Laurel Bay, SC (Columbia, Beaufort, Lexington: how much, safe area, subdivisions)

[newbiemom]

Hello everyone.

I'm considering moving to SC from Cartersville, GA and would like input on what kind of a town it is. I was born and bred in Miami and the only reason why I'm not moving back there is because I'd like to live in a quieter place that is not sweltering hot 11 1/2 months out of the year.
These are the things I'd like to know about Laurel Bay:
1. Is it diverse? I am Hispanic and I read that there are a fair number of Hispanics in Laurel Bay. To be frank, I'm concerned with how welcome I would be there.
2. Is it a safe area. I have an 8 month old and her safety and quality of life is of paramount importance to me.
3. What kind of weather do you have there, year-round? Does it ever get really really cold? Does it snow? If it does snow, how much?

I'd like to thank you all, in advance for your time, your kindness and your willingness to help.

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by newbiemom

Hello everyone.

I'm considering moving to SC from Cartersville, GA and would like input on what kind of a town it is. I was born and bred in Miami and the only reason why I'm not moving back there is because I'd like to live in a quieter place that is not sweltering hot 11 1/2 months out of the year.
These are the things I'd like to know about Laurel Bay:
1. Is it diverse? I am Hispanic and I read that there are a fair number of Hispanics in Laurel Bay. To be frank, I'm concerned with how welcome I would be there.
2. Is it a safe area. I have an 8 month old and her safety and quality of life is of paramount importance to me.
3. What kind of weather do you have there, year-round? Does it ever get really really cold? Does it snow? If it does snow, how much?

I'd like to thank you all, in advance for your time, your kindness and your willingness to help.

I have relatives in nearby Bluffton - which is in the same county (Beaufort) as Laurel Bay. I know in Bluffton/HHI there are a lot of Hispanics that have migrated there, as for across the bay, not as sure, but I would imagine you will be ok.

As for the weather, it may snow once or twice a decade - and even then it's usually a flurry w/no accumulation. There may be a few nights were you dip into the high 20s-low 30s in winter, but that's about as cold as you'll get. So compared to Miami - guess that's pretty cold, but the majority of the year is beautiful. It's probably going to be pretty similar to Cartersville (right outside of Atlanta right?) as far as your year-round temps go. We live in Columbia, and we are typically 5 degrees hotter in the summer days and 5 degrees cooler in the winter days (the ocean moderates the coastal temperatures).

Best of luck in your move to the low-country.

[newbiemom]

Thank you so much, Buckeye. I'm impressed!!!! You know where Cartersville is!!! Wow. I do love Atlanta weather and I'm looking for something similar to it. Another thing I was wondering about; Does the foliage change colors in the fall, or are the trees always either green or naked? And since it's on the coast, do hurricanes ever affect the area?
Also the area where your relatives are, is it a nice and safe place to live? Is it like a working class neighborhood, middle class, upper middle class??

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by newbiemom

Thank you so much, Buckeye. I'm impressed!!!! You know where Cartersville is!!! Wow. I do love Atlanta weather and I'm looking for something similar to it. Another thing I was wondering about; Does the foliage change colors in the fall, or are the trees always either green or naked? And since it's on the coast, do hurricanes ever affect the area?
Also the area where your relatives are, is it a nice and safe place to live? Is it like a working class neighborhood, middle class, upper middle class??

I cannot say for certain that the leaves change colors b/c I have not been there in the fall - I know they do here around Thanksgiving time, so I'd imagine they do there as well.

Hurricanes do effect the area. The last major one was in 1989 - Hugo, not nearly as frequent as Florida or gulf states, but if you live there long enough, you will likely see one.

My relatives live in an upper class neighborhood. Hilton Head/Bluffton area is a little unique in there are a ton of wealthy retired folks living in the area. I don't know if Laurel Bay is that way as well. We also have friends though in their early 30s w/2 children who live less than 2 miles away from them and they are a working-middle class family, so it's not all wealthy folks.

[newbiemom]

Good to know, Buckeye. Thanks again.
You said you live in Columbia, right? I checked out the Columbia area, was there for 3 days about 3 weeks ago. I thought it was a very nice area. How do you like it? I didn't see many Hispanics when I went, but then again, I hung out mostly in the Lexington area. Are there Hispanics up there? I really love the area, though. Another thing I was wondering about what neighborhoods in the Columbia area are kind of in the country but not too far from civilization?

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by newbiemom

Good to know, Buckeye. Thanks again.
You said you live in Columbia, right? I checked out the Columbia area, was there for 3 days about 3 weeks ago. I thought it was a very nice area. How do you like it? I didn't see many Hispanics when I went, but then again, I hung out mostly in the Lexington area. Are there Hispanics up there? I really love the area, though. Another thing I was wondering about what neighborhoods in the Columbia area are kind of in the country but not too far from civilization?

I've enjoyed Columbia quite a bit thus far (lived here a little over a year), it offers a lot in my opinion for a city it's size. Has a huge lake for water recreation, 3 rivers meeting downtown w/walking/bike trails, a lot of nightlife & cultural offerings if you are into that scene as well. I have only been to Lexington once, so I can't speak a lot on it, but there are a fair amount of hispanics that live in the metro area. Where I've noticed the majority of hispanics is in the northeast. I doubt that you'll find a lot of hispanics in the 'country' here, but there are plenty of areas w/in a half-hour drive of downtown that would be described as country such as Elgin, Pontiac, Gaston & Swansea to name a few.

[newbiemom]

I had a tough time finding the housing in the city of Columbia, because I was so unfamiliar with the area. I tried talking to a realtor, but she ended up steering me more towards the Lexington area. I just may get a good map and find my way back to Columbia in the next couple of weeks. I can't tell you how helpful all this information has been to me. Columbia definitely sounds like my kind of town. What sub-divisions or neighborhoods in the Columbia area would you recommend for me to check out?

[Buckeye in SC]

Originally Posted by newbiemom

I had a tough time finding the housing in the city of Columbia, because I was so unfamiliar with the area. I tried talking to a realtor, but she ended up steering me more towards the Lexington area. I just may get a good map and find my way back to Columbia in the next couple of weeks. I can't tell you how helpful all this information has been to me. Columbia definitely sounds like my kind of town. What sub-divisions or neighborhoods in the Columbia area would you recommend for me to check out?

I'm probably not the best person in the world to point you to subdivisions as I'm still feeling my way around the city myself. I guess I would say if you really want to be in an area w/the most hispanics, you'll probably find areas in the northeast to fit that desire the best. If you post your question on the Columbia forum, you'll get some responses from people with more knowledge of the area. Good luck to you!

[newbiemom]

I'll do that. Thank you so much! I really appreciate all your help.