| The City of Columbia was founded in 1818
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| | to hang out is "The Devil's Icebox" which
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| and is an economical and recreational
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| | brings relief to the hot summer months.
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| core for Mid-Missouri. Columbia is
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| | Shelter Gardens is Columbia's
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| located along Hwy 70 and Hwy 63 and is 90
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| | award-winning five acre garden featuring
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| minutes west of St. Louis, Missouri and
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| | over 300 varieties of trees and shrubs as
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| two hours east of Kansas City, Missouri.
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| | well as over 15,000 annuals and
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| As of 2006, Columbia's population was
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| | perennials.
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| 91,877 and the combined population, which
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| | The Activity and Recreation Center,
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| includes the surrounding area, was
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| | locally known as the ARC, gives residents
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| 153,283. The city has been ranked as high
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| | a chance to splash in the pool, exercise
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| as the #2 best place to live in the US by
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| | and enjoy many other activities. A fun
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| Money Magazine and is regularly listed in
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| | way to take advantage of the outdoors is
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| the top 100.
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| | at Shyrocks Callaway Farms corn maze, an
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| Making Columbia, Missouri a major
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| | outdoor maze cut into more than 12 acres
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| educational center are many colleges and
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| | of corn. The Perche Creek Golf Club has
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| universities including the University of
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| | mini-golf and nearby public golf courses
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| Missouri, Stephen's College, Moberly Area
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| | are Gustin Golf Course, LA Nickell Golf
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| Community College and Columbia College.
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| | Course, Columbia Public Golf, Lake of the
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| Also nearby are Lincoln University,
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| | Woods Golf Course and Eagle Knoll Golf
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| Westminster College, Central Methodist
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| | Club.
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| College, William Woods University and
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| | Columbia's dining experience is a diverse
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| Kemper Military School. The city's
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| | cuisine, offering nearly every type of
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| nationally recognized public school
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| | food the world has to offer. Some of the
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| system and educational institutes make
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| | most popular and well-known restaurants,
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| Columbia one of the most well-educated
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| | bistros, bars and cafés are 63 Diner,
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| cities in America.
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| | Addison's, Applebee's, Bennigan's,
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| Columbia, Missouri maintains a
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| | Booche's, Boone Tavern, Buckingham
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| consistently low cost of living and has
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| | Smokehouse Bar-B-Q, Buffalo Wild Wings,
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| endless employment opportunities. The
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| | Chuck E. Cheese's, CJ's Restaurant, Cold
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| largest employers to Columbia and the
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| | Stone, Cracker Barrel, Dairy Queen, El
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| city's surrounding area are University of
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| | Maguey, Felini Restaurant, Flat Branch
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| Missouri- Columbia, University Hospitals
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| | Pub & Brewery, Formosa Chinese
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| & Clinics, Columbia Public Schools, Boone
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| | Restaurant, G&D Steak House, Grand Cru,
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| Hospital Center, City of Columbia, State
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| | Hardee's, Harpo's, Heavenly Ham, Imo's
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| Farm Insurance Companies, Shelter
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| | Pizza, Jack's Gourmet, Jimmy John's,
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| Insurance Companies, MBS Textbook
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| | Longhorn Steakhouse, Main Squeeze Natural
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| Exchange, Columbia Foods Inc, 3M, Boone
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| | Foods Café & Juice Bar, McDonald's,
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| County Government, Dana Corporation,
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| | Murry's, Ninth Street Deli, Old Chicago,
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| Columbia College, Square D, Boone County
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| | Olive Garden, Panera, Red Lobster, Sake`
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| National Bank, Tribune Publishing
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| | Japanese Bistro, Shake's Frozen Custard,
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| Company, Collins & Aikman, MFA, Summit
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| | Shakespeare's Pizza, Sophia's, T.P.'s Bar
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| Polymers, ABC Laboratories Inc., and
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| | & Grill, Truman's Bar & Grill, and more.
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| CenturyTel.
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| | Columbia, Missouri is a focal point of
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| The city offers a rich exploration of
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| | shopping opportunity with stores like
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| culture, entertainment, recreation,
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| | Bass Pro Shops, Best Buy, Old Navy,
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| dining, and shopping. The District is
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| | Macy's, Wal-Mart, Pier 1 Imports, Circuit
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| Columbia's most sought after venue,
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| | City, Kohl's, Tuesday Morning, Hobby
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| boasting 110 unique shops, 70 bars and
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| | Lobby, Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and more.
