Suggestions on where to live in South Carolina

[MrWolf]

I am currently about nine months into my divorce which should hopefully be finalized in another nine months or so. I settled on S.C. based upon gun friendliness, weather, proximity to grown kids, etc.. I will hopefully have qualified for a retirement disability pension so working will not be an issue. I would like at least 50 acres and be able to hunt, fish, and shoot on my property without any issues. Prefer a small place with a large garage/shop with maybe two bedrooms. I am not a shore person so either central or west side of the state, probably leaning more to west.

Looking for suggestions on nice areas to live as I do not know much about the state. Any thoughts or advise?

Thanks,

Ron

[jmort]

NJ to SC what an immense upgrade.

[HarryT]

Pickens County, South Carolina http://www.co.pickens.sc.us/

[richhodg66]

I grew up in Orangeburg (stay away, it's a dump). Personally, I'd go for the northwestern quadrant of the state. The piedmont of the Appalachians is nice country. I don't care for the low country at all, but some people love it.

I agree with the assessment, S.C. is an upgrade from N.J. It's a pretty good place to settle from a lot of perspectives and gun friendly it is.

[slim1836]

My sis lives in York, SC, been there several times and like the surrounding area. Not too far from Kings mountain and other historical landmarks. Seems to miss the hurricane weather, but it does get it's share of rain. Very gun friendly. Check it out.

Slim

[richhodg66]

Like slim said, it is a warm, wet place. Basically, it never gets cold there. Also, lots and lots of history there, pretty much every square foot of the state was a Revolutionary or Civil War battle site of soem type or another.

A large percentage of the state is public land of one type or another. Many nice state parks if you like to camp and fish. The Francis Marion National Forest in the low country and the Sumter National Forest in the piedmont offer a lot of area. We used to back pack quite a bit on forest land.

I personally prefer the midwest now, family all moved out of theer a long time ago and I haven't been back much in a long time, but S.C. has a lot going for it.

[Artful]

Know nothing about SC except sister-in-law moved there... but what I would look at

http://www.safewise.com/blog/40-safest-cities-south-carolina/

http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/sccrime.htm

http://www.sciway.net/statistics/crime.html

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/sc/crime/

http://www.sled.sc.gov/SCCrimeBooks.aspx?MenuID=CrimeReporting

http://www.islandpacket.com/latest-news/s6vahl/picture33313401/ALTERNATES/FREE_960/T4JHm.So.9.jpg
http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/crime/article33647580.html

[jmort]

I found this site to be very useful for my last move
www.areavibes.com

[trails4u]

Wolf;

Me and my clan settled in Spartanburg County, and I couldn't be happier with our choice. We're away from town....but still only 20 minutes or so from stores, etc. Land is fairly affordable, the people here have been wonderful, and we have one of the most pro-2A Sheriffs in the land. I met him in the creek bottom behind the house last Spring...he and his son were scouting turkeys on the neighbors property. We had a great conversation about guns, 2A, hunting, politics, etc....very open, honest man who truly believes in what he's doing and who he works for. There are any number of small communities 'in the country', and most I've spent time in all seem to be much the same...in a good way. If I had to find a downside....well, it's not the mountains. I'm an old WV boy...I do miss those hills. :)

[richhodg66]

Greenville/Spartanburg area would be a good choice IMO.

[MrWolf]

Thanks folks, I really appreciate the help. I tried talking my daughter into moving out west but no go, she likes Philly and is tryng to go to PA (Physicians Assistant) school there. Distance from my kids is why I did not go further away in my search.

[DougGuy]

We live in central NC, in the northernmost end of the "less snow corridor." There is a stretch that comes up from GA to about Rocky Mount, NC that is about 200mi wide, it's centered between the coast and the mountains, this area consistently gets less snow year after year, and living here we see all the surrounding weather reports, and I am perfectly happy with living in this band. It's also far enough inland to be good shelter from the occasional hurricanes that blow up from FL or blow in from the Atlantic. By the time they get here, they have lost most of the really damaging winds.

The only drawback to this, is that it is quite humid in the summer so if you like doing outside stuff, you will have to suffer that much to live here. This past summer's flooding was really unexpected and something that afaik has never happened on the scale that happened this time around, but I think to the west of this area you will still be in the "less snow zone" and close enough to the mountains that the terrain will be green and somewhat hilly. Between the foothills and the sandhills is the area known as the Piedmont. It is a good place to be in SC. I do not like the sandhills, the trees are different, it's not as green, and it is worse humid than the coast in the heat of summer, which really accelerates thunderstorm activity as well.

https://climate.ncsu.edu/climate/sandhills.html

These are the sandhills. The Piedmont is the area between the sandhills and the Blue Ridge Mts. Anywhere in here is really great, the closer to the sandhills you are, the less snow you will get in winter, BUT the more severe thunderstorms you will get in summer...

