Located in Boone County in the central part of the state, Columbia is the fourth biggest city in the state of Missouri. This city was settled in 1818 and founded in 1821, being incorporated a few years later, in 1826. Columbia covers an area of 63.5 square miles and has an estimated population of 121,000, with over 178,000 people living in the surrounding metropolitan area.
Columbia is home to the University of Missouri and is therefore a popular college town with a large student population. The city has also earned the nickname 'Athens of Missouri' due to its classical architecture and distinctive beauty, and is also known as 'CoMo' among locals.