well as lovely two-story homes with wide front porches create an idyllic image of small-town living in close proximity to Columbia’s world-class amenities. Morning fog rising from the glassy surface of Hidden Glen Lake in developments like The Commons at Arcadia is one of many scenic images in this lovely community that neighbors the City of Forest Acres. Regional retail centers like Village at Sandhill and Woodhills Mall are complemented by smaller plazas for convenient shopping. Interstate 77 through southeast Columbia completes a circle of expressways around the city and provides a scenic route for weekend getaways or vacations to Myrtle Beach on the Atlantic Ocean.
Ballentine, Dutch Fork
County Offices
803-929-6000
www.richlandcountysc.gov
www.ballentinedutchfork.com
Chamber of Commerce
803-733-1110
www.columbiachamber.com
This unincorporated area is nestled in the popular and rapidly developing northwest quadrant of Greater Columbia. Interstates 20, 26, and 126 ensure a quick trip into downtown Columbia for commuters or those who want to take advantage of first-rate cultural attractions, sports events, or lush city parks. The Ballentine and Dutch Fork area has seen a tremendous boom of new construction of upscale residential villages and handsome subdivisions, offering a panoramic and tranquil rural atmosphere in a convenient location near Columbia’s amenities. Many of these residential communities feature their own premier recreational amenities, complementing the regional highlights of Lake Murray water sports and woodland beauty for outdoor adventure. Unique amenities like the Dutch Fork Tennis Center are springing up in response to a growing population.
Blythewood
Municipal Offices
803-754-0501
www.townofblythewoodsc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
803-733-1110
www.columbiachamber.com
Offering a delightful small-town atmosphere that blends picturesque horse farms and rural living with urban conveniences, Blythewood is one of the fastest-growing communities in the Midlands. The influx of new residents and businesses has spurred civic planners to draft plans for controlled growth that will preserve the town’s exceptional quality of life. The town recently purchased the area’s oldest residence, the 1855 Hoffman House, for historic preservation and use as the Town Center. With a tree as the town symbol, Blythewood shades quiet streets with mature greenery and offers wonderful antique shops. Country roads with colorful names like Persimmon Fork or Syrup Mill reflect the serene, family oriented atmosphere. Many annual traditions add a lively spirit to holidays and seasonal celebrations.
Dentsville
County Offices
803-929-6000
www.richlandcountysc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
803-733-1110
www.columbiachamber.com
The unincorporated community of Dentsville has grown up as a residential suburb just five miles northeast of downtown Columbia. The town is located along Gills Creek, adding scenic views to an urban landscape of suburban housing, golf courses, commercial shopping, and lakeside communities. Residents enjoy a close-in suburban lifestyle surrounded by premier Lake Murray water-sport recreation as well as hiking, biking, camping, and nature study in the forested northern region and state parks. Columbia’s cultural attractions, fine museums, colleges and universities, and vast acreage of well-developed parks and recreational facilities are just minutes from home.
Eastover
Municipal Offices
803-353-2281
Chamber of Commerce
803-733-1110
www.columbiachamber.com
The small town of Eastover is home to less than 1,000 residents and is situated in lower Richland County. The community is one of seven villages that were formed after the breakup of large plantation estates and the advent of the railroad through the area. Of the original villages, only Eastover remains. The rail line still bisects the village. In fact, Main Street consists of a two-way street, the rail line, and a second two-way street. Surrounding Main Street are quiet residential neighborhoods that feature a variety of older homes and historic structures that are ideal for renovation. Community service activities are scattered throughout the village for a convenient small-town lifestyle.
Forest Acres, Heathwood, Forest Hills
Municipal Offices
803-782-9475
www.forestacres.net
Chamber of Commerce
803-733-1110
www.columbiachamber.com
One of the largest municipalities in Richland County in square miles, Forest Acres was also one of the first suburban communities established outside of Columbia’s city limits. Residents have an easy trip into Columbia along Forest Drive, which turns into Taylor Street. Forest Acres is a popular choice for those who work downtown, offering a good commute, a serene neighborhood setting, and convenient commercial development. Fort Jackson lies to the east and the town of Arcadia Lakes neighbors to the north. This area is well known for its brilliant floral displays each spring, drawing residents of Columbia out for relaxed drives around city streets graced by exquisite gardens and beautiful homes. Heavily wooded neighborhoods climb up and down hills to overlook enchanting lakes and ponds. Heathwood and Forest Hills are nearby neighborhoods that share a reputation for handsome homes and spring blooms.
Fort Jackson
Welcome Center
803-782-9802
http://jackson.armylive.dodlive.mil/
Public Affairs Office
803-751-7313
http://jackson.armylive.dodlive.mil/
Serving as one of Richland County’s major employers and sprawling over a vast expanse of land south of Columbia, Fort Jackson is the largest and most active initial entry training center in the nation for the U.S. Army. This expansive installation trains more than half of the men and women who enter the service each year. While many military bases have downsized or closed in recent decades, Fort Jackson has sustained a high level of activity and added new schools and training institutions. Among them are the Soldier Support Institute, the Chaplains Center and School, and the Department of Defense Polygraph Institute. As a self-contained community with a substantial population, Fort Jackson enriches the Metropolitan Columbia area. The fort employs nearly 4,400 civilians and provides services that include a major medical facility for more than 115,000 retirees and their family members.
