- On March 22, 1786 a bill was approved by the state legislature to create a new state capital. This bill was introduced by Senator John (Gervais Street) Gervais. Washington was requested as the name for the new town, but Columbia won by a vote of 11-7 in the state senate.
- Columbia was laid out as a 2 mile square running beside the Congaree River. This square was divided into 400 blocks containing ½ acre lots. All residential lot buyers were required to build a minimum 540 square foot house within 3 years of their purchase.
- The 4 perimeter streets of the city were all 150 feet wide, as well as two additional through streets. The interior streets were built 100 feet wide.
- Columbia was chartered as a town in 1805. The original charter called for an Intendent and 6 Wardens to govern the people. John (Taylor Street) Taylor was the 1st elected Intendent and he went on to serve in the General Assembly and was then elected Governor of South Carolina. By the mid 1850s the titles were changed to Mayor and 6 Aldermen.
- Columbia's first water system was built by Abram Blanding. Cast iron pipes were run to the homes and businesses and water was delivered by a steam engine pump to a wood holding tank. The city purchased the water system from Blanding in 1835 and honored him by changing the name of Walnut Street to Blanding Street.
- All the streets in town were dirt until 17 blocks of Main Street were paved in 1908. The sidewalks were still being built of thick wood planking back then.
Terry Edwards www.FeaturedColumbiaHomes.com
Russell & Jeffcoat Realtors
Shandon Rosewood Forest Acres Cayce Wheeler Hill Hopkins
How Colunbia SC Rolled
Comments(0)