York Co. Resident Worries Growth Will Lose Small Town Charm

YORK CO., S.C. — People from all over the country are moving to the Queen City and it’s surrounding counties. No county around Mecklenburg has more people than York County.

Danielle Childers has fond memories of the county she grew up in.

“It used to be we we would walk into a restaurant, we’d know 75% of the people in there. We walk into a local restaurant now, and it’s just a handful that we know and that that part is sad,” explained Childers.

That small town charm around York County is slowly disappearing as each housing development is built.

“That’s one thing that a lot of residents here, fear,” continues Childers, “they don’t mind the growth as long as it doesn’t reduce the hometown feel.”

Growth has been a constant for York County for quite some time. The latest Census numbers show a three year population increase of 5.8%. On par, with several counties around Charlotte. Just not their South Carolina neighbors to the east, Lancaster County, which grew twice as fast in the same amount of time.

“I think the new numbers represent that we’re on our continued path to great population growth,” said David Swenson.

Swenson is the