U.S. Census Bureau’s Estimates of Increases in SC’s MSA Population 2022-2023 (Columbia: schools, closing)
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Depends on whom you ask. I’m barely ever challenged because of the spot I live in. Local natives ***** all the time. New York and LA transplants give the complainers a wide-eyed look and laugh about this traffic.
Charleston = Boston (of the south). Waiting on the Charleston version of the 'big dig' for I-26 and a few harbor tunnels ...
I decided to go back to my desktop and found the chart that ranks MSA’s by population gained and rate of population growth to see how Charleston-North Charleston ranks.
7/1/22-7/1/23 number gained - 17th; percent growth - 19th
4/1/20-7/1/23 number gained - 22nd; percent growth - 39th
True- it’s still a testament to how the upstate is seeing infectious growth.. I mean, Spartanburg… Sure, the counts may be readjusted but it definitely stood out to me.
Spartanburg has been on the up-and-up for close to a decade now when it began landing some notably big economic development deals which was followed by marked population increase, and the pandemic has acted-as a growth accelerant. Its most recent yearly growth statistics is part of a longer trajectory and Spartanburg County--which is larger in area than Greenville, Richland, York, and Dorchester counties--has nothing but room to accommodate it. There really aren't any notable geographical or structural barriers to growth within the county which is also fortunate to have I-26 as its major north-south corridor and I-85 as its major east-west corridor.
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That’s nice perspective. I know is not doom and gloom but everywhere else in SC is seeing “their time” but Cola hasn’t quite, yet.
I think "everywhere else" is a wee bit of a stretch, but keep in mind Columbia never really experienced a bust either. An above-average growth rate that's more or less in line with what housing and infrastructure can keep up with is a net positive. And it's saying something that it's not quite Columbia's "time" yet considering all of the developments that have recently been built and are underway in the area.
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The Sumter addition was a pleasant surprise but not even seeing Newberry added to the MSA is astounding to me.
Really? It's about what should be expected when you think about it. Sumter's economic and population growth has been sluggish as of late so it makes sense that it's seen a greater outflow of commuters to Columbia (and probably Florence also, to a lesser degree) to make it part of the CSA. Newberry was fortunate to avoid a similar fate when the county successfully recruited Samsung to build a manufacturing facility there in 2017 which not only helped soften the blow of losing Caterpillar but also attracted suppliers and became a catalyst for more job growth itself.
I'll go out on a limb here and predict Spartanburg County will reach the 380,000-400,000 range if not higher by the end of the decade. (1) There's plenty of land. (2) There's plenty of jobs and the outlook for job growth looks good. (3) The quality of life continues to improven. (4). Location, location, location.
What about small towns and farms in Spartanburg County? When I think of metro growth, I hope for "turning around and coming back this way," said the in-town man, so as to not run over rural areas of the county, like the ones he's a product of, with suburban-style sprawl. (with an eye on rural upper Dorchester County and southern Orangeburg County's Cow Castle)
Lots of the growth in Spartanburg is probably near the border where some of Greenville's growth is sprawling across the line. Greer, Duncan, etc. Those areas work for folks that need to commute between the two.
I'll go out on a limb here and predict Spartanburg County will reach the 380,000-400,000 range if not higher by the end of the decade. (1) There's plenty of land. (2) There's plenty of jobs and the outlook for job growth looks good. (3) The quality of life continues to improven. (4). Location, location, location.
Easy bet, Spartanburg county has added 10k~ per year since 2020, assuming it continues that it'll be around 430k assuming it stays on pace.
Spartanburg has been on the up-and-up for close to a decade now when it began landing some notably big economic development deals which was followed by marked population increase, and the pandemic has acted-as a growth accelerant. Its most recent yearly growth statistics is part of a longer trajectory and Spartanburg County--which is larger in area than Greenville, Richland, York, and Dorchester counties--has nothing but room to accommodate it. There really aren't any notable geographical or structural barriers to growth within the county which is also fortunate to have I-26 as its major north-south corridor and I-85 as its major east-west corridor.
I think "everywhere else" is a wee bit of a stretch, but keep in mind Columbia never really experienced a bust either. An above-average growth rate that's more or less in line with what housing and infrastructure can keep up with is a net positive. And it's saying something that it's not quite Columbia's "time" yet considering all of the developments that have recently been built and are underway in the area.
Really? It's about what should be expected when you think about it. Sumter's economic and population growth has been sluggish as of late so it makes sense that it's seen a greater outflow of commuters to Columbia (and probably Florence also, to a lesser degree) to make it part of the CSA. Newberry was fortunate to avoid a similar fate when the county successfully recruited Samsung to build a manufacturing facility there in 2017 which not only helped soften the blow of losing Caterpillar but also attracted suppliers and became a catalyst for more job growth itself.
So if you are a Sumter Political Leader.. would you spin this as being good for Sumter? The average citizen likely doesnt care.. but I would think getting "merged" is not good because it shows that you are in decline and thus may reflect poorly on the leadership. Conversely, if it is Sumter getting drawn into Columbia's orbit as a partner (ex. Greenville Spartanburg) then that could be a good thing if it spurs more regional cooperation... though that may not be the reality in this example. Columbia and Sumter not banning together to flex whatever political muscle they can muster is puzzling to me.. though I do have some thoughts on why that is the case that I have shared in other threads.
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