Outdoor Activities ...
As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).
When in Columbia, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Columbia and the surrounding area.
- Weather ...
- Before heading outdoors, you should check the weather:
- The National Weather Service forecast for Columbia
- Astronomy & Satellites ...
- Whether using binoculars, a small telescope or the naked-eye, the Heavens-Above website can help you to find your way around the night-time sky. In addition to detailed sky charts, their website will help you find planets, asteriods, comets, satellites and their tracks across the sky.
- To give accurate results, Heavens-Above requires the latitude and longitude of your location. As a starting point, when we link to Heavens-Above, we pass this GPS location for Columbia:
- 34.000611, -81.035341
- Once you're on the Heavens-Above website, you can improve its accuracy by giving a more precise longitude and latitude as your actual position.
- The Heavens-Above Website, centered on Columbia
- Bird Watching ...
- We enjoy finding new spots for bird watching and we use the eBird website for local sighting reports and to help identify hotspots.
- The eBird website is organized on a county-by-county basis. We have selected Richland County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
- eBird sighting report for Richland County
- Since Columbia is near Lexington County and also Lancaster County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
- eBird sighting report for Lexington County
- eBird sighting report for Lancaster County
- Waymarking ...
- Looking for somewhere out of the ordinary? Find a unique place and want to share it with others? Then it's time to visit Waymarking.com:
- Waymark.com
Communities Also Named Columbia ...
We found 49 communities that share the name Columbia.
Within South Carolina, the name Columbia is unique.
Beyond South Carolina, we know of another 49 communities that are located throughout in the United States.
- Communities Elsewhere In North America ...
- Alabama
- Henry County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Alabama community of Columbia [Henry County].
- Houston County
- This Columbia is located in Houston County and lies 301 miles [484.4 km]<2> to the southwest of the Columbia that is located in Richland County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Houston County community of Columbia.
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Cherokee County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Columbia [Cherokee County].
- Ellsworth County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Columbia [Ellsworth County].
- Lyon County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Kansas community of Columbia [Lyon County].
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Caldwell Parish
- This Columbia is located in Caldwell Parish and lies 651 miles [1,047.7 km]<2> to the west of the Columbia that is located in Richland County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Caldwell Parish community of Columbia.
- Saint John the Baptist Parish
- This Columbia is located in Saint John the Baptist Parish and lies 621 miles [999.4 km] to the west southwest of the Columbia that is located in Richland County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint John the Baptist Parish community of Columbia.
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Tuscola County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Michigan community of Columbia [Tuscola County].
- Van Buren County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Michigan community of Columbia [Van Buren County].
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Boone County
- This Columbia is located in Boone County and lies 713 miles [1,147.5 km]<2> to the west northwest of the Columbia that is located in Richland County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Boone County community of Columbia.
- Saint Louis County
- This community is historic<3> and although located in Saint Louis County, we don't know where within the county.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Saint Louis County community of Columbia.
- Nevada
- Elko County
- This community is historic<3> and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Nevada community of Columbia [Elko County].
- Esmeralda County
- This community is historic and we have very little information. For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Nevada community of Columbia [Esmeralda County].
- Eureka County
- This community is historic and although located in Eureka County, we don't know where within the county.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Eureka County community of Columbia.
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Clark County
- This community is historic<3> and although located in Clark County, we don't know where within the county.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Clark County community of Columbia.
- Delaware County
- Although located in Delaware County, we don't know the location within the county.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Delaware County community of Columbia.
- Hamilton County
- This Columbia is located in Hamilton County and lies 400 miles [643.7 km]<2> to the north northwest of the Columbia that is located in Richland County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Hamilton County community of Columbia.
- Stark County
- This Columbia is located in Stark County and lies 469 miles [754.8 km] to the north of the Columbia that is located in Richland County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Stark County community of Columbia.
- Tuscarawas County
- This Columbia is located in Tuscarawas County and lies 454 miles [730.6 km] to the north of the Columbia that is located in Richland County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Tuscarawas County community of Columbia.
- Williams County
- This Columbia is located in Williams County and lies 565 miles [909.3 km] to the north northwest of the Columbia that is located in Richland County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Williams County community of Columbia.
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Lancaster County
- This Columbia is located in Lancaster County and lies 485 miles [780.5 km]<2> to the north northeast of the Columbia that is located in Richland County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Lancaster County community of Columbia.
- Venango County
- We found mention of this community, but have little information.<1> For the information that we do have, please visit our profile page for the Pennsylvania community of Columbia [Venango County].
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- King County
- This Columbia is located in King County and lies 2,316 miles [3,727.2 km]<2> to the northwest of the Columbia that is located in Richland County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the King County community of Columbia.
- Whatcom County
- This Columbia is located in Whatcom County and lies 2,328 miles [3,746.6 km] to the northwest of the Columbia that is located in Richland County.
