The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Columbia Encyclopedia World Factbook Columbia Gazetteer American Heritage Coll. It is a railroad center in a region that grows apples and peaches. Manufactures include textiles, hosiery, glassware, and cement.
Limestone is quarried nearby.
In the Civil War the city's strategic location on the railroad made it a frequent military objective. Belle Boyd, the Confederate spy, lived there and was imprisoned in the old courthouse. Nearby Bunker Hill, settled c.1729, is the oldest recorded settlement in the state. Sleepy Creek State Park is also near the city. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.