University of Missouri - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Columbia is an interesting little town. Well, actually, it’s a relatively big city, with about 100,000 residents. But, even though the population is larger than say, a suburb of St. Louis, Kansas City, or Chicago, many students agree that there is still much to explore around town. Once you leave the campus, there are shops, restaurants, bars, and trendy niche stores at your disposal. Scores of students like to go downtown to eat at the restaurants, watch some live shows, or just to admire the serene parkland sprinkled in between the strip malls, the bars, and the highway.

During the day, especially in the springtime, it is a beautiful experience to see the ornate stone churches rise over your head while strolling down Ninth Street. It all makes for a fascinating atmosphere. Like any college town, Columbia becomes slightly edgy when night falls. A few homeless people begin to emerge, drunken students stumble toward taxi cabs, and a subtle uneasiness grips the city. Still, there is enough in Columbia to keep people satisfied and happy throughout their college tenure.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Get a buddy, and go for a drive as... Get a buddy, and go for a drive as often as you can; it’s a completely different world. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere in the town is... The atmosphere in the town is pretty active. There are usually art exhibits, plays, concerts, movies, and outdoor stuff. Columbia College and Stephens College are also in town, so there are a lot of students. St. Louis and Kansas City are only two hours away, so they make nice weekend trips. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Columbia has a very low cost of... Columbia has a very low cost of living, but it’s still a great town with plenty to do. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

MU is a great campus. It actually... MU is a great campus. It actually qualifies as a botanical garden. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The campus is very rich in... The campus is very rich in tradition, and it is full of beautiful landmarks. The columns and Jesse Hall are two of the most beautiful things I’ve seen. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Columbia:
• The city is home to the first land-grant university west of the Mississippi River.
• The town’s lifeblood is I-70, which attracts a lot of tourism and businesses, especially restaurants.
• Columbia is home to two competing newspapers: the Columbia Missourian (created by the journalism school) and the independent Columbia Tribune.
• Mayor Darwin Hindman has been in office since 1995 and has been opening up parks around the city ever since. He is known to bike through Francis Quadrangle regularly.
• The Blue Note attracts established acts like Willie Nelson, Better than Ezra, and Third-Eye Blind.

Famous People from Columbia:
Hilary Masters (author)
E. W. Stephens (former Senator)

Local Slang:
The Berg – The Heidelberg, a famous and wonderful eatery on Ninth Street. It was rebuilt after burning down in 2003.
Buck’s Tiger Stripe ice cream – World famous ice cream, vanilla ice cream with Oreo cookies swirled around.
The Columns – The freestanding columns in front of Jesse.
CoMo – A combination of Columbia, Missouri.
Fo’ sakey, my jockey – For sure, man!
I-70 – The highway that runs into and out of Columbia.
Mizzou – What many students call the University of Missouri.

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