Midlands of South Carolina

The eight counties that usually compose the Midlands.

The Midlands region of South Carolina is the middle area of the state. The region's main center is Columbia, the state's capital. The Midlands is so named because it is halfway point between the Upstate and the Lowcountry.^{[citation needed]} The main area code is 803.

The area has become a major business center in the state, for its growing production of paper products, textile, medical supplies and steel. It is also a center for farming and medical care. The area is also involved in attractions and tourism, featuring shopping, fishing and amusement.

As of the 2020 census the Midlands population was 1,019,439.

Counties

The Midlands area of South Carolina includes at least these eight counties:

• Calhoun
• Fairfield
• Kershaw
• Lexington
• Orangeburg
• Richland
• Saluda
• Sumter

Other counties usually included

• Lee
• Clarendon
• Newberry
• Aiken

This region is largely coextensive with the Columbia metropolitan area (which includes Newberry and Orangeburg counties) but .

The middle portion of Orangeburg County is located in the Midlands, while the western part is located in the Central Savannah River Area and the eastern part is considered to be located in the Lowcountry. Other than being designated to the Augusta, GA market, Aiken County is also frequently listed as part of the Central Savannah River Area.

Cities

Columbia skyline coming from North Main St.

New Lexington Courthouse

Primary cities

(including county and 2020 census count)

• Columbia, Richland and Lexington 136,632^[1]
• Sumter, Sumter County 42,976^[2]
• Lexington, Lexington County, 23,568^[3]
• Orangeburg, Orangeburg County 12,704^[4]

Suburban towns and cities over 10,000 in population

(including county and 2020 census bureau population estimates)

• West Columbia Lexington, 17,416
• Cayce, Lexington, 13,789^[5]
• Irmo, Richland and Lexington, 11,569
• Newberry, Newberry, 10,691
• Forest Acres Richland, 10,606^[6]

Suburbs with less than 10,000 inhabitants

(including county and 2020 census bureau population data)

Arcadia Lakes, Richland, 865 Batesburg-Leesville, Lexington, 5,270 Blythewood, Richland, 4,772 Camden, Kershaw, 7,788 Chapin, Lexington, 1,809 Eastover, Richland, 614 Elgin, Kershaw, 1,634 Gaston, Lexington, 1,608 Gilbert, Lexington, 571 Little Mountain, Newberry, 249

North, Orangeburg, 696 Pelion, Lexington, 631 Pine Ridge, Lexington, 2,167 Prosperity, Newberry, 1,178 Ridgeway, Fairfield, 266 Saluda, Saluda, 3,122 Silverstreet, Newberry, 164 St. Matthews, Calhoun, 1,841 Springdale, Lexington, 2,744 Swansea, Lexington, 722 South Congaree, Lexington, 2,377 Winnsboro, Fairfield, 3,215

Unincorporated communities

(2020 Census Figures)

• Dentsville, Richland, 14,431
• Hopkins, Richland, 13,025 (2010 data)
• Lugoff, Kershaw, 9,990
• Red Bank, Lexington, 10,924
• Seven Oaks, Lexington, 14,652
• St. Andrews, Richland, 20,675
• Woodfield, Richland, 9,199

Higher education

Allen University- Columbia Benedict College- Columbia Central Carolina Technical College- Sumter Claflin University- Orangeburg Columbia College- Columbia Columbia International University- Columbia

Midlands Technical College- Columbia Newberry College- Newberry Morris College- Sumter Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College- Orangeburg South Carolina State University- Orangeburg University of South Carolina- Columbia University of South Carolina Sumter- Sumter Webster University

Media

The region is served by four commercial television stations, WLTX CBS 19, WOLO ABC 25, WACH FOX 57, and WIS 10.

The state's second largest newspaper, The State, is published here.

Major highways

• Interstate 20
• Interstate 77
• Interstate 95
• Interstate 26
• Interstate 126
• US 321
• US 21
• US Route 1
• US 76
• US 176
• US 178
• US 378
• US 15
• US 301
• US 601
• US 521
• SC 277
• SC 12
• SC 34
• SC 261

References

1. "Columbia city, South Carolina". Census Bureau. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
2. "Sumter City, SC". Censusbureau.gov. U.S. Government. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
3. "QuickFacts Lexington town, South Carolina". www.census.gov. U.S. Government. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
4. "Orangeburg City Quick Fact". census.gov. U.S. Government. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
5. "Cayce City Quick Facts". census.gov. U.S. Government. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
6. "Forest Acres City Quickfacts". census.gov. U.S. Government. Retrieved 2 July 2022.

34.06°N 81.08°W / 34.06; -81.08