Richland County lies in the South Carolina midlands. Its county seat, Columbia, also serves as the state capital.
The county was founded in 1785 within the Camden District, and its name most likely refers to the “rich land” of the county. In 1791, Richland County became smaller when land previously belonging to this county was added to Kershaw County.
During the Civil War, Sherman entered Richland County and occupied Columbia before setting it on fire.
Since its founding, Columbia has served as an economic hub for the state, especially in terms of trade and manufacturing. The county is home to Fort Jackson, Congaree National Park, and multiple lakes and rivers. Notable county residents include Senator Wade Hampton and President Woodrow Wilson.
SOURCES: About Richland County.
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This view of Columbia from across the Congaree River appeared in the New York "Illustrated News" on January 5, 1861. Courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library.
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Map of Taylor's Farm, or the original survey plat of Columbia. Before the Revolution, the newly established settlements in the Upcountry of South Carolina did not have much voice in the government of...
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The first air express out of Columbia, at Owens Field, 1936. Mayor L.B. Owens poses with M.A. Shepard and Robert Reed, pilot and co-pilot. The plane was owned by Delta Airlines. Courtesy of the South...
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Columbians call this complicated intersection of Interstate Highways 26 and 126 with Bush River Road, just north of their city, "Malfunction Junction." Photo by Todd Houston, June 1987. Courtesy of...
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School buses pull up to unload children for a day of recreation at Sesquicentennial State Park, near Columbia, in 1941. Courtesy of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.
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Early automobiles did not have self-starters. In this posed picture, the children of Columbia photographer Walter L. Blanchard are turning the crank of their family automobile in front of their home...
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This photograph of the retail section of Columbia in 1908 shows the trolley system in use in the city. Courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library.
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Main Street, Columbia, with street car traffic, around 1912. Courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library.
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Union Station, Columbia, in 1962, after the heyday of the railroads had passed. At its height, the Union Station served passenger trains of the Atlantic Coast Line, the Southern Railway and the...
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In 1916, the Broad River flooded between Leeds and Carlisle, making the Seaboard Railroad trestle across the Broad the only passable roadway. Courtesy of the Winthrop University Archives.
