The city of Columbia is the fifth-largest city in the state of Missouri and is located in Boone County right along the Missouri River. The city is roughly equidistant to both St. Louis and Kansas City, and so it shares influences from both of those major cities, while also possessing a unique cultural atmosphere all its own. The city is rapidly expanding and is undergoing a construction boom with new hotels, apartment buildings, condos and restaurants being built in the newly revitalized downtown area. The consistent economic growth and cultural opportunities make Columbia a great city to live in, and it has been ranked as high as number two on Money magazine's list of the best places to live in the United States.
This guide will provide you with some helpful tips and information on just about everything you need to know if you're going to be making the move to Columbia. From the city's neighborhoods and school systems to the employment options and recreational activities available within the city, you'll find it all in this guide so that you can go into your move with the knowledge that is needed to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Columbia Climate
Hot and humid summers and cold winters are the characteristic feature of Missouri's climate. Without high mountains or oceans nearby, Missouri experiences a wide range of temperature changes. The city of Columbia in particular experiences dramatic seasonal contrasts in temperature and overall weather, and is located right in between humid continental and humid subtropical climate zones, meaning that the weather can vary greatly depending on the time of year.
When moving to Columbia, make sure to pack clothes for all kinds of weather. The typical weather patterns in Columbia vary from season to season, and from blistering hot and humid summers to frequent snowfall in the winters, you should be prepared for all weather. Thunderstorms and powerful tornadoes are also common in the area during the hot summer months, and knowing how to properly protect yourself during these storms is incredibly important.
Columbia Geography and Neighborhoods
While it is comprised of over 36 different districts and neighborhoods, the city of Columbia is centered on its downtown area, and most of the city's easily recognizable features and landmarks are located downtown. Being that the city is home to the University of Missouri, the university's campus is one of the main features of the downtown area and the city is most frequently associated with the school. Four of the city's districts are recognized as historic districts and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These neighborhoods include Downtown Columbia, the East Campus Neighborhood, Francis Quadrangle and the North Ninth Street Historic District. Although Downtown Columbia is only one square mile in area, it is perhaps the busiest area in the city and serves as the educational and financial center of Columbia, as well as drawing the most tourism into the city.
Living Costs in the City
Columbia is a culturally diverse city in that it is focused on education and forward thinking, and its economy is just as diverse. Columbia has a fairly low cost of living, and when compared to other cities in the region, as well as throughout the state of Missouri, the city of Columbia finds itself right in the middle in terms on the cost of things like food, utilities and other typical living expenses. The median family income in Columbia is $64,669, which is slightly higher than the national average for median family income and contributes to the low cost of living in Columbia.
The median home price for an average home in Columbia is $150,000, also lower than other real estate market prices when compared to competing markets in surrounding areas, and lower than the national average as well. With a median family income that is slightly above the national average and real estate prices that are slightly lower than average, it's a great time to buy property in Columbia and the city's low real estate prices, growing economy and low cost of living make it an ideal place to settle down.
Registering Your Car
You have 30 days to register your car in Missouri from the date of the beginning of your residency in the state of Missouri. Registration is done at various licensed offices of the Missouri Department of Revenue. All motor vehicles are exempt from the safety inspection for the first five years following the model year of manufacture, regardless of change of ownership.
Out of state driver's licenses valid or expired no more than 184 days, along with the required documents, need to be submitted to obtain a Missouri driver's license. In case you lose your license, you are asked to submit a current clearance letter from the state, and also have to take the written, vision and driving tests again to obtain a driver's license.
Columbia Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to Columbia, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in Missouri. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Columbia Schools
Columbia is the home of the main campus of the University of Missouri, and the city as a whole has a long and rich history of education. Often nicknamed "College Town USA," over half of Columbia's residents have a bachelor's degree and over a quarter hold graduate degrees, making it the 13th most highly educated city in the nation.
The Columbia Public School District operates all of the public schools in the city, in which there are currently over 17,000 students enrolled in four public high schools and several middle and elementary schools. The high schools include David H. Hickman High School, Rock Bridge High School, Dr. Muriel Williams Battle High School and Frederick Douglass High School. In addition to the University of Missouri, other colleges in the city include Columbia College and Stephens College.
Columbia Employment
The education, healthcare and insurance industries account for most of Columbia's economy, and the city's largest employer is the University of Missouri. Some corporations that are headquartered in Columbia include Shelter Insurance, Columbia Insurance Group, MFA Incorporated, Carfax, Datastorm Technologies, Inc. and Slackers CDs and Games.
The city of Columbia is in the midst of a period of great growth and expansion and the economy is thriving. The current unemployment rate is low, at 4.4 percent as of March 2013, while the job growth rate is on the rise at 12.64 percent. Some of the city's largest employers are University of Missouri Health Care, Columbia Public Schools, Shelter Insurance, MBS Textbook Exchange, State Farm and the City of Columbia.
Public Transportation
The city of Columbia has a public transportation system operated by Columbia Transit, which provides bus service in and around Columbia and surrounding areas as well. The buses run from Monday through Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and from 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays. The city also has many walking paths and bike trails located throughout the city for convenient pedestrian and bike travel.
The closest airport is Columbia Regional Airport, which is the only commercial airport in mid-Missouri and features commercial flights from Delta Airlines. For rail travel, you can ride on the Columbia Terminal Railroad (COLT), which runs throughout the city.
Culture and Contemporary Life
Columbia has several popular art and music venues located in its newly revitalized downtown area, along with some great bars, restaurants and clubs. Some of these venues include the Missouri Theater Center for the Arts, Jesse Auditorium, and The Blue Note. The city also hosts a number of annual festivals like the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival and the True/False Film Festival.
College sports are also very big in Columbia, with the city being the home to the University of Missouri. College football is played at Faurot Field on Saturdays in the fall, and the Missouri Tigers are new members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the most competitive college football conference in the nation. Also, being situated almost directly between Kansas City and St. Louis, the city contains fans of teams from both cities, and with the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams going during the fall and St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals during the spring and summer, sports are a popular diversion.
Moving to Columbia
Whatever your reasons for moving to Columbia, whether it be for a change of scenery or for employment, the city beckons you with its charm. The first step in the process of moving to Columbia is choosing a moving company after first checking their BBB ratings, insurance and license. The moving rates are charged by the hour if you are moving within the state boundary, while for a long distance move the charges will depend on the total weight or volume in cubic feet of your belongings. In the latter case, you can ask about a flat rate or any special discounts that are available with the mover.