Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is exactly wrong with Columbia? I found it quite pleasant during my visit: laid back and unpretentious. Like the Five Points neighborhood and the Old Town area on Gervaus and along the river was nice,
It's a ghetto swamp.
Hmmm. Kiplinger's doesn't think so.
5. Columbia, South Carolina
Surrounded by towering pines and bursting with hospitality, Columbia is as sweet as the area’s ever-present tea, thanks to the diversified economy, family-friendly atmosphere and central location.
As the state capital and home to Fort Jackson, the largest military training base in the country, Columbia has plenty of government jobs. It also boasts six colleges, including the flagship University of South Carolina -- you'll find Gamecocks spirit wherever you go. Manufacturing and insurance companies add to the mix. Seven major hospitals provide both jobs and top-notch medical care. Columbia’s balanced approach has yielded robust growth in the past few years; unemployment is 6.9%.
Set halfway between the mountains and the Atlantic and within two hours of Charlotte and Charleston, Columbia's location is a big draw. But the city has its own attractions, including an art museum, a children's museum and Riverbanks Zoo, rated one of the top ten in the country. Three rivers converge downtown, so a bike ride along Riverwalk or an afternoon of tubing is always on the menu, as are boating and water sports on nearby Lake Murray. Although the city lives up to its motto, "famously hot," in August, annual temperatures average a moderate 65 degrees.
Reasonably priced housing and good schools (including some that are tops in the state) make the Columbia area ideal for families. A three-bedroom, two-bath home in the leafy Shandon neighborhood averages $250,000.
Columbia's downtown combines historic facades with hip boutiques and eateries.
What the locals love: Outdoor living, Southern hospitality and South Carolina -- grown items on menus at local restaurants, such as the Oak Table. Follow #kipcities on Twitter to see what else there is to love about Columbia.
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