C# algorithm refactor splitting an array into 3 parts?

Question

I have an IEnumerable and I wanted to split the data across 3 columns using the following business logic. if 3 or less items, 1 item per column, anything else I wanted to divide the total items by 3 split the leftovers (either 1 or 2 items) between the first two columns. Now this is pretty ugly but it does the job. I'm looking for tips to leverage linq a little better or possibly eliminate the switch statement. Any advice or tips that improve the code are appreciated.

var numItems = items.Count;

            IEnumerable<JToken> col1Items,
                                col2Items, 
                                col3Items;


            if(numItems <=3)
            {
                col1Items = items.Take(1);
                col2Items = items.Skip(1).Take(1);
                col3Items = items.Skip(2).Take(1);

            } else {

                int remainder = numItems % 3,
                    take = numItems / 3,
                    col1Take, 
                    col2Take, 
                    col3Take;

                switch(remainder)
                {
                    case 1:
                        col1Take = take + 1;
                        col2Take = take;
                        col3Take = take;
                        break;
                    case 2:
                        col1Take = take + 1;
                        col2Take = take + 1;
                        col3Take = take;
                        break;
                    default:
                        col1Take = take;
                        col2Take = take;
                        col3Take = take;
                        break;

                }

                col1Items = items.Take(col1Take);
                col2Items = items.Skip(col1Take).Take(col2Take);
                col3Items = items.Skip(col1Take + col2Take).Take(col3Take);

Ultimately I am using these in a mvc Razor view

<div class="widgetColumn">
                @Html.DisplayFor(m => col1Items, "MenuColumn")                       
            </div> 

            <div class="widgetColumn">
                @Html.DisplayFor(m => col2Items, "MenuColumn")                       
            </div> 

            <div class="widgetColumn">
                @Html.DisplayFor(m => col3Items, "MenuColumn")                       
            </div>  

In my first attempt I want to get rid of the colNItems and colNTake variables but i can't figure out the correct algorithm to make it work the same.

for (int i = 1; i <= 3; i++ )
            {
                IEnumerable<JToken> widgets = new List<JToken>();
                var col = i;
                switch(col)
                {
                    case 1:
                       break;
                    case 2:
                        break;
                    case 3:
                        break;
                }
            }

Answer 1

Are the columns fixed-width? If so, then there's no need to do anything special with your collection. Just rely on the browser to do it for you. Have an outer container that has the overall width of the 3 columns, then just fill it with a div for each item (and float left). Set your inner containers to have a width exactly 1/3 of the outer container.

Here's a quick fiddle

Here's a quick hint at the style

div#outer{
    width:300px;    
}

div#outer > div{
    width:100px;
    float:left;    
}

Answer 2

You could generalize:

int cols = 3;
IEnumerable<JToken> colItems[3]; // you can make this dynamic of course

int rem = numItems % cols;
int len = numItems / cols;

for (int col=0; col<cols; col++){
    int colTake = len;
    if (col < rem) colTake++;
    colItems[col] = items.Skip(col*len).Take(colTake);
}

Haven't tested, but this should work for any number of columns.

Also whenever you need variables col1, col2, col3 think of col[0], col[1], col[2].