Best SC City To Live In

[UrbanSoutherner]

True. USC is the anchor to Columbia's Reasearch Campus, so there is already a working base. I didn't know that Greenwood tried a biotech park. I think that Greenwood is at a severe disadvantage by not having an interstate nearby.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Here is a link to an article in The State about the biotech park in Greenwood:

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/6293100.htm

Here are two links to Greenwood's biotech park information:

http://www.greenwoodalliance.com/research_...iotech_park.htm

http://www.ggc.org/biotech_park.htm

I think it is a cautionary tale, although I agree that Greenwood is too small, has no interstate access, and lacks a major research university. It was placed there apparently due to the Self family's efforts. I think USC's research campus and Clemson's ICAR have far greater chances of success.

[GvilleSC]

I would have to say Greenville is my favorite place in the state to live. The quality of life is high and is a well rounded city. I think the quote says it best: "Greenville is a small town that thinks it's a big city, but also a big city that thinks it's a small town." I just love it here. Atlanta developers have said that they see Greenville as the next up and coming area and are starting to invest a lot into the area. I think it's exciting...

[Spartan]

Welcome to UrbanPlanet GvilleSC!

[charlestonfan]

I would say Charleston is the best city to live in South Carolina, and maybe the entire South. Charleston offers everything I'm looking for in a city:

-Beautiful Downtown

-Beaches

-Very Friendly People

-Great Restaurants

-Beautiful Scenic Areas

Of course the city has it's problems (traffic, high taxes) but there are more positives than negatives. Compare to many other cities I've lived, I've found Charleston to be a very unique and beautiful American city.

[Northerner]

Here's what Forbes Magazine thought? But I'm sure everyone's personal opinion means more than what Forbes has too say about it.

Metro Area Cost of Doing Business JobGrowth Educational Attainment Population

1 Madison, WI 56 32 3 443

2 Raleigh-Durham, NC 13 52 6 1,268

3 Austin, TX 45 30 9 1,349

4 Washington, DC-Northern VA 102 23 2 5,162

5 Atlanta, GA 44 50 16 4,386

6 Provo, UT 37 35 19 388

7 Boise, ID 18 12 57 465

8 Huntsville, AL 14 46 22 354

9 Lexington, KY 2 114 35 490

10 Richmond, VA 55 53 31 1,023

11 Omaha, NE 22 65 43 734

12 Albuquerque, NM 1 42 39 737

13 Knoxville, TN 20 29 85 704

14 Des Moines, IA 36 90 36 471

15 Houston, TX 48 55 49 4,420

16 Appleton, WI 29 78 101 367

17 San Diego, CA 148 15 27 2,907

18 Albany, NY 88 68 41 885

19 Minneapolis-St Paul, MN 94 74 14 3,055

20 Ann Arbor, MI 111 54 8 603

21 Little Rock, AR 26 82 70 596

22 Charleston, SC 58 33 65 563

23 Fort Worth, TX 42 58 64 1,802

24 Colorado Springs, CO 49 47 17 544

25 Reno, NV 62 28 82 362

26 Phoenix, AZ 74 21 63 3,500

27 Charlotte, NC 19 49 55 1,585

28 Columbia, SC39 112 32 552

29 Dallas, TX 35 76 25 3,743

30 Tucson, AZ 86 41 54 881

31 Nashville, TN 25 67 52 1,271

32 Oklahoma City, OK 4 77 77 1,109

33 Norfolk, VA 46 38 81 1,606

34 Indianapolis, IN 54 62 59 1,655

35 Columbus, OH 71 73 33 1,584

36 Denver, CO 68 71 12 2,228

37 Orange County, NY 114 25 104 407

38 Wilmington, DE 15 94 48 603

39 Nassau-Suffolk, NY 117 44 21 2,804

40 Orange County, CA 141 27 23 2,939

41 Santa Barbara, CA 125 40 28 403

42 Boston, MA 149 106 5 6,152

43 Cincinnati, OH 57 102 61 1,669

44 Mercer, NJ 132 11 13 359

45 Providence, RI 67 72 83 984

46 Pittsburgh, PA 99 95 80 2,347

47 Sacramento, CA 142 6 58 1,749

48 Ventura, CA 135 14 53 784

49 Portland, OR 16 118 34 2,006

50 Allentown, PA 75 59 109 651 ......................

76 Pensacola, FL 60 81 108 424

77 Birmingham, AL 17 105 71 935

78 Johnson City, TN 21 104 137 483

79 Riverside, CA 144 3 139 3,515

80 Syracuse, NY 106 99 79 735

81 San Francisco, CA 139 145 1 1,715

82 Wichita, KS 41 141 72 556

83 Harrisburg, PA 91 84 98 636

84 Jackson, MS 66 88 42 449

85 Buffalo, NY 92 109 89 1,163

86 Orlando, FL 87 24 69 1,752

87 Daytona Beach, FL 79 18 128 517

88 Springfield, MA 130 107 75 613

89 Akron, OH 98 108 78 700

90 Augusta, GA 47 89 112 484

91 Spokane, WA 64 56 66 428

92 Greenville, SC43 127 114 988

93 Greensboro, NC 12 130 91 1,286

94 Melbourne, FL 101 39 84 496

95 Chicago, IL 103 119 24 8,449

96 Salem, OR 5 92 113 358

97 San Jose, CA 129 150 4 1,684

98 Milwaukee, WI 69 128 51 1,513

99 Tulsa, OK 3 132 90 821

100 New York, NY 150 103 29 9,412

Forbes

[krazeeboi]

Columbia will surely make progress for the next few years, but joining the ranks of Atlanta, DC, and even the Triangle within the next decade? Not likely.

