Fairfield County - pros and cons? (Columbia, Rock Hill: houses, neighborhoods, school)

[IM42A]

Originally Posted by LAG1994

I worked in Fairfield County about a decade ago and it was depressing...the people, the surroundings, it was sad. If felt like I was in the twilight zone.

That is precisely the vibe I have gotten as well. It is as though growth and prosperity stops at the Richland/Fairfield County line.

[IM42A]

Originally Posted by DemanoRock

More important than TV service would be High Speed internet, and I think that may be rare out there. Now I want someone to compare highspeed bandwidth across the state.

Tyler and I share an interest in TV reception and DX (distant reception), but I wouldn't move to any area for that reason. Most full-powered Charlotte stations are accessible in Winnsboro with a halfway decent outdoor antenna, though it is in the Columbia TV market (the Charlotte TV market starts at Chester and Lancaster counties).



It would be a rare person to whom such a consideration would make a difference Even with all the cord-cutting, I would guess that 80 to 85 percent of all homes have either cable or satellite, and major locals are available via streaming services such as ATT and YouTube TV. For the average person, they just want to get a full schedule of major-network programs --- unless they live in the most extreme of "orphan areas", where the network stations come from a distant city out-of-state that almost entirely ignores their area (thinking of far western NC that is in the Chattanooga or Atlanta markets, or portions of southeastern Kentucky that fall into the remote Bristol-Kingsport-Johnson City market), which market people get their network TV from, is largely immaterial to most people.

[The QC]

I read in the Charlotte Observer awhile back that a large swath of land adjacent to I77 in Fairfield County now has water sewer and is being marketed as a future home to a large auto manufacturing plant. That would be huge because it would also bring part manufacturing companies as well to Fairfield, Richland, Chester, and York Counties. It would be a huge boon for the region.

[tylerSC]

Originally Posted by The QC

I read in the Charlotte Observer awhile back that a large swath of land adjacent to I77 in Fairfield County now has water sewer and is being marketed as a future home to a large auto manufacturing plant. That would be huge because it would also bring part manufacturing companies as well to Fairfield, Richland, Chester, and York Counties. It would be a huge boon for the region.

Seems like the areas between York County and Richland County along the I-77 corridor are prime for future growth, perhaps both industrial and residential. Lots of undeveloped land that could eventually become new suburban areas for Charlotte and Columbia. Including Chester County with the addition of new manufacturing plants, including a tire facility. And on a secondary note of interest, good TV/radio reception in these areas from multiple markets, including Charlotte, Columbia, and even Greenville-Spartanburg.

[IM42A]

Originally Posted by tylerSC

Seems like the areas between York County and Richland County along the I-77 corridor are prime for future growth, perhaps both industrial and residential. Lots of undeveloped land that could eventually become new suburban areas for Charlotte and Columbia. Including Chester County with the addition of new manufacturing plants, including a tire facility. And on a secondary note of interest, good TV/radio reception in these areas from multiple markets, including Charlotte, Columbia, and even Greenville-Spartanburg.

Well, yes, that is precisely what you would think, which is what gave rise to my original question. Kershaw County, while remaining emphatically rural, is growing steadily. So why not Fairfield? Same basic idea, a rural county with an interstate running through it, lots of relatively cheap land. And Fairfield and Chester counties, just from a purely geographic standpoint, stand poised to be on a kind of axis between Columbia and Charlotte, but it isn't happening. One reason might be, that the economic, cultural, and social ties between Columbia and Charlotte just aren't all that strong. The "spine" of South Carolina is, and probably always will be, the Greenville/Spartanburg-Columbia-Charleston corridor along I-26. Going north, it is kind of like South Carolina just "fades away", and by the time you get to Rock Hill, you're basically in an exurb of Charlotte.


If the truth were known, I'd say the schools situation has a lot to do with it. So far as I am aware, Kershaw County schools are decently-regarded, perhaps not of the absolutely highest echelon, but still someplace you could send your children, and count on them getting a perfectly decent education.


None of my comments should be interpreted as any aspersion upon the fine work that the dedicated teachers in Fairfield County, as in any school system, do for their students, and which is neither recognized nor compensated the way it should be. It's not an easy job.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by IM42A

Well, yes, that is precisely what you would think, which is what gave rise to my original question. Kershaw County, while remaining emphatically rural, is growing steadily. So why not Fairfield? Same basic idea, a rural county with an interstate running through it, lots of relatively cheap land. And Fairfield and Chester counties, just from a purely geographic standpoint, stand poised to be on a kind of axis between Columbia and Charlotte, but it isn't happening. One reason might be, that the economic, cultural, and social ties between Columbia and Charlotte just aren't all that strong. The "spine" of South Carolina is, and probably always will be, the Greenville/Spartanburg-Columbia-Charleston corridor along I-26. Going north, it is kind of like South Carolina just "fades away", and by the time you get to Rock Hill, you're basically in an exurb of Charlotte.


If the truth were known, I'd say the schools situation has a lot to do with it. So far as I am aware, Kershaw County schools are decently-regarded, perhaps not of the absolutely highest echelon, but still someplace you could send your children, and count on them getting a perfectly decent education.


