The most important city in the development of South Carolina is Columbia. It's the biggest city in the state with a population greater than 116,000 residents. One of the more interesting facts about this city is that the name was derived from the explorer Christopher Columbus. This helped in adding character and an identity for Columbia. Not only is Columbia the largest city in South Carolina, but it is also the capital of the state. For tourists and those that live here, the primary activity to do is kayaking and canoeing. However, Columbia wasn't the intended name for the capital of South Carolina. Originally government officials wanted to name it Washington. The debate was brought to the Senate for a vote, and Columbia received 11 votes winning the capital name by four votes. Our South Carolina yellowpages help aid in giving a better understanding of this city. For 223 years, Columbia has been the capital of South Carolina and was chosen for the primary reasons most states choose their capital - central location. For 50 years, up until 1855 Columbia was only recognized by the government as a village and not a city, but it's location in the state was the deciding factor for the change. Columbia has grown at a rapid pace since becoming a city, but it didn't always have a good reputation. In the early years, the government had poor control. The city wasn't clean, people were walking around drunk, and gambling was a huge problem. Although, this would later clear up and Columbia, South Carolina would become a predominant city in the United States. If you would like to learn more about Columbia, please visit our business directory.