Columbia, founded in 1821, is the county seat of Boone County. It is Missouri's fourth most-populous and fastest growing city, with an estimated 128,555 residents in 2022. As a Midwestern college town, Columbia has three colleges, Stephens College (1833), the University of Missouri (1839), and Columbia College (1851), which surround the city's vibrant downtown to the east, south, and north, and have made Columbia a center of learning. Education along with healthcare, insurance, and technology drive the majority if Columbia's economic growth. Columbia is known for live music, a lively downtown and surrounding arts and entertainment areas. Columbia has made several of “The Best of Lists” in 2023: The Best Place to Retire, To Raise a Family, To Live and To Buy Investment Properties.