Columbia named one of ten best college towns, 2016

Columbia was named one of the ten best college towns in the United States last week by Livability for its 2016 ranking.

“We’re delighted to have a national ranking acknowledge what we know to be true about Columbia – it’s the best place to not only live but also to attend a college or university,” said Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin.

Livability.com recognized Columbia’s capacity to harbor a high concentration of schools and a highly-educated population, in addition to an environment conducive to both academic and social opportunity. The city was also commended for “endless entertainment options” and for its colleges and universities’ ability to provide cultural and economic enhancements to the city as a whole.

“The thing about college towns is that they aren’t only great places for high school seniors to consider,” said Livability managing editor Christopher Pilny. “They’re great places for everyone to consider, as many of the best places to live in the U.S. are those that have colleges and/or universities.”

Other highlighted aspects of the city were the evolving arts atmosphere, great restaurants, outdoor recreation opportunities and notable city districts.