COLUMBIA, the capital of South Carolina, U.S.A., and the county seat of Richland county, on the Congaree river, in the geographical centre of the State. It is on Federal highways ei, 21 and 76; is served by the Atlantic Coast line, the Columbia, Newberry and Laurens, the Seaboard Air Line, and the Southern railways; and has an aviation field at the fair grounds, pending the completion of a permanent air-port. The population in 1920 was 37,524 (38.5% negroes), an.d was 51,581 in 193o. Sub urbs just outside the city limits add 13,000 to the metro politan population. The city is beautifully situated on a bluff above the river. Wide streets, many trees and fine public build ings make it very attractive. The State house is built of granite from near-by quarries, and has specimens of over so species of trees on its grounds. Columbia is the centre of a rich agricultural and forest district. It has important manufactures, especially of cotton goods, cotton-oil, fertilizer and machinery. The output of its 69 factories in 1927 was valued at $17,572,146. The assessed valuation of property is over $18,000,000. The University of South Carolina, chartered in i8or as South Carolina college, and opened here in 1804, has an enrolment of over 2,000. Among the other educational institutions are Columbia college (1854) and Chicora college (1906), for women; Benedict college (1870), for negroes of both sexes; Dickerson Theological seminary (African Methodist Episcopal); Columbia Theological seminary (Presby terian); and Southern Lutheran Theological seminary. The State penitentiary and the State insane asylum are here. In 1786, when the site was still largely forest, it was chosen for the capital, and a town was laid out, which was governed directly by the legis lature until 1805, when it was incorporated as a village. A city charter was secured in 1854. On Feb. 17, 1865, Gen. Sherman entered Columbia, and that night a fire broke out which destroyed most of the city. From June 1862, until the close of the war, the buildings of the university (then the college) were used by the Confederate Government for a hospital.