The city has frequently ranked on Money magazine's best places to live in the United States, and is an important business center. The city is also well-known for being one of the most educated municipalities in the nation, as more than half of the population has a bachelor's degree. Columbia was once home to both the Osage and the Missouri Indians. The first permanent settlement in the area was ca
lled Smithton. The settlement was founded in 1818, by a group known as the Smithton Land Company. Columbia College, which would later become the University of Missouri, was founded in the city in 1839. The area soon become home to several other academic institutions. As Missouri stayed in the Union during the Civil War, the city was fortunately spared any destruction. The University of Missouri served as a base for Union troops in the area, and dissuaded any insurgence by the Southern sympathizers in the region. Today, Columbia is an important economic center in Missouri. Several insurance companies are headquartered in the city, including Columbia Insurance Group and Shelter Insurance. The city is also home to three local universities, the University of Missouri, Columbia College, and Stephens College. Furthermore, many local residents work in the capital of Missouri, Jefferson City, which is located approximately 30 miles from the Columbia. In addition to its economic impact, Columbia is an important cultural center. The city is home to the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts, a former movie palace that is on the National Register of Historic Places. Columbia also has another entertainment venue, Jesse Auditorium, which is located on the University of Missouri campus. The community frequently welcomes touring Broadway productions and concerts. In addition to the art community in Columbia, the city also boasts large number of sports fans. The University of Missouri's Missouri Tigers are the the most popular team in Columbia, and the team holds games at Faurot Field throughout the year. The city also holds the NRA Bianchi Cup shooting tournament every Memorial Day weekend.
