Origination of Street Names in Columbia SC

Ever wonder what the street names mean throughout the City of Columbia?  Many of the streets were named for either the American Revolution heroes or influential contributors to the State’s economy.

The streets running north and south were mostly comprised for Generals and Officers in the American Revolution, which were heroic figures for the State of South Carolina.  For instance, Sumter Street was named after General Thomas Sumter, Marion Street was named for General Francis Marion “The Swamp Fox”, and Bull Street was named after General Stephen Bull.  However, there are exceptions such as Assembly Street, which was named for the General Assembly.

The streets running east and west are named for influences of the South Carolina's economic prosperity.  Gervais Street was named for Senator John Lewis Gervais who introduced a bill that resulted in Columbia as the Capital of the state.  Blossom Street is rumored to come from the cotton blossom, which was a crop that prospered throughout the State.

So next time your driving through Five Points, The Vista, or Downtown Columbia look for historical landmarks.  It’s easy to zoom past them in a car but they tell a lot about the real estate in Columbia SC and how the development of Columbia originated.

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