Not from around here?
Have we got a surprise for you!

Located in the center of the state, our community is home to every amenity you’d expect of a major metropolitan area ... and some that you wouldn't ... like a 55,000 acre lake only a few miles from our church.

The Lexington/Columbia area is also just a couple of hours drive from South Carolina's world-famous beaches and the serenity of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Getting to either area is no problem. Three interstate highways intersect here and two more are just a one-hour drive away.

As you can probably tell, we're mightly proud of our community and have included this section on our website to show it off to visitors. Click on any of the topics above for a variety of helpful links to local area websites.

Lexington/Columbia: A Great Place To Call Home.

More than 583,000 people currently call the Lexington/Columbia area their home. That number is expected to increase to 648,700 by the year 2010 and to 1,000,000 by 2025. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 50.4 percent of the population is male, 49.6 percent is female. The median age is 33 years.

The Town of Lexington, about 12 miles from Columbia, is much smaller than Columbia, although growing rapidly. The latest census figures show that 9,793 people live in the town, but many more live in the outlying areas.

There is a wide variety of housing in our community. Older homes are nestled in downtown Columbia neighborhoods such as Shandon and Forest Acres. Newer neighborhoods continue to expand in the suburban areas of Irmo, Blythewood and Lexington. Along the shorelines of Lake Murray are some of the area's most spectacular homes.

The Things You Can Learn.

The Lexington/Columbia area is home to the main campus of the University of South Carolina. Nine other degree-granting colleges and universities are located in the area, including Midlands Technical College, the largest technical college in the state.

More than 130 public and 70 private schools with long established programs for all grades are also available in the two counties that make up our community—Richland and Lexington county.

Oh, The Weather!

It's no wonder so many people are choosing to live and retire in the Lexington/Columbia area. The weather here is comfortable year-round which makes almost any outdoor activity feasible at any time, including a stroll in one of our many parks with the grandchildren!

While a mild dusting of snow every year or so guarantees just a touch of winter, a round of golf in December is not the least bit unsual. (Average annual snowfall is just 1.89 inches.)

So Many Greens. So Little Time.

Parks with tennis courts and playgrounds, public and private clubs, and some dozen or so golf courses are available throughout the community. Hunting and fishing are popular in the outlying areas of the city. Weekend afternoons find families taking in the sounds of outdoor concerts in neighboring Columbia's downtown 17-acre Finlay Park or jogging, biking or walking on paths that stretch through nearby Riverfront Park.

Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden, popular among locals and out-of-towners alike, is ranked in the Top 10 zoos in the nation and rests upon the banks of the Saluda River. There is also Virginia Hylton park in Lexington itself.

Come On In. The Water’s Fine!

The Lexington/Columbia area boasts a life-long prescription for peace-of-mind—the spectacular 55,000-acre man-made Lake Murray. Recognized as one of the nation's top large-mouth bass fishing spots, Lake Murray delights residents and visitors alike along 649 miles of shoreline. There are several parks, even restaurants, on the lake. In the summer months, the lake is alive with activity ... boating, sailing, skiing and sunbathing.

Full-time residents enjoy Lake Murray's serenity and changing moods year-round. They can often be seen on the water in the afternoons after work, enjoying a little wind sailiing, a dinner or cookout on a pontoon or deck boat, a scenic motorboat tour, or a quiet canoeing trip around the lake's many placid coves. It is perhaps the ultimate way to unwind at the end of a day.

We’re Spurrier Country Now!

Sports fans can take in any number of spectator sports in the area. Columbia is home to University of South Carolina 'Gamecock' football ... and Steve Spurrier! It's also home to the Capital City Bombers baseball franchise.

A member of the southeastern conference, the University of South Carolina hosts men's and women's basketball teams in its 12,401-seat Carolina Coliseum. The University just opened a new, $70 million multi-purpose facility in downtown Columbia that with a seating capacity of about 19,000 and 41 executive suites. It is the tenth largest campus basketball facility in the country.

The 82,500-seat Williams-Brice Stadium in nearby Columbia is home to the university's football team. And just 90 miles away in nearby Charlotte, NC, Columbians can cheer on the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets and Charlotte Sting, respective members of the NFL, NBA, and WNBA.

Southern Class & Hospitality

Looking for culture? South Carolina is home to an amazing variety of prestigious arts. Also unique to the state are a number of hometown festivals which celebrate traditions, seasons and landmarks such as the Peach Festival in nearby Gilbert and the 'Okra Strut' in the town of Irmo just a few miles away.

Several art and history museums in Columbia house nationally recognized collections. A variety of theatrical, dance and musical offerings can be experienced at The Koger Center for the Arts, the Carolina Coliseum, the Township Auditorium and the nearby Newberry Opera House.

Looking for nightlife? We have that, too. The rapidly growing Congaree Vista area in downtown Columbia features local eateries and clubs catering to every age group.

You'll find whatever you want to know about our community in the links above. But, in case you don't, we invite you to call our church office anytime and we'll be glad to assist you. We want to be the first to welcome you to town ... and to the Lexington Church of Christ.