Columbia is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is the county seat of Boone County and home to the University of Missouri. Founded in 1821, it is the principal city of the five-county Columbia metropolitan area. It is Missouri's fourth most-populous and fastest growing city, with an estimated 126,254 residents in 2020.
Downtown Columbia is the central business, government, and social core of Columbia, Missouri and the Columbia Metropolitan Area. Three colleges — the University of Missouri, Stephens College, and Columbia College — all border the area. Downtown Columbia is an area of approximately one square mile surrounded by the University of Missouri on the south, Stephens College to the east, and Columbia College on the north. The area serves as Columbia's financial and business district and is the topic of a large initiative to draw tourism, which includes plans to capitalize on the area's historic architecture and Bohemian characteristics. The downtown skyline is relatively low and is dominated by the 10-story Tiger Hotel, built in 1928, and the 15-story Paquin Tower.
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is a geological preserve and public recreation area encompassing 2,273 acres (920 ha), five miles (8.0 km) south of Columbia in Boone County, Missouri off of Missouri Route 163.
LaBarque Creek Conservation Area (LCCA) consists of 1,274 acres (5.16 km2) in northwestern Jefferson County, Missouri. It is south of Pacific and southwest of Eureka. The LCCA is part of the Henry Shaw Ozark Corridor. The Young Conservation Area is about 2 miles (3.2 km) to the east, Myron and Sonya Glassberg Family Conservation Area is 1.2 mi (1.9 km) to the northeast, Pacific Palisades Conservation Area is 3.3 miles (5.3 km) to the north, Catawissa Conservation Area is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) northwest, and Robertsville State Park is 4.7 miles (7.6 km) west.
Rocky Fork Township is one of ten townships in Boone County, Missouri, USA. The city of Hallsville is the largest settlement in the township.
Three Creeks Township is one of ten townships in Boone County, Missouri, USA. The township's contains part of the city of Ashland and also a part of the village of Pierpont.
Boone County Historical Society was established in 1924. Located in Columbia, Missouri, United States, the Boone County Historical Museum has been collecting, preserving and exhibiting artifacts and records of the people of Boone County, Missouri.
Clear Creek is a stream in Boone County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is a tributary of Little Bonne Femme Creek.
Deer Park is an unincorporated community in Boone County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is located south of Columbia on U.S. Route 63.
Hinkson Creek is a stream in Boone County in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its middle section runs through the city of Columbia, Missouri It was named after Robert Hinkson, a pioneer citizen who lived along its banks. Several trails, conservation areas, and parks are along its path. it eventually empties into Perche Creek southwest of Columbia. The MKT Trail follows the creek in Boone County.
Bonne Femme Creek is a stream in Boone County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is a tributary of the Missouri River. The creek is one of the "three creeks" of Three Creeks Conservation Area. According to tradition, Bonne Femme was the nickname of an Indian who helped a French settler recover from his wounds. Its two major tributaries are Turkey Creek and Bass Creek.
Turkey Creek is a stream in Boone County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is a tributary of Bonne Femme Creek. Turkey Creek was named for the wild turkeys along its course. It is one of three large creeks in Three Creeks Conservation Area.
First Baptist Church is a historic Baptist church in Columbia, Missouri. In 1823, at the time of its founding, it was the first and only church in Columbia. The Church and its members have played a prominent role in civic and religious affairs in Missouri. The church's Georgian Revival style sanctuary sits conspicuously on Broadway in Downtown Columbia; it is the fourth church building and second at that location. Stephens College, formerly a baptist institution founded by church members, is across the street. First Baptist has both a traditional and contemporary Sunday services, and formerly hosted a Swahili-language congregation. The church is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. In 2001, the congregation joined the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and its longtime affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention was ended. In 2004, the Odyssey Chamber Music Series was founded as part of a community outreach effort. In addition, the Plowman Chamber Music Competition, Columbia Handbell Ensemble, Esterhazy Quartet, and the University of Missouri School of Music utilize the sanctuary as a performance venue. William Jewell, namesake of William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, has been described as the leading force behind the creation of the church. The first meeting took place in the home of Charles Hardin, father of Charles Henry Hardin governor of Missouri.
Bass Creek is a stream in Boone County in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is a tributary of Bonne Femme Creek, which flows into the Missouri River. The creek is one of the "three creeks" of Three Creeks Conservation Area. It is a losing stream and some of its water flows through Hunters Cave. The creek is named after Eli Bass, whose plantation it flowed through for much of the 1800s.
Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area is a nature preserve and wetland in Boone County, Missouri. Located mainly in the Missouri River floodplain southwest of Columbia, Missouri and managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation, the wetlands are a refugee for migrating birds and home to several breeding pairs of bald eagles. The area is named after these eagles and the tall bluffs along the eastern edge of the Missouri River floodplain. Perche Creek flows through the refuge. McBaine, Missouri is located at the north entrance to the area. The Katy Trail State Park traverses the area.
Rock Fork Lakes Conservation Area is a nature preserve and former strip mine in Boone County, Missouri. Located north of Columbia, Missouri adjacent to Finger Lakes State Park it is over 2000 acres of lakes, wetlands, forest, and prairie. Much of the land is severely degraded from strip mining by the Peabody Coal Company from 1963 to 1972. The land was acquired by the Missouri Department of Conservation in 1979. An unstaffed shooting range is open to the public and was renovated in 2014. The 50-acre Rocky Fork Lake has a boat ramp and is used for fishing. It is named after Rocky Fork Creek.
The Smithton Land Company was a group of American pioneers who in 1818 established the frontier village of Smithton, Missouri in the Boonslick region of Missouri, then the Missouri Territory. In 1821 the settlement was renamed Columbia, Missouri and relocated slightly East of its original location. Smithton was the first county seat of Boone County. The company and town were named after Thomas Adams Smith, the receiver of the land office in Franklin, Missouri.
Sara Parker Pauley is the director of the Missouri Department of Conservation and former president of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. In each of those roles she was the first woman to serve.
Lick Creek Conservation Area is a nature preserve in Boone County, Missouri. It is named after Lick Creek, which runs through the west end. In the 20th century, the area was severely degraded by human activists, farming, and cattle grazing. The conservation department purchased the area in 1992. The preserve features a twelve-acre lake and a small pine plantation. Primitive camping is allowed.
Hart Creek Conservation Area is a nature preserve in Boone County, Missouri. It is named after Hart Creek, which runs through the area. It is adjacent to the Katy Trail State Park, which runs along its southwestern border. The area is primarily managed forest and limestone bluffs near the Missouri River. It is located near the town of Hartsburg, Missouri.