None of my comments should be interpreted as any aspersion upon the fine work that the dedicated teachers in Fairfield County, as in any school system, do for their students, and which is neither recognized nor compensated the way it should be. It's not an easy job.

I think it boils down to a few factors... leadership, timing, and dumb luck. I think Kershaw and Newberry have positioned themselves to take advantage of their proximity to Columbia (Richland/Lexington) as a cheaper alternative. They got out the gate quicker with their planning and now are absorbing that growth.. There is only so much growth in this region to go around..so Fairfield and Calhoun are SOL right now.. Saluda is even positioning itself to be next in line after Newberry... Same conversation could be had with Florence and Sumter.. with the former taking full advantage and likely lobbying for interstate access while Sumter sat back and got the shaft...

The other difference is Kershaw has Camden.. which has its own unique history and Carolina Cup to draw from .. Winnsboro is not in the same position.. Even Newberry has well used Opera House and a College to pull from and is also still very close to the Lake Murray.

Fairfield is likely hedging its bets as being an industrial center... As you have stated cheap land, interstate access and the lack of interest in residential development that is happening in Kershaw and Richland may position it to be more of an industrial center.. That will help the tax base that could be used to fund/improve schools.. so that may be an opportunity. If residential development can creep over to Lake Wateree area.. that may be attractive enough to lure some residential development to the area over time though I have no idea if that is the Vision for the community. The other challenge with industrial development is Chester County and possibly Lancaster could both siphon would be industries from Fairfield.. They are closer to Charlotte and larger than Fairfield . So Fairfield will likely have to catch what is orbiting the Columbia Metro as opposed to something that is interested in being in the Charlotte area.. but atleast they are trying....

.Lexington County is the industrial power house of the Midlands with what is being planned next to the Airport and some of the efforts to develop the 12th Street corridor south of Cayce along both 77 and 26 towards Charleston around where Amazon is located. Richlands is even stepping up with the Shop Road extension down towards Lower Richland as well. It is also attracting a steady stream of industries....and both Counties still have PLENTY of land...

[tylerSC]

The I-85 corridor between Charlotte and Atlanta is a major growth region contributing to the rapid growth of the Greenville-Spartanburg area and Upstate SC. Attracting companies such as BMW and Michelin. In fact there has been talk of a mega region called Charlanta rather than Upstate SC. Meanwhile the I-77 corridor between Charlotte and Columbia has not caught up yet, although there is spillover from Charlotte in York County and Rock Hill. Maybe in the future.

[DemanoRock]

I think Richburg tried with that oddly placed Convention Center. That whole I77 is weird. I remember when the car dealership opened in the early 2000's in Richburg. I was thinking 'What a weird place to build a dealership'. It didn't last long and now we have that convention center built in it's ashes. I don't often see it used. I can't imagine any companies coming from outside the county to use it. I go once a year to a board game convention there, but that is it.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by DemanoRock

I think Richburg tried with that oddly placed Convention Center. That whole I77 is weird. I remember when the car dealership opened in the early 2000's in Richburg. I was thinking 'What a weird place to build a dealership'. It didn't last long and now we have that convention center built in it's ashes. I don't often see it used. I can't imagine any companies coming from outside the county to use it. I go once a year to a board game convention there, but that is it.

Yeah.. that is a strange little place.. I think a hotel has been added there as well. As a concept.. it seems like a great idea to repurpose an old car dealership.. I just wonder if there is enough of a draw for people/conventions to actually use it as opposed to a hotel in Rock Hill or Greater Charlotte even if it isnt in the Uptown area.. I guess time will tell. I am sure COVID hasnt helped along with a shift to virtual conferences...

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by tylerSC

The I-85 corridor between Charlotte and Atlanta is a major growth region contributing to the rapid growth of the Greenville-Spartanburg area and Upstate SC. Attracting companies such as BMW and Michelin. In fact there has been talk of a mega region called Charlanta rather than Upstate SC. Meanwhile the I-77 corridor between Charlotte and Columbia has not caught up yet, although there is spillover from Charlotte in York County and Rock Hill. Maybe in the future.

Yeah... Fairfield County competing in the Midlands is one thing.. though I believe the industrial park that was created along with the new exit on I-77 was partially funded by Richland County along with some of the utilities may be coming from Richland as I believe the County is using some form of "multi county industrial park" approach to allow for this type of collaboration.. That way Richland can continue to keep the residential growth growing without setting aside large tracts of land for speculative industrial development and will get some revenue either through a shared tax arrangement or from the use of the utilities....

To your point.. Region vs Region competition.. The I-85 corridor is running circles around I-77 for obvious reasons. I think another challenge for Fairfield is that its planning/development is guided by the Central Midlands Council of Governments.. who often take on the Planning function for smaller Counties/Jurisdictions and a coordination role for larger ones like Lexington and Richland County and the City of Columbia.. I suspect the COG also favors Newberry and Kershaw over Fairfield and Calhoun from a funding perspective.. (those Counties likely contribute more) and exist on a more favorable axis I-20 and I-26 thus they focus their resources on those corridors....