Florence & Lake City (Columbia, Sumter: school, university, living)

[sahmusaf]

Hi,
What can you tell me about these areas? Is there anything to do there (shopping, arts, etc). Are they commutable to Shaw AFB? Would you live in Columbia, Sumter, Florence, or Lake City, and why? Thanks so much!

[Woodlands]

All Cities have something unique to offer and run the spectrum of what one may want in a community or city.

Columbia- largest city in the state large military and university presences. Has just about everything that one may seek from an affordable mid size city. Diverse city with plenty of arts,entertainment, shopping, and school options.

Florence and Sumter are roughly the same size, but as you will notice in this forum both cities are perceived differently by their residents and others. Florence, most accounts may be conceived by some as a small city while Sumter may be considered a big town. By that I mean in terms of what they offer... (ex Florence has major transportation networks.. interstates, Amtrak, a Regional Airport with commercial air service.. Sumter does not) Shopping options may also be greater in Florence than is Sumter. So depending on what your looking for one city could win out over the other. Florence seems to have a more diverse economy with several large "deep pocket" industries and two major hospitals that contribute to many of the arts and cultural activities in the City while also providing higher paying jobs that attract new residents from in and outside of the State. ..which may account for some differences in the "feel" between the two communities.

Lake City is the smallest community that you listed, though it is in Florence County. I do not know much about it though I been in and through it several times.. again if you are looking for more small town living it may be ideal.. though some of the town's political leaders have made headlines for all the wrong reasons.. but it is still close the Florence and on the way to the beach..so it may have some advantages.

Of course nothing could substitue for a visit if you have not been already. All of these cities are within an hour to two hours of each other so you can probably take them all in a visit over a few days.. All are commutable to Shaw if an hour to hour and a half commute seem palatable (Florence or Lake City in particuliar) mostly interstate or highway driving so traffic shouldnt be too much of a factor except during beach season .. to/fromLake City may be the only one that could be problematic