South Carolina is a beautiful state with a long past and a wide range of cultures. But not all of its towns are doing well or appealing to people who want to live there. Some towns are losing people, having trouble with the economy, or having problems with the environment that make them less attractive places to live. The most recent census data shows that people are leaving these seven South Carolina towns as soon as possible.
Allendale
The county center of Allendale County is in Allendale. This county has the fewest people and the highest rate of poverty in the whole state. Since 2000, 33.9% of the town’s people have moved away, and 16.7% since 2010. There are not enough jobs, schools, or health care in the town, and there is a lot of crime. A study from the Economic Innovation Group says that Allendale is one of the most economically troubled cities in the country.
Bamberg
There are not many people living in Bamberg County, which is one of the poorest and least crowded in the state. People have moved out of the town by 23.6% since 2000, or 16.7% since 2010. The town has a low median salary, a high unemployment rate, and few people who have finished high school. Naturally bad things like floods and hurricanes can also happen in Bamberg and hurt its business and infrastructure.
Lee
There are a lot of poor people in Lee County, which also has a small population growth rate. People have moved out of the town by 20.8% since 2000, or 14% since 2010. The town has a low median income, a lot of poor people, and people who don’t have much schooling. Poor air quality and polluted water are two natural problems in Lee that put the health of the people who live there at risk.
Dillon
Dillon is the county seat of Dillon County, which has a high rate of poverty and slow population growth. In the town, people have moved away 11.1% since 2010 and 15.4% since 2000. The town has a low median income, a lot of poor people, and people who don’t have much schooling. People also know Dillon for its badly maintained public schools, which have been the subject of a long-running case over not having enough money or space.
Mario
There are a lot of poor people in nMario County, which has a low population growth rate. Marion is the county city. Since 2010, the town has lost 10.6% of its people. Since 2000, it has lost 16.9%. The town has a low median income, a lot of poor people, and people who don’t have much schooling. Marion also often floods, especially after Hurricane Florence hit in 2018 and did a lot of damage and forced people to move.
Mullins
Mullins is a town in Marion County, which has a lot of poor people and not many new people moving in. Since 2010, the town has lost 10.3% of its people. Since 2000, it has lost 18.6%. The town has a low median income, a lot of poor people, and people who don’t have much schooling. It’s also bad for Mullins that the tobacco industry is going out of business. It used to be their main source of cash and jobs.
Union
The county center of Union County is in Union. Union County has a high rate of poverty and slow population growth. Since 2010, the town has lost 9.6% of its people. Since 2000, it has lost 15.8%. The town has a low median income, a lot of poor people, and people who don’t have much schooling. Manufacturing jobs that have been sent overseas or automated over the years have also hurt Union.
In Conclusion
The problems these seven towns face are typical of those that some rural and small places in South Carolina and across the country face. They are having a hard time keeping and attracting residents, making sure they have enough services and chances, and adapting to changes in the economy and the environment. Some places may be able to get better or stay strong, but others may continue to fall apart or be abandoned. These places show that the problems in rural and small-town America need more help and attention from the state and federal governments, as well as from businesses and non-profits.