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| restaurants, 40 live performances a week
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| | The local Columbia Farmer's Market is a
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| as well as its beautiful historical
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| | great place to purchase locally made and
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| architecture, sidewalk cafes and street
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| | grown goods. The Root Cellar and Clover's
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| musicians.
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| | Market also sell organic foods and other
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| Residents and visitors alike enjoy the
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| | products.
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| cultural experiences given by the
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| | The District, located in downtown
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| Missouri Symphony at The Missouri
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| | Columbia, has unique gift boutiques,
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| Theatre, the Columbia Civic Orchestra and
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| | jewelry stores and retail shops such as
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| the University of Missouri Concert
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| | 9th Street Bookstore, Aardvarx, A La
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| Series, which has a broad selection of
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| | Campagne, Allen's Flowers, Alpine Shop,
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| opera, ballet, orchestra, chamber, jazz,
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| | American Shoe, Bermuda Gold, Binghams,
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| popular, modern dance, Broadway and more.
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| | Britches Clothing, Buchroeder's Jewelers,
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| The city's famous Maplewood Barn Theatre
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| | Butterfly Tattoo, Calhoun's Accent
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| is a delightful outdoor theatre set under
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| | Furnishings, Candy Factory, Cool Stuff,
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| the stars at Nifong Park near HWY 63 and
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| | Dryer's Shoe Store, Gotcha, Makes Scents,
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| AC.
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| | Merle Norman Cosmetics, Mud Room, My
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| Entertainment can be found in The
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| | Secret Garden, Slackers CD's & Games, Top
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| District at the Déjà Vu Comedy Club.
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| | Ten Wines, Tucker's Fine Jewelry,
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| Columbia's nationally acclaimed comedy
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| | Villager on Broadway and Wren's
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| club has seen the likes of Tim Allen,
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| | Birkentstock.
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| Tommy Davidson, Dennis Leary, Bobcat
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| | The Columbia Mall is a hub of stores
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| Goldthwait, George Lopez and Drew Carry.
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| | ranging from Abercrombie & Fitch,
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| The Blue Note is Mid-Missouri's finest
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| | Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters,
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| and most popular live entertainment
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| | Ann Taylor Loft, Barnes & Noble, Bath &
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| venue. Columbia is also home to local
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| | Body Works, Buckle, Champ Sports,
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| artists and various live bands.
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| | Christopher Banks, Claire's Boutique,
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| Columbia has a full schedule of year
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| | Coldwater Creek, Deb, Deck the Walls,
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| round festivals including the True/False
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| | Dillard's, EB Games, Eddie Bauer,
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| Film Festival, Twilight Festival, Hot
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| | Express, f.y.e., Finish Line, Gap,
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| Summer Nights, Central Missouri
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| | Gymboree, Helzberg Diamonds, Hollister,
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| Renaissance Festival, Concert Series with
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| | Hot Topic, Hurst Diamond Shop, JCPenney,
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| the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, Art in
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| | Kay Jewelers, Hallmark, Limited Too,
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| the Park, Columbia Earth Day Celebration,
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| | Motherhood Maternity, New York & Company,
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| Ninth Street Summerfest, The Blind Boone
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| | Payless ShoeSource, Sears, The Shoe
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| Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival, First
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| | Department, Spencer Gifts, Talbots,
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| Night Columbia, Living Windows Festival,
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| | Target, The Children's Place, Things
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| Columbia Festival of Arts and the Boone
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| | Remembered, Vanity, Victoria's Secret,
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| County Heritage Festival.
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| | Yankee Candle Co. and Zales Jewelers.
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| The plentiful scenery of Columbia and
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| | Columbia, Missouri is a well-rounded city
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| Mid-Missouri is emphasized with a bounty
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| | and is second only to Rochester,
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| of parks such as Oakland Park,
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| | Minnesota, in patient capacity per
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| Cosmopolitan Park (Cosmo), Grindstone
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| | capita. The city facilitates hospitals
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| Nature Area, Finger Lakes State Park,
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| | and clinics including Boone Hospital,
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| Nifong Park, Capen Park, Rockbridge
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| | University of Missouri Hospital and
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| Memorial State Park and the Missouri Katy
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| | Clinics, Columbia Regional Hospital,
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| Trail. The Bear Creek Trail runs east and
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| | Harry S Truman Veterans Hospital,
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| west through Columbia and is accessible
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| | University of Missouri Children's
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| from Oakland Park and Cosmo. The Hinkson
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| | Hospital, Mid-Missouri Mental Health
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| Creek Trail can be accessed from Capen
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| | Center, Rusk Rehabilitation Center, and
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| Park and the MKT Trail. The coolest place
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| | Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.
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