Ryan Street Area Apartments for Rent

The Ryan Street area is located directly north of the heart of downtown Columbia. It lies within zip code 29203. It is south of Interstate 20 and north of Interstate 126. The boundaries for the community are Ryan Street to the west, Miriam Avenue to the north, Hawthorne and Wildsmere Avenues to the east, and Glenn Avenue to the south (or southwest edge of the neighborhood.)

Homes in this neighborhood are small, which is characteristic of the time most of these homes were built — primarily the 1940s and 1950s. Almost all of these are single-story dwellings, although there are a few 1 1/2-story structures. They range from 825 square feet to just over 1,800 square feet, and the predominant architectural style is the bungalow.

It is also relatively close to the Riverfront Park and Historic Columbia Canal. The State government constructed the Columbia Canal between 1819 and 1824. The canal made it possible for freight traveling by water, to get safely past the shoals and rapids at the head of the Congaree River.

The canal originally began at the foot of Richland Street and wasn’t much longer than three miles. It ended where the Olympia quarries are currently located. Up until the arrival of railroads, about 20 years after the canal was built, the canal served as an important transportation corridor.

In 1863, the Confederate government leased a large portion of the canal, in order to construct a power mill right above the Congaree River. In 1865, however, General Sherman and his troops destroyed the mill. Between 1888 and 1891, the canal was reconstructed to be used as a source for hydroelectric power.

In 1895, it provided the electricity for the world’s first hydroelectric textile mill. The second important function for the canal came in 1906, when a new municipal water plant was constructed.

Today, the canal serves many purposes. In addition to functioning as a source of water and electricity, it is used as a recreational facility and residents and visitors can enjoy the 2 1/2 miles of park that is used for fishing, picnicking, walking, jogging, and biking.