Known for its mild climate, low cost of living, tasty barbecue, shag dancing, sandy beaches, and championship golf, South Carolina is not only one of the largest tourist attractions along the eastern seaboard, but it’s also a great place to live. Between the scenic barrier islands and salt marshes of the coastal plain to the fast-growing urban centers of Upper Piedmont, to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.
In the center of the state lies Columbia, the state capital and second-largest city, known as the center for healthcare, commerce, and military. Much of the tourism centers around the coastline, with destinations like Myrtle Beach and Charleston (the state’s largest city) seeing huge numbers of visitors each year. However, the Upstate region in the northwest corner of the state has seen a huge population surge over the past years, to the point that the Greenville metropolitan area now contains the largest combined population in the state – about 1.5 million people.