Also, I'm not sure what you mean when you say the Columbia "area" includes Sumter and Orangeburg. Sumter, although located in a neighboring county, it its own metro area, and Orangeburg is a little too far removed to legitimately be considered in the "Columbia area."

[sonofaque86]

I can see Columbia moving anywhere below the top 20 or even top 15

[CorgiMatt]

The job growth figure and the metro population figure for Columbia are definitely dated according to the South Carolina Employment Security Commission (the true jobs picture) and the US Census Bureau respectively.

[803metlife]

I'm going to say Columbia not being bias. I have been to every city in s.c. and I've seen what they have to offer. And the closet thing to a fast past city in s.c. is Columbia. The vibe is just different. There's alot of runner up's. I would definetly bet that columbia is a up and comer. We have been held back for so long and the place is a sleeping giant.

[goodbye]

I'm going to say Columbia not being bias. I have been to every city in s.c. and I've seen what they have to offer. And the closet thing to a fast past city in s.c. is Columbia. The vibe is just different. There's alot of runner up's. I would definetly bet that columbia is a up and comer. We have been held back for so long and the place is a sleeping giant.

[scoop]

I'm going to say Columbia not being bias. I have been to every city in s.c. and I've seen what they have to offer. And the closet thing to a fast past city in s.c. is Columbia. The vibe is just different. There's alot of runner up's. I would definetly bet that columbia is a up and comer. We have been held back for so long and the place is a sleeping giant.

[goodbye]

I agree with you. If I had to leave Atlanta and move back to SC, Cola is the only city with a semi-Big City feel. Chas is not quite there. Based on what I've heard about G'ville and the little I've seen of it, it doesn't even come into play for me.

[GvilleSC]

Every city has its own vibe, not just Columbia. And if that's an indication of who is up and coming, well I have some to offer: Greenville, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Berea (definitely its own vibe), Spartanburg, Aiken... I guess SC is really growing up!

[Pillsbury]

Um, I'm biased because I live here, but I'm choosing Aiken/North Augusta, basically because I grew up here, the quality of golf courses, the beauty of the area, and the people. If I left, I'd head up to Columbia or down to Charleston.

[scoop]

Hopefully you'll check Greenville out for yourself so you won't have to rely on what you've heard. Many people moving here say they love the city because it has most of what you would want in a big city, but it has retained its small city charm. Greenville has a very international feel, something unique for any city around its size, including Columbia. Obviously the cities are different, which is definitely a good thing, but the current pace of exciting growth and outlook of future growth for each (including Charleston) is relatively equivalent from everything I have seen, heard, read, and experienced first-hand.

[GvilleSC]

I have checked it out and it's not bad. In my view Cola just has more of a big city like feel and is more diverse relative to the racial mix.

It's been a couple of years since I last visited G'ville, at the time it reminded me of a country type city (don't get offended because none is intended). Cola has more of a compact feel and besides I'm an African American male, I have more access to black culture when I visit there.

[erm1981]

Columbia does not in anyway 'feel' bigger than Greenville to me and i have rode all over both of them I-26, 77, 20. The only thing that makes you think there are more people in columbia's city limits is because they have about 100 more square miles that spans out to swallow up more people into the city. Mainly just a number.

[GvilleSC]

Perhaps Greenville's attention to detail makes it feel like a small town. Big cities usually toss details to the back burner.

[scoop]

What exactly is 'black culture' that you're referring to? if you don't mind me asking. As a white male, I have thoughts, but no real understanding of what you may be talking about. How do you go about fixing a problem if you can't identify it?

[sonofaque86]

What exactly is 'black culture' that you're referring to? if you don't mind me asking. As a white male, I have thoughts, but no real understanding of what you may be talking about. How do you go about fixing a problem if you can't identify it?

[krazeeboi]

Perhaps the guy means that downtown Columbia feels bigger than downtown Greenville, and I would agree with that assessment. Uptown Charlotte gives attention to detail and it doesn't feel like a small town to me.

[Spartan]

Perhaps the guy means that downtown Columbia feels bigger than downtown Greenville, and I would agree with that assessment. Uptown Charlotte gives attention to detail and it doesn't feel like a small town to me.

[erm1981]

I think after Greenville gets some of those other highrises built that are proposed it will be in better standing going up against Columbia's skyline. I think it will be great.

[GvilleSC]

I think after Greenville gets some of those other highrises built that are proposed it will be in better standing going up against Columbia's skyline. I think it will be great.

[Greenville]

That is my general assesment. Columbia has a larger grid system and a more prominent skyline, etc. so it does feel larger in that respect.