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Columbia - The primary city of South Carolina's Midlands region

Columbia is the capital and largest city in South Carolina, with a population of 133,803 as of 2015. The city serves as the county seat of Richland County. It is the center of the Columbia metropolitan statistical area, which had a population of 810,068 by July 1, 2015, according to 2015 U.S. Census estimates. The name Columbia was a poetic term used for the United States, originating from the name of Christopher Columbus.

The city is located approximately 13 miles northwest of the geographic center of South Carolina, and is the primary city of the Midlands region of the state. It lies at the confluence of the Saluda River and the Broad River, which merge at Columbia to form the Congaree River. Columbia is home to the University of South Carolina, the state's flagship and largest university, and is also the site of Fort Jackson, the largest United States Army installation for Basic Combat Training. 

Major highways around the Columbia region

Columbia's central location between the population centers of South Carolina has made it a transportation focal point with three interstate highways and one interstate spur.

•  I-26 Interstate 26 travels from northwest to southeast and connects Columbia to the other two major population centers of South Carolina: the Greenville-Spartanburg area in the northwestern part of the state and North Charleston – Charleston area in the southeastern part of the state. It also serves the nearby towns and suburbs of Chapin, Irmo, Harbison, Gaston, and Swansea.
•  I-20 Interstate 20 travels from west to east and connects Columbia to Atlanta and Augusta in the west and Florence in the east. It serves the nearby towns and suburbs of Pelion, Lexington, West Columbia, Sandhill, Pontiac, and Elgin. Interstate 20 is also used by travelers heading to Myrtle Beach, although the interstate's eastern terminus is in Florence.
•  I-77 Interstate 77 begins at a junction with Interstate 26 south of Columbia and travels north to Rock Hill and Charlotte. This interstate also provides direct access to Fort Jackson, the U.S. Army's largest training base and one of Columbia's largest employers. It serves the nearby towns and suburbs of Forest Acres, Gadsden, and Blythewood.
•  I-126 Interstate 126 begins downtown at Elmwood Avenue and travels west towards Interstate 26 and Interstate 20. It provides access to Riverbanks Zoo.

Learn more here about recent accidents in Columbia

If you are looking for information on a specific accident in Columbia, please check the links below:

• Columbia commercial trucking accidents
• Columbia car accidents
• Columbia bus accidents
• Columbia motorcycle accidents
• Columbia pedestrian accidents
• Columbia train accidents
• Columbia boating accidents
• Columbia bicycle accidents

After an injury accident, you may need information about hospitals in Columbia:

• Palmetto Health;
• Lexington Medical Center;
• Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals.

After a fatal accident, loved ones can get help to deal with grief and loss. Go here to learn more about Columbia grief support groups.

Where to find legal assistance after you or a loved one are involved in a Columbia accident

After a serious crash, it is crucial to get help from a Columbia personal injury attorney who understands the local regulations and legal standards, who knows how insurance policies work, and who can handle all aspects of an insurance claim so the injured person can focus on recovery. Learn more here about what a Columbia accident attorney can do to help.