THE PLACES WE CALL HOME Seven municipalities and several major unincorporated areas make up Richland County. The County also has five defined areas outlined by the Planning Department as the Beltway, North Central, Northeast, Northwest and Southeast.
BELTWAY The Beltway is the center of Richland County and generally is not referred to by a name as other parts of the County. The Beltway includes the capital city of Columbia and the municipalities of Arcadia Lakes and Forest Acres. Full of diverse communities, this is the County’s main urban core, even though it has plenty of areas reminiscent of rural landscapes and suburban enclaves. The Beltway is home to the County’s International Corridor along Decker Boulevard in unincorporated Dentsville, called the original Northeast by some residents. The main gate to Fort Jackson is located here, too.
NORTH CENTRAL The North Central area lies north of I-20. It is bordered by the Broad River on the west and heads toward U.S. 321 to the east. The City of Columbia stretches into this part of the County, which is mostly unincorporated and referred to as Upper Richland by some residents. Along with the Southeast, it is one of the more rural areas in the County. Monticello, Winnsboro and Fairfield roads are key travel routes in the area, where rural vistas abound with rolling hills, winding roads and farms. The local community center here overlooks one of the County’s most popular golfing spots; the 257-acre, 18-hole championship quality LinRick Golf Course.
