Questions re: Residing in SE Columbia (Sumter, Orangeburg: crime rate, homes, neighborhood)

[California transport]

We are moving to the Columbia area in July. My husband will be working in Eastover. We are looking at the Myers Creek Development in Hopkins. What opinions do others have about that area? I guess what I am most concerned about is the crime in the area and the schools.

I have a three-year-old who I would like to start school in the Fall. Are there any recommendations re: public or private schools in the area? I think Horrell Hill is the nearest Elementary school.

[Columbiadata]

What are you looking for in a school? Is a certain ratio of one race to another important to you? I believe to a large extent that you get out of a school what you put into it, but in that area of the county the private schools are where most parents send their children for a high-quality education. Hammond School or Healthwood Hall would be within reasonable driving distance, Hammond being closer. I don't know anything about any of the subdivisions in the area other than to say that Horrell Hill has many beautiful homes in a bucolic setting.

[Woodlands]

I terms of sub urban communities.. I prefer SE Columbia... because it is less sprawling than say NE or NW Cola particuliarly if you commute to downtown. It is also a good location if you prefer to live near a city center and work in a more rural setting..ala Eastover, Camden, Sumter, Orangeburg etc.. which all can be accessed from there as well.

In terms of schools.. you probably have to check with the Dept. of Education or Richland one to find out the rankings.. you will have varying opinions on the quality of education with the schools in SE Cola/ Lower Richland.

Crime..again depends on the particuliar area.. Myers Creek being a newer sub.. there are probably few problems.. at least from what I have heard. In SE Cola/Lower Richland it appears that most of the areas that may have a higher crime rate exist in some of the aging apt complexes/duplexes that are scattered through the area or some of the older subdivisions further out on Leesburg Rd and on Bluff Rds. These crimes have also been more associated with property crimes and opposed to attacks (though crime is certainly crime)

[California transport]

Thank you for the feedback. It has been helpful. I wonder why so many people I have talked to always push for the NE?I hopefully will be able to send my son to a multi-ethnic school. I will follow-up with your suggestions re: the schools.Where is further out on Leesburg Rd. and what portion of Bluff Rd?

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by California transport

Thank you for the feedback. It has been helpful. I wonder why so many people I have talked to always push for the NE?I hopefully will be able to send my son to a multi-ethnic school. I will follow-up with your suggestions re: the schools.Where is further out on Leesburg Rd. and what portion of Bluff Rd?

The schools are better in the northeast part of Richland County and there is more shopping and other things to do in that area as it is much more densely populated.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by California transport

Thank you for the feedback. It has been helpful. I wonder why so many people I have talked to always push for the NE?I hopefully will be able to send my son to a multi-ethnic school. I will follow-up with your suggestions re: the schools.Where is further out on Leesburg Rd. and what portion of Bluff Rd?

Bluff Road once you get past Williams Brice Stadium.. unfortunately becomes one of the more fogotten sections of the County.. primarily due to the industrial composition and flood plains... The further out you get on it from this point.. the more rural it becomes. There is some development along Atlas Rd near Bluff but other than that you have a few older subdivisions such as Starlite and Bluff Estates..which may be very affordable.. but have had there share of issues, in part I believe, because they are somewhat isolated.

Leesburg once you get out to Ulmer and Trotter Roads it breaks down to neighborhood to neighborhood.. most do not have the reputation as the ones along Bluff Road but they run the spectrum from new subs to older 1950/60s Ranchers.. you should probably go out and ride around to get a better feel for the area. But once you get out past Trotter it does become almost instantly rural.. School zones run zig zag in the area.. so you better check that as well. Back in the day.. it was not uncommon to see tanks traveling on the northern side of Leesburg or hearing other military activity..since that section of Leesburg parallels the the manuvering range at Ft. Jax..