Rivalries between Columbia, Greenville, Charleston (Pendleton, Hampton: fit in, school, restaurants)

[Greenville]

Plus, when talking about academics, there is a reason USC is known as the "University of Second Choice" by South Carolina applicants. Those who want to attend Clemson or out-of-state schools commonly apply to USC as a backup in case they don't get into their first choice.

And you know what? That's okay. Every state needs larger, public colleges which cater toward the masses. Everyone can't go to the top schools, right? Enter the University of South Carolina.

[Brandon Hoffman]

I really don't think there's much a rivalry. Seriously, outside of a few posters on here I've never noticed a rivalry. It's not like any of the places are very far apart.

[Columbiadata]

I for one am sick of all the bickering. Call it growing up. All cities and MSA's have their strengths and weaknesses. The fussing seems to be limited to these forums. In real life I feel that overwhelmingly Columbians have an apologetic attitude for living in and liking Columbia when in the presence of their Charleston and Greenville counterparts. The history of parochialism in this state runs deep between the Lowcountry and the Upstate (historically the backcountry), but to me it seems as though natives from both of those areas take their hostilities out on Columbia. I see comments all the time where someone from one of those areas compliments the other area and, by not including Columbia in the compliment when they could, criticizes or insults Columbia by the omission. Before someone cuts down another city they need to look in the mirror at their own city's faults. While each of SC's big three have a lot to be proud of, they each have plenty of problems to work on.

[Skyliner]

Originally Posted by Columbiadata

...but to me it seems as though natives from both of those areas take their hostilities out on Columbia...

I constantly hear and read hostile comments from Columbia residents criticizing both Charleston and Greenville (or the Upstate overall). Perhaps it is easier to hear when your own hometown is the target of criticism. This is certainly the case for me, and surely the same is true for most of us. If a rivalry exists in any state, you can always count on the people from one city to point out the weaknesses of their rival city(s), while simultaneously defending the strengths of their own city. It's just the way things generally are on this planet.

[Columbiadata]

As I stated, most of the bickering seems limited to these forums. Where do you go that you hear hostile comments against Greenville? I don't hear them out in public in Columbia. When I eaves drop on conversations at restaurants and hear Charleston or Greenville come up, I don't hear negative comments if that makes you feel any better.

[Skyliner]

I work for a large corporation with offices in several cities scattered across the Midwest and down into the Deep South. My home office, a regional hub located in the Upstate, employs professionals living in numerous cities and towns in NC and SC, including multiple regions of this state. We deal with people in all of our markets, thus the opportunities arise for random discussion about many different topics. The negative comments usually come from those who have very little (if any) experience in a particular city or place, yet occasionally (very rarely) there are those who speak about their own hometowns with disgust. I don't know anyone from Greenville with this last mindset.

[Columbiadata]

Greenvillians do a good job of believing in their city. Their Finlay Park, Koger Center, Carolina Stadium, Gervais Street, Lady Street, Lincoln Street, Park Street, Harden Street, Saluda Avenue, Devine Street, and Main Street are all condensed into a corridor that creates an enviable vibe. There's a denseness there that Columbia doesn't have because of the Capital City's different entertainment districts being spread all around town. As more Columbians discover their own amenities in the new economy as opposed to heading to the beach every other weekend, I think each of those entertainment districts will draw more people than ever before and help more Columbians believe in their city. In the meantime Columbia does not deserve to be slammed because of a layout that puts fewer people in one area. That said, I can tell you that evening foot traffic along Main Street in Columbia is picking up.

[gsupstate]

Originally Posted by Columbiadata

Greenvillians do a good job of believing in their city. Their Finlay Park, Koger Center, Carolina Stadium, Gervais Street, Lady Street, Lincoln Street, Park Street, Harden Street, Saluda Avenue, Devine Street, and Main Street are all condensed into a corridor that creates an enviable vibe. There's a denseness there that Columbia doesn't have because of the Capital City's different entertainment districts being spread all around town. As more Columbians discover their own amenities in the new economy as opposed to heading to the beach every other weekend, I think each of those entertainment districts will draw more people than ever before and help more Columbians believe in their city. In the meantime Columbia does not deserve to be slammed because of a layout that puts fewer people in one area. That said, I can tell you that evening foot traffic along Main Street in Columbia is picking up.

You lost all credibility with that post. You obviously are not very familiar with Greenville and obviously have not been to the various areas......Main Street, Heritage Green, West End, Pendleton Street Arts District, the greenway system, Cleveland Park, North End, Bi-Lo, Hampton Pinckney, Augusta Street, etc, etc are not one area. While Greenville does have great density along Main with an extremely pedestrian oriented environment, Greenville is hardly condensed into one corridor. Greenville does however have several STRONG corridors. The weather and geographical beauty are blessings that Greenville has built upon wisely. I was out of stater that fell in love with Greenville the minute I saw it.....a very common emotion/reaction from out of staters, I've learned since moving here.

[Columbiadata]

I meant in the downtown area only. That's why I left out Harbison, which is in Columbia's city limits and is the biggest revenue-grossing area in the Midlands, and the Village at Sandhill, and Lake Carolina. By referring to "one corridor" I did not mean one street.

[g-man430]

Greenville has three areas in their downtown (North End, CBD, West End) that are all inter-connected with each other. Not a bad thing either in my opinion. You can walk from one to the other.