Columbia is a beautiful, planned community in Howard County, Central Maryland, USA. It lies to the southwest of Baltimore and Northeast of Washington, D.C. Real-estate developer James Rouse designed it. In the 1950s, he pioneered the enclosed shopping malls, therefore began a significant feature of the suburban United States. Columbia structured in a way to maximize interaction between residents. The development was such that it attracted a high racial and economic integration, and from the late 1960s, it drew a lot of homesteaders.
Above all Columbia, as a bustling city, continues to grow through its technological revolution. Let’s take some time to familiarize ourselves with the best places to live in Columbia, MD.
Hickory Ridge Community
The first residents of Hickory Ridge had moved into the neighborhood of Hawthrone in 1973. Others followed suit in the Clemens Crossing neighborhood. Their third and largest neighborhood, Clary’s forest, developed in the mid-1980s. Since then, it has increased to 4,700 housing units and more than 13,000 residents, making it the second-largest village in Columbia.
Wilde Lake Community
The Village of Wilde Lake known as the ‘historic district’ of Columbia. In the year 1967, this ground gave way for other structures. It was then that the construction of Slayton house, the Swim Center, Wilde Lake Tennis Center, and Village Center for the expansion of the area began. The houses and apartments first emerged in the neighborhood of Bryant Woods. Currently, Wilde Lake has a variety of housing options, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and rental apartments. New neighborhoods in the Village are Faulkner Ridge and Running Brook. Wilde Lake has its importance in the village landscape.
Town Center
Situated in the heart of Columbia, the residents of the town center enjoy living in an urban community and Columbia’s Downtown has six neighborhoods, Amesbury Hill, Banneker, Lakefront, Vantage Point, Creighton’s Run, and Warfield. It contains most urban residential housing of Columbia, while still maintaining a bit of a feel that is suburban. The Downtown of Columbia is Town Center, which serves as the primary commercial area.
Owen Brown
Owen Brown area named after a renowned postmaster and store owner. Mr. Owen Brown operated a store on what is now the intersection of Route 108 and Manor Lane. The name was initially just a working title for the development, but the name stuck. The Owen Brown Community Association created in May of 1972, and the first residents moved into the Village in 1973. Owen Brown was the 5th village developed in Columbia. It has three neighborhoods, each named for an original land tract. Not to forget, this area contains 144 Streets which have names taken from classic literature.
River Hill
The Village of River Hill is composed of two residential neighborhoods. Their names are Pheasant Ridge and Pointers Run. River Hill is located off Route 108 in Clarksville. Before the start of residential construction, the village site was originally a game farm. James Rouse, Columbia’s founder, had the vision that part of river hill is set aside for recreational uses, including a lake and ski slopes. Later he observed the mating flight of the American Woodcock in a field which was off Trotter Road. This convinced him of the environmental value of the area, and thus he agreed to preserve a portion of the land. This land is now known as the Middle Patuxent Environment Area.
