Founded Dec. 10, 1790, by an act of the state General Assembly, Columbia County was named for Christopher Columbus.
The county, which encompasses 290 square miles, is one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia, with a population of 89,288.
The area's strong economy has supported rapid growth in the retail sector.
There are now six motels at the Interstate 20 interchange. There has also been growth in the industrial sector, with John Deere Commercial Products breaking ground on a new plant that represents a $23 million investment.
In 1999, Electrolux Home Products located its world headquarters in Columbia County.
Other major employers include Club Car-Ingersoll Rand, Georgia Iron Works, Greenfield Industries, Serta Mattress and Quebecor World.
The per-capita income for 2000 is $23,127. The annual average unemployment rate was 1.9 percent in 2000.
The average household income for Columbia County in 2000 was $56,739.
According to Sales and Marketing Management magazine's 2000 Survey of Buying Power, retail sales in Columbia County's shopping centers averaged $833 million, with an effective buying income of $1.5 billion.
This variance provides ample room for supporting additional retail locations in the area.
Excellent, affordable housing is available in Columbia County.
The choices range from apartment complexes, affordable ($70,000-$90,000) homes, and gated communities with estate-level properties. There are two golf course communities, and two more are planned.
One community, the Big Three Golf Course, will be built on 2,000 acres near Greenbrier High School.
Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus will jointly design the 27-hole course.
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