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/dumb%20stuff/sandhills_soils_big_zpsdkchtzbn.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/dumb%20stuff/sandhills_soils_big_zpsdkchtzbn.jpg.html)

The area inside the blue line is what I call the "less snow corridor." You can really notice a difference if you live in this corridor.. Ironically this map shows increased thunderstorm activity associated with the sandhills in July. Hmmm.. Think there could be a pattern there?

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/dumb%20stuff/sandhills_July_precip_big1_zps1y6trknl.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/dumb%20stuff/sandhills_July_precip_big1_zps1y6trknl.jpg.html)

The October flooding of 2015 was really strange, it was classed as a 500 year event. This photo shows the rainfall before the flooding, and ultimately the areas that flooded the worst. Again, anywhere between the edge of the pink/purple and the mountains gets my vote..

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/dumb%20stuff/October_1ndash4_2015_Carolinas_rainfall_zpsvsteqya h.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/dumb%20stuff/October_1ndash4_2015_Carolinas_rainfall_zpsvsteqya h.jpg.html)

[Blackwater]

MrWolf, I'm in neighboring Georgia, so can't provide a great deal of help, but have a friend over in Greenwood. They have a sizable lake there for fishing, if you like that. The salt water fishing in SC is really great, and the Hilton Head area or vicinity if you like the sea, either in or off shore. Right now, boats can be bought pretty cheaply. They get that way when the economy's down, so it's really a buyer's market now. I got a pretty decent 17' aluminum bass boat that's very good for big lakes, rivers, and inshore salt water fishing for $2,000 not long ago. Deer are almost pests in some areas. They run smallish, but they're plentiful. Small game are common, too. Commercial bird hunts are easy to find, both quail and doves. Duck hunting, if you can go by the regs, is easy to find, too. It's really pretty close to a sportsman's paradise. Shooting ranges aren't really common anywhere these days, but they certainly have more than we do here in Ga., I think.

Biggest thing you'll have to get used to is the ethic and outlook there. It'll be QUITE different from your present home's! There will likely be some things that you won't take to at first, but once you become established, you'll likely either adopt them yourself, or at the very least find them not bothersome. Living among other humans is alway a challenge of some kind, and all in all, I think you're likely to really appreciate the state.

Ga. and SC have had very long standing contentions about the boundaries and other issues, like water use now from Lake Lanier and some of the other big reservoirs we have here in Ga., and if you get caught violating the game laws in either state, and are from the other, they seem to take particular glee in citing you, so watch out for that. Stay kosher and you'll really like the place, I think. There's a wide variety of classes who live among each other, so be prepared to deal with that, but with those givens, I think you'll find it generally MUCH more relaxed than your current home, and as we get older, we tend to appreciate that kind of thing moreso than when we were younger. Hope this helps a bit?

[Mumblypeg]

I live in Chester county. 45 miles Southwest of Charlotte, NC, 50 miles North of Columbia and 45 miles Southeast of Spartanburg. Half way between the mountains and the beach. Centrally located between New York and Miami. Land is as cheap here as anywhere. It's a small town with small town politics(If you know what I mean). One can live here as cheap as anywhere I believe. Some love it, some hate it. Big towns are not far away. I think any place is what you make it. It is quite here in the country. I live on a dead end road about 6 miles out of town. The sound of gun fire is the sound of freedom and is heard often here but in a good way (Unless you are in town in the hood). Lot's of hunting here. I call it "Base Camp" and do not plan to live anywhere else although I love to visit other places. Anywhere in the country is good to me....

[MrWolf]

I don't care for cities and actually prefer to be away from them. My kids are afraid I will become a hermit as I don't mind being by myself. I get along with most everyone as I follow the Golden Rule, right up to the point you screw me then I never forget. Get that from my Mom, may she rest in peace. I really do appreciate the thought that went into the responses.

My biggest issue will be how much I am left with to purchase a place and of course that my disabilty pension is approved. Still working now but can't do it much longer due to the pain. Agency has been great in accommodating me for the last year but my time is almost up. House is up for sale in June after son graduates Rutgers.

Ron

[dead dog]

I grew up in Union county hope to retire there soon. Real estate is over priced in York now and has high taxes. The upstate is best place to live. Still a lot of undeveloped land around.If you need any help just let me know.