Columbia is the capital of South Carolina and the state’s second-largest city. The South Carolina State House is located within the city. Columbia is also the home of the University of South Carolina, the largest university in the state. The name of the city comes from Christopher Columbus who had explored America for the Spanish Crown. The city is often referred to as Cola, which led it to have the nickname of “Soda City”.
Today, as a bustling city, Columbia benefits from a variety of large employers in the area. Some of the largest employers include the South Carolina state government, Palmetto Health hospital system, Fort Jackson, and the United Parcel Service. With the abundance of employment opportunities in the city, there has been tremendous growth in the population. There are a lot of homes and businesses in the area that coincide with the large population. These homes and businesses need proper fire protection.