Money magazine has ranked Columbia, Maryland as the best place to live in the state. Founded in 1967 by James Rouse, the city has been a model of modern planned residential development. Located between Washington DC and Baltimore, Columbia is known for its parks, open areas, cultural institutions, and annual events. It is also home to Tenable, the largest cybersecurity company in the US, with more than half of Fortune 500 companies as customers. The city is also well-known for its medical centers and providers.
Maxim Healthcare Services, a leading medical personnel company, has been in business for over 30 years. Additionally, 10 hospitals that make up MedStar Health are located in the area and provide services to the Baltimore-Washington region. The Columbia Association maintains 3,600 acres of open space and there are several lakes, sports clubs, and playgrounds for children. For a special occasion, Sushi Sono is an excellent choice with its views of Lake Kittamaqundi. Iron Bridge Wine Company offers a selection of 300 carefully selected wines. The temperatures in Columbia range from 26°F to 86°F and partly cloudy skies are common throughout the year.
January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 27°F and February gets an average of 8 inches of snow. The Howard County Public School System manages 23 public schools in Columbia including 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 5 high schools. More than 57,000 children attend public schools in the county and it employs more than 8,000 people. Although housing is expensive in this city, rent tends to be lower than other regions of Maryland. Notable residents include Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, Cristeta Comerford, and Oprah Winfrey who lived in Columbia during the 1970s and 80s while working at WJZ-TV in Baltimore. Lake Kittamaqundi was first built in 1966 and is one of three artificial bodies of water in the District of Columbia.
