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I believe Columbia has a lot more room than Charleston does to grow the population inside its city limits without causing more traffic headaches. Empty parcels where Columbia can go vertical up to the four- to 10-story range are all over its greater downtown area. There is no doubt that Columbia's infrastructure as it relates to the ratio of road lanes per vacant parcel is more adequate than Charleston's.
The title of "State's Largest City" is really more ceremonial that anything IMO. Don't get me wrong, it has been a point of pride for Columbia and loosing it will sting that pride, but in the grand scheme of things, the city limit population is one that has little bearing on the area or how its actually perceived, nor does it mean that anything is changing in the growth of the area. Charlotte and Atlanta are the best examples of this as we all know Charlotte city is much larger than Atlanta city, but everyone knows Atlanta, in actuality due to metro, is much larger as a whole.
Columbia Metro's population is still much larger than Charleston's and even with Charleston Metro outpacing Columbia Metro in growth, it will still not surpass Columbia Metro's population for at least another 10 years if not more with Columbia's growth looking to pick up in the next few years.
Again, not a knock at Charleston nor an attempt to minimize the title of States Largest City, just putting it all into perspective. Charleston will still be the most recognizable and more popular city in the state over Columbia due to tourism that Cola just doesn't have.
In and of itself, the phrase "state's largest city" is not a good designation to lose to another city, unless for whatever reason one truly doesn't want to have their city known as such. People on average don't dig further to learn more about what "the state's largest city" means. To them it means what it means: the state's largest city.
With the phrase "the largest city in the southeast," you might spark a conversation about Atlanta versus Charlotte because the average person knows for all intents and purposes that Atlanta is larger than Charlotte. Whatever Charleston is perceived to have over Columbia, if Columbia is no longer able to throw in the "South Carolina's largest city" mantra when promoting itself, that will be a loss, a loss to Charleston.
With the phrase "the largest city in the southeast," you might spark a conversation about Atlanta versus Charlotte because the average person knows for all intents and purposes that Atlanta is larger than Charlotte.
Except Jacksonville, FL is the largest city in the Southeast and Miami is the largest metro in the Southeast. Point taken though.
Quote:
Whatever Charleston is perceived to have over Columbia, if Columbia is no longer able to throw in the "South Carolina's largest city" mantra when promoting itself, that will be a loss, a loss to Charleston.
This is true, but it will always have the title of state capital to hang its hat on.
This is true, but it will always have the title of state capital to hang its hat on.
I'm not so sure about that. After all those years that Columbia had to endure the inappropriate display of the Confederate flag on the front lawn of the capitol in the heart of downtown, Charleston now wants the Confederate relic room in Columbia to be moved to Charleston where the flag would be displayed with the Hunley.
This is pretty meaningless. Charleston can be the largest city, but Columbia has 80,000 to the NE available to annex. Charleston does not. If Greenville cared, they could go from 60K to near 300K.
As stated many many times on here, our city sizes are pretty misleading because of our antiquated laws.
Hilton Head Is and North Charleston are the only two cities in the state that are really true to size. All other cities could go on an annex party and double their size. It's all meaningless other than marketing.
I guess so many people read into this stuff a bit to much.
Examples:
Albany capital, smaller than New York City
Carson City capital, smaller than Las Vegas
Austin capital, smaller than Dallas and Houston
Shreveport capital, smaller than New Orleans
Tallahassee capital, smaller than Miami, etc. etc. etc.
Cities should stand on their own as to what they offer and for what they are. Forget the largeness.
Some times I think maybe Columbia kept bringing this up. So now it seems to hurt them.
Not to worry, it's the state capital, so may it be. Cities will grow at their own pace and that's all okay.
This is pretty meaningless. Charleston can be the largest city, but Columbia has 80,000 to the NE available to annex. Charleston does not. If Greenville cared, they could go from 60K to near 300K.
As stated many many times on here, our city sizes are pretty misleading because of our antiquated laws.
Hilton Head Is and North Charleston are the only two cities in the state that are really true to size. All other cities could go on an annex party and double their size. It's all meaningless other than marketing.
"other than marketing"
Ah ha!
That's all I'm saying. That and pride. Like I said, most people don't dig any further than hearing the phrase "state's largest city." However, it is a phrase that sticks, one that people don't forget. It's a phrase that bestows an image. The words hold weight. That's just the way it is.
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