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by C.J. Gustafson
Nursing Schools.com Contributing Writer
July 18th, 2005

Columbia, South Carolina, named for Christopher Columbus, was created in 1786 by an act of the General Assembly. Their intent was to establish a more centralized capital city for the state. The new city was planned and developed, and in 1790 South Carolina's capital was moved from Charleston to Columbia. But it wasn't until 1805 that Columbia actually received its first charter as a town with a mayor and elected officials.

From that point forward, the city grew rapidly, and by 1816 there were 250 homes in the town and a population over 1,000. Primarily an agricultural economy at the time, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union in December of 1860. During the war, nearly half of Columbia was destroyed by fire. The city was rebuilt, and growth continued over the following decades.

Training the Troops
In 1917, Fort Jackson was established in Columbia to prepare soldiers for World War I. It has grown to become the largest and most active Initial Entry Training Center in the United States Army. The facility provides training for 34 percent of the soldiers who enter the service each year. The large number of military personnel and their families add to the diversity of the area's population, which numbers nearly 120,000 within the city limits, and over 650,000 counting those who live in the surrounding metropolitan area.

Water, Weather, and a Welcoming Environment
Visitors and residents alike find Columbia to be a welcoming and enjoyable small city. Also known as the "The Columbia Riverbanks Region" because of the three rivers that converge in the area (the Broad, the Saluda and the Congaree), the land around Columbia is filled with beautiful scenery. Lake Murray, which is just outside the city limits, is the result of a hydroelectric dam across the Saluda River. The lake has over 500 miles of shoreline, and covers over 50,000 acres.

With average daily temperature highs ranging from 55 degrees Fahrenheit in winter to the low 90s in the heat of summer, Columbia residents are able to enjoy many year-round outdoor activities along the numerous waterfronts, including fishing, swimming, golf, hiking, biking, and boating. There are also many places around the city to shop, dine, relax with friends and take in cultural events.

The Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau explains that "Columbia is one of the nation's Top 30 most livable cities according to The Partnership for Livable Communities. An easy drive to either the Atlantic coast or the mountains, half way between New York and Miami, a beautiful climate and some of the friendliest people you'll encounter anywhere are just a few of the reasons people choose to live here in the Riverbanks Region."

Quality Medical Facilities
Excellent medical services also add to the quality of life and provide many employment opportunities for those in the health care professions. The Columbia Office of Economic Development reports that "Medical services in the Columbia area are provided by hundreds of doctors in eight regional hospitals, each with state-of-the-art facilities capable for handling almost every field of medicine."

Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital and Palmetto Baptist Medical Center are part of Palmetto Health Alliance, the largest integrated healthcare system in South Carolina. Palmetto Health also offers a children's hospital with 32 medical specialties devoted strictly to youth. The Palmetto Health South Carolina Cancer Center, located in Columbia, is one of the most comprehensive cancer programs in the Southeast.

Providence Hospital is known as a nationally recognized referral center for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. And the Dorn VA Medical Center provides comprehensive treatment for the large group of military personnel who live in Columbia and the surrounding areas of the state.

Nationally Recognized Schools
Several quality educational facilities round out the services available in the Columbia area. The University of South Carolina (USC), originally known as South Carolina College, was established in Columbia in 1801. It is home to several hundred research laboratories that pursue some of the most sophisticated scientific and technological research in the world. USC's College of Nursing provides a diverse selection of classes and career paths for those interested in nursing and related fields.

South University and Midlands Technical College are two other nationally recognized schools in the area that offer a number of nursing programs.

Students at these institutions can study about a variety of different nursing specialties such as Critical Care Nursing, Forensic Nursing, Hospice Care Nursing, Midwifery, and Nursing Informatics. They can prepare for a career as a Legal Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, or Registered Nurse (RN). Those with an interest in management positions can train to become a health care administrator.

If you enjoy a warmer climate, water activities, and other outdoor pursuits, and a small city atmosphere with a welcoming and diverse population, Columbia may be just the place to pursue your studies in nursing or related health care fields.