Columbia, Missouri. The Athens of Missouri.

1. Columbia, Missouri
The ‘Athens of Missouri’

2.  It’s a College town
 Home to University of Missouri and the ‘Mizzou’ tigers football
team
 Home to Columbia College and Stephens College
 Education is a big deal.
 A large percentage of the teachers in the public school system
were trained at the local colleges
Why it’s a favorite among young
families -

3.  Close proximity to Missouri River
 Close to Mark Twain National Forest, Rock Bridge
State Park, Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife
Refuse, nature trails for runners and cyclists that
connect to Katy Trail State Park
 Katy Trail State Park is the longest rails-to-trails
conversion project in America, traversing 185 miles
across the state.
For the outdoor enthusiasts -

4.  Access to the University of Missouri health-care
system with over 50 primary and specialty clinics
 The University of Missouri School of Medicine ranks
29th nationwide for the best primary care by U.S.
News & World Report
 Home to Missouri Orthopedic Institute, Women’s
and Children’s Hospital and a Ronald McDonald
House.
Premium Health Care

5.  Home to Shakespeare’s Pizza – ‘America’s Best
College Hangout’ according to Good Morning
America.
 Wide range of ethnic restaurants including Thai,
Middle Eastern, and Indian
 Ethnic food stores
 A large selection of traditional family-style, steak
houses, and greasy spoon type restaurants
Dining

6.  Annual Earth Day celebrations
 Art in the Park
 True/False Film Festival
 Roots ‘n Blues ‘ BBQ Festival – live blues music and Missouri
BBQ annually
 Quick access to Kansas City and St. Louis
 13 major shopping areas including the region’s largest mall
and a downtown area that’s been highlighted in Southern
Living Magazine several times.
Entertainment and Activities

7.  Milken Institute ranked Columbia as the Number 1 Best Performing Small
City in 2013.
 Money Magazine ranks Columbia as one of the ‘Best Places to Live in the
Nation’.
 Forbes Parade Magazine named Columbia ‘the #1 Hardest Working City in
America’ (April 2012)
 Forbes has named Columbia 5 times in a row to the Top 10 list of Best Small
Places for Business and Careers. (June 2011)
 NewGeography put Columbia Missouri #20 on their list of Best Small Cities
for Job Growth (2011)
 Southern Living magazine included Columbia, Missouri in their list of ‘The
South’s Best College Towns.”
 The US Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked Columbia as having the fastest
growing economy in the state of Missouri (2013)
 In 2014, Forbes ranks Columbia 6th Best Small Places for Business and
Careers
Quality of Life

8.  Money Magazine reported ‘the price of an average
home puts Columbia in the most affordable 15% of all
cities and the cost of living places it in the best 20%’
 The ACCRA Cost of Living Index indicates housing
costs in Columbia to be 5-6% below the national
average
 In 2010, the Cost of Living in Columbia was 91.7%, well
below the national average
Housing

9.  Columbia is home to several large companies
 Shelter Insurance
 Carfax
 Veterans United Home Loans
 MoHela
 Commerce Bank
 Farmers Insurance
 U.S. Cellular
Employment

10.  If you are a Skilled IT professional and you want to
look at Columbia as a viable relocation option –
contact us at careers@power-it.net.
Thinking about moving to Columbia,
MO?