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There are so many different definitions for SC's regions. You can find 10 different definitions on what the Upstate Region is depending on who you ask. I would probably consider Greenwood in the Upstate because I am from Columbia and everything to me north of Newberry was Upstate, just like everything south of Oburg is Low Country, etc.
It is most certainly on the fringe of the Upstate though. I also would never consider it part of the Greenville area nor would I ever describe Greenwood as being "near Greenville." This is what I am saying about the Upstate, it is a massive massive area, but its not because of sprwal, its because of continuous strings of mid to small cities that are close to one another.
While Greenville may be the largest city in the region, the region really does not revolve around Greenville, its very much a collective group of cities that together form the Upstate and Greenwood is a great example...its part of the Upstate and is a decent size city that does not at all depend on Greenville to survive. IMO with the exception of Greenville itself, Simpsonville, Mauldin, and Powdersville, the Upstate really is not dependent on Greenville. Now Greenville has certainly helped the region, but if Greenville didnt exist, Spartanburg, Anderson, Greenwood, Clemson, all these cities would still be here and probably not totally different than how they are now.
That can be said about most metros in the state. We considered ourselves not too far from Greenville though. Not in its msa, but the closest city of some size to us. Everything in Greenville county depends on Greenville. Some areas in the outlying counties also lean on it. Powdersville, parts of Greer in Spartanburg, Easley, etc. Greenville maybe built differently, but it has just as much influence in many ways.
That can be said about most metros in the state. We considered ourselves not too far from Greenville though. Not in its msa, but the closest city of some size to us. Everything in Greenville county depends on Greenville. Some areas in the outlying counties also lean on it. Powdersville, parts of Greer in Spartanburg, Easley, etc. Greenville maybe built differently, but it has just as much influence in many ways.
I dont dispute that it has its influence, but all I am saying is that unlike most other metros or regions, the cities and towns that make up the Upstate are in many cases self sufficient and I would say in many cases, its a mutual relationship (Spartanburg benefits from Greenville, Greenville benefits from Spartanburg).
Even in the MSA, Anderson is very much a stand alone city. No one from Anderson would say they're from Greenville nor would they consider themselves a part of the Greenville area (most dont even realize that Anderson is a part of the two are part of the same MSA, its a totally different place. Spartanburg is the same way, both cities would be the pretty much the same as they are now even if Greenville didnt exist. All three collectively form the Upstate and make it such a large area, not just Greenville alone or Greenville Sprwaling out.
Another region that I find somewhat similar to the Upstate is the Triad in NC. It has several principle cities all stand alone but collectively create a large region.
Powdersville and Easley is def. a burb of Greenville. Pville is the newest burb.
I wonder if Greenville CSA would be bigger than Columbia CSA if even if Greenwood was not included.
Oh Powdersville most certainly is a suburb of Greenville. Easley is funny because it is, but it still very much comes off as its own separate town. It reminds me of Lexington about 10 or so years ago before they built up so much of the area there along Sunset Blvd connecting W. Columbia to Lexington, it always had suburban Columbia development there and was close enough, but was really still fighting to be its own place. I get that vibe from Easley but I would imagine with the growth in P Ville that Easley will soon be more receptive as being a part of Greenville.
Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson CSA would still actually be a decent amount bigger without Greenwood. Columbia's MSA and CSA don't differ all that much (MSA 800K CSA 900K-950K). There really isnt much population in the Midlands outside of the Columbia Metro. They will probably add Sumter to the CSA and Newberry to the MSA the next time the delineate the areas which would give the MSA a boost of about 40k and the CSA about 100k and even that would only put the CSA just over 1 million.
Another region that I find somewhat similar to the Upstate is the Triad in NC. It has several principle cities all stand alone but collectively create a large region.
Yep, the Triad and the Triangle. I think the metropolitan dynamic in the Upstate is closer to that of the Triangle while the feel/vibe of the Triad is closer to that of the Upstate.
Another thing that should be noted for "largest city in the state" is the Urbanized population. Greenville's Urban population is just over 400k, Charleston's urban population is 550k and Columbia's is 550k as well.
Another thing that should be noted for "largest city in the state" is the Urbanized population. Greenville's Urban population is just over 400k, Charleston's urban population is 550k and Columbia's is 550k as well.
The only reason Greenville's isn't as high is because Mauldin-Simpsonville, which is suburban Greenville in pretty much every way, is considered a separate UA of 120K.
Yep, the Triad and the Triangle. I think the metropolitan dynamic in the Upstate is closer to that of the Triangle while the feel/vibe of the Triad is closer to that of the Upstate.
I think I would say that the opposite way, the Triangle from a metro standpoint is really only Raleigh and Durham, Cary/Apex/Morrisville are all suburbs of Raleigh and Chapel Hill I wouldnt consider on the level of the two main cities.
The Triad to me is much more similar to how the Upstate CSA is made up than Raleigh and Durham, not to mention the similarities in populations.
The only reason Greenville's isn't as high is because Mauldin-Simpsonville, which is suburban Greenville in pretty much every way, is considered a separate UA of 120K.
Yeah i'm really not sure why they dont include that in the Greenville UA, they include Easley, it makes no sense why they wouldnt include FI Simpsonville and Mauldin.
Adding that in is more accurate for Greenville's UA at around 522k, more in line with Columbia and Charleston. Quite honestly, our three cities are very equal in terms of population.
I think I would say that the opposite way, the Triangle from a metro standpoint is really only Raleigh and Durham, Cary/Apex/Morrisville are all suburbs of Raleigh and Chapel Hill I wouldnt consider on the level of the two main cities.
The Triad to me is much more similar to how the Upstate CSA is made up than Raleigh and Durham, not to mention the similarities in populations.
Understand that I'm saying that the metropolitan dynamic of the Upstate is more like that of the Triangle, and for two main reasons.
One, the three most important cities in both metros are all of different size and located in three adjacent counties. Raleigh (Wake County) is the largest, then Durham (Durham County), then Chapel Hill (Orange County--and while Chapel Hill isn't very big, it's clearly very important being the home of UNC). In the Upstate, Greenville (Greenville County) is the largest, then Spartanburg (Spartanburg County), then Anderson (Anderson). However, in the Triad, the two principal cities, Greensboro and Winston-Salem, are essentially equal in size; Winston-Salem, the second largest in municipal population, actually has a larger urbanized area population than Greensboro, the largest municipality. Also the third largest city in the Triad is mostly located in the same county as Greensboro (Guilford).
Second, the single largest employment site in both metro areas are located in the county of the second-largest city: BMW in Spartanburg County and RTP (mostly) in Durham County. This is what really accounts for Spartanburg and Durham being separate MSAs because they pull more commuters than they would if BMW were located in Greenville County and RTP were mostly in Wake County. Also, the Triad lacks a single large employment site like BMW or RTP.
Overall the Upstate is more like the Triad in terms of size and having a more blue-collar vibe built on manufacturing and textiles, but the dynamic of the Upstate is more like that of the Triangle IMO.
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