By Warner M. MontgomeryWarner@TheColumbiaStar.com

Columbia was the first planned city in the United States. The original grid of 1790 consisted of 20 streets running north- south named for Revolutionary War heroes and 20 running east- west named for native products.

Over the years some of the original names have been changed. Upper Street became Elmwood Avenue. Lower Street became Heyward Street. Richardson Street was renamed Main Street when it became the commercial center. Others changed were Medium to College, Plain to Hampton, Walnut to Blanding, Lumber to Calhoun, Tobacco to Catawba, Indigo to Whaley, Gates to Park, and Winn to Gregg.