Columbia, Maryland

The city of Columbia, Maryland, is located in Howard County, in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

Columbia is a planned community that was "opened" in 1967. The developer, James W. Rouse, wanted to create a city, not merely a bedroom community for Baltimore, which lies 17 miles (27 kilometers) to the northwest. As a result, Columbia's neighborhoods are modeled along the lines of a series of self-contained villages. Rouse was also careful to ensure that the city had green space, so 5,300 acres (2,145 hectares) of land were set aside in Columbia for parks, playgrounds, and natural open spaces. Columbia is also close to a number of parks within the Howard County Park System, such as Cedar Lane Park and Centennial Park.

Every June, Columbia hosts its annual Festival of the Arts, a forum for international, national, and regional artists. The festival draws thousands to Columbia, and past performers have included Wynton Marsalis, the Baltimore Symphony, and the Flying Karamazov Brothers.

Music is also available at the city's Merriweather Post Pavillion. The pavilion, designed by the architect Frank Gehry, is located in 40 preserved acres (16 hectares) known as Symphony Woods, and provides a season of music to residents and visitors alike.

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