- For more information, please visit our profile page for the Whatcom County community of Columbia.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Alabama
Curious and Interesting Names Near Columbia ...
As we travel, we always see a community with a name that gives pause. While there are names which are interesting or familiar, some catch our attention or strike our fancy. We always wonder about such a name. If time permits and the community is not too far, we'll usually try to make a side-trip.
- Arthurtown
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Arthurtown
- Arthurtown is located in Richland County
- Booker Washington Heights
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Booker Washington Heights have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Booker Washington Heights
- Booker Washington Heights is located in Richland County
- Brickyard Village
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Brickyard Village have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brickyard Village
- Brickyard Village is located in Richland County
- Butchertown ‑ Historic
(Less than 2 miles to the north)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Butchertown have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Butchertown
- Butchertown is located in Richland County
- Cross Roads
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Cross Roads have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cross Roads
- Cross Roads is located in Richland County
- Dutch Square
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dutch Square have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutch Square
- Dutch Square is located in Richland County
- Dutchbrook
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dutchbrook have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dutchbrook
- Dutchbrook is located in Richland County
- Edenwood
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest) - Elm Abode
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest) - Emerald Valley
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Emerald Valley have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emerald Valley
- Emerald Valley is located in Richland County
- Forest Trace
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Forest Trace have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Forest Trace
- Forest Trace is located in Richland County
- Foxhall
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northeast) - Continue List (13 more) ...
- Gordon Springs
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gordon Springs have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gordon Springs
- Gordon Springs is located in Richland County
- Gregg Park
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Gregg Park have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gregg Park
- Gregg Park is located in Richland County
- Happytown
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the west) - Heathwood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east) - Kingswood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest) - Lakeview
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the east) - Meadowfield
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southeast)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Meadowfield have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowfield
- Meadowfield is located in Richland County
- Munster
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest) - Quail Hollow
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the west)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Quail Hollow have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Quail Hollow
- Quail Hollow is located in Lexington County
- Ravenwood
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenwood
- Ravenwood is located in Richland County
- Riverbanks
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Riverbanks have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverbanks
- Riverbanks is located in Richland County
- Riverside Forest
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the northwest)- Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Riverside Forest have been provided by the GNIS.<4> The coordinates still need to be verified.
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverside Forest
- Riverside Forest is located in Richland County
- Rosewood
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
- Gordon Springs
How Far From Columbia to ...
We spend a lot of time looking through Gazetteers, Almanacs & Directories that were published in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many of the Gazetteers include the distance from a city such as Columbia to various places of note, such as the White House.
With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance beginning in Columbia and extending to:
- The White House (Washington, DC) is 404 miles [650.2 km]<2> to the north northeast (NNE). If you could drive a straight line from Columbia to White House, with an average speed<5>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take most of a day to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 23 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 16 days.
- The shortest distance<6> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,283 miles [10,111.5 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>
- The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 6,977 miles [11,228.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<8>
- The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 4,859 miles [7,819.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<9>
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Columbia: www.columbiasc.net/
The official website for Richland County: www.richlandonline.com/
The official website for State of South Carolina: https://sc.gov/
Footnotes ...
| <1> | If we encounter the name of what might be a community, our methodology is to add that name to our Gazetteer as a placeholder. As we find more information about that community, it will be added to our Gazetteer. Just as a reminder: Our definition of a community is rather broad and includes those places (or areas) where several families lived and had a name which identified that place. For example, you might hear somebody say that they are going over to Bird Creek to see Pete ... Bird Creek is just a gas station and a couple of homes at the crossroads. While it might not be on the map, everybody in the area knows it by that name. Places of interest include buildings at a crossroad, several families clustered in a hollow or maybe the location of a way station. It also includes places like mines, lumber camps, ferry crossings, etc. The community might still exist, is now gone or only existed for just a short period of time. Also keep in mind that Columbia could have been on the original document by mistake, misspelled, the original/alternate name of a community that we've listed elsewhere or was placed in the wrong county. Sometimes a post office or train station would have a different name than the community where it's located, so two names might be referring to the same community - we're working to straighten it all out. |
| <2> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Columbia) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Columbia. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 34.0006, Longitude: -81.0353 |
| <3> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Columbia, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required. |
| <5> | While we have tried to pick reasonable speeds, the rate of travel is very theoretical - obstacles like fences, hills, lakes, river crossings and rest stops have been ignored. When we say 'Days' of travel, we're assuming 8 hours of travel per day. |
| <6> | The shortest line can be visualized by stretching a string on a Globe from Point A to Point B - this is known as a Great Circle Route. Where you might expect the shortest route from Columbia to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East. |
| <7> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 310.323 degrees. |
| <8> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.492 degrees. |
| <9> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 307.932 degrees. |