Harbison
County Offices
803-929-6000
www.richlandcountysc.gov
www.harbisonhoa.com
Chamber of Commerce
803-733-1110
www.columbiachamber.com
The planned community of Harbison offers a wide selection of lovely homes and first-rate recreational facilities for local residents. The recreation center features athletic programs from biddy basketball for the younger set to leagues for all ages, aquatic programs, aerobics, tennis and tennis lessons, and a wide range of children’s activities from martial arts to fencing. More than seven miles of paved trails meander through the neighborhoods, creating a close-knit feeling and encouraging an active lifestyle of walking and jogging through woodland splendor. Natural beauty surrounds the community, from the sparkling waterfront images of Lake Murray to state parks and Harbison State Forest.
Irmo, Seven Oaks
Municipal Offices
803-781-7050
www.townofirmosc.com
Chamber of Commerce
803-749-9355
www.greaterirmochamber.com
The rapidly developing community of Irmo owes its phenomenal growth in recent decades to an ideal location off the shores of Lake Murray within 10 miles of Columbia metropolitan attractions. This once sleepy village that straddles Lexington and Richland counties has transformed into a sought-after suburban bedroom community surrounded by new residential development from starter homes to upscale communities. It was the formation of Lake Murray as well as the construction of Interstate 26 and the intersection of Interstate 20 that spurred the area’s development. Touting itself as the “Gateway to Lake Murray,” Irmo offers an award-winning public school district as well as the Harbison campus of Midlands Technical College. A new YMCA offers an indoor heated pool, indoor track, senior programs, gymnasium, and quiet forest areas for outdoor activities. Throngs of visitors arrive in Irmo each year to celebrate the famous Okra Strut, an entire weekend of live music, a parade, arts and crafts, and an okra eating contest. The suburban haven of Seven Oaks stretches from the outskirts of Columbia into Lexington County and neighbors Irmo but remains unincorporated.
Lake Carolina
County Offices
803-929-6000
www.richlandcountysc.gov
http://lakecarolina.com
Chamber of Commerce
803-733-1110
www.columbiachamber.com
As one of the larger contemporary developments northeast of Columbia, Lake Carolina offers distinctive neighborhoods that blend a sense of community with resort-style living in the heart of the Midlands. More than 200 acres of Lake Carolina wildlife areas serve as a breathtaking backdrop for nature trails and multi-purpose pathways that encourage walking, jogging, and biking. Beautifully landscaped sidewalks connect neighborhoods for a close-knit spirit. The homes within the Lake Carolina community cover a broad spectrum of prices ranges and architectural styles, creating a blend of young families in a starter home with retirees and executives. Further growth and expansion in this lovely area is inevitable. The mixed-use development of Harborside already includes offices and commercial development and a Town Center surrounded by traditional neighborhood.
Lake Murray
County Offices
803-929-6000
www.richlandcountysc.gov
www.lakemurrayassociation.com
Chamber of Commerce
803-733-1110
www.columbiachamber.com
The Lake Murray area is home to some of Metropolitan Columbia’s most celebrated recreational assets, creating a breathtaking backdrop of scenic beauty for premier residential development. More than 75 square miles of panoramic landscape combines water-sport recreation with elegant homes, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, and balmy “tea-sipping” summer days in the heart of the Midlands. The incorporated communities of Chapin, Irmo, and Lexington add commercial amenities and a hometown atmosphere within the Lake Murray region, providing quick access to 520 miles of shoreline. Upscale housing developments surround the lake, many that feature boat slips, launch, and dry dock facilities for their residents. Other communities that have sprung up near Lake Murray are Ballentine, Dutch Fork, Harbison, and St. Andrews.
St. Andrews-Dutch Square
County Offices
803-929-6000
www.richlandcountysc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
803-733-1110
www.columbiachamber.com
Providing yet another hub of substantial residential growth and development near Lake Murray, the St. Andrews-Dutch square community blends housing in a cross-section of price ranges. Newcomers will find many apartment communities that mix with single-family neighborhoods that begin with well-kept but modest developments and move up to upscale enclaves. Easy access to Interstate 20 and 26 for quick trips into downtown Columbia enhances the convenient lifestyle of a location near Lake Murray water sports and miles of trails through Harbison Environmental Education Forest. Saluda Shoals Park takes advantage of the Saluda River’s natural beauty for canoeing, kayaking, fishing, picnics, nature study, and outdoor concerts. Dutch Square Mall and Columbiana Centre Mall provide convenient shopping.
Woodfield
County Offices
803-929-6000
www.richlandcountysc.gov
Chamber of Commerce
803-733-1110
www.columbiachamber.com
The unincorporated community of Woodfield is located in close proximity to Arcadia Lakes and Forest Acres north of Columbia and south of Dentsville. Excellent interstate access to the city, just six miles away, ensures a convenient suburban lifestyle. Established neighborhoods shaded by mature greenery blend architectural styles and price ranges in this area. Nearby regional recreational resources include miles of trails through Harbison Forest, Saluda River water-sport and park facilities, Lake Murray boating and fishing, and Columbia’s premier amenities. College and universities, an acclaimed zoo and botanical gardens, Finlay Park and the Columbia Riverfront development, sports events, fine museums, visual arts venues, and world-class performing arts are only minutes away.
