South Carolina's population growth

[distortedlogic]

Yeah, I wish the growth would slow down but obviously there's nothing I can do about it. People think of SC as a small state but if if you look at the density it really isn't. GA has just over twice our populations but it is also twice our geographic size. NC has twice our pop but it is like 70% larger in size so we actually measure up pretty well with those "much larger" states. So we had the highest percentage rate of growth last year in a state that is 40th in geographic size, that's quite a punch.

 

Also of note, SC is currently ranked 23 in total population but it will easily pass Minnesota before the next census. Additionally, it is growing much faster than several other states, including CO which has slowed way down. Unless something drastic happens, SC will also pass the states of Wisconsin, Maryland, Missouri, and likely CO by 2040 and probably by 2035. That would place SC at number 18 overall in pop.

[rancenc]

New residential development in downtown Aiken.

https://www.aol.com/construction-homes-planned-downtown-aiken-235400258.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAI5NfdivdC5r89PauQb6V2nvPo8RE2VdOkfoPdjDKPwj3QrlyC2nLXe6PgBUFxF142j1vGpKpHCmnZAg3YjY735MdhP6yPDdL6Ev6aHOEEIHQ6dZTvDqBwKCeb9tirUygRBIK5uFGO4y3_ozN50KDW27xujKJm05WoFoYYV3zopw

[westsider28]

2023 Census Population Estimates for Counties and Metros have been released.  Some SC county figures:

Greenville        558,036     (+10,191 from 2022)

Richland           425,138     (+3,612)

Charleston      424,367     (+5,017)

Horry                  397,478     (+14,331)

Spartanburg   356,698     (+10,750)

Spartanburg MSA (383,327) was the 8th fastest growing MSA in the nation by yearly percentage (+2.9%).  That's even more impressive when you consider that Spartanburg's MSA includes Union County, which is losing population.  Growth in Spartanburg has really been supercharged post-pandemic (and we are woefully unprepared, IMO).  Myrtle Beach MSA was the 3rd fastest growing in the nation (+3.7%).

 

[GvilleSC]

Without some sort of major change, Charleston County should pass Richland County next year to become the second most populous county in the state. However, Horry seems poised to take that title by 2030.

[distortedlogic]

Personally I think we're growing too fast, this is adding a lot of people for a state with small geographic size. Some growth is fine but the upstate adding 30k per year the past couple of years is too much. Greenville County will easily sail past 600k and Spartanburg should pass 400K by the next census. The Greenville MSA should pass 1MM next year, and the CSA will be around 1.75MM by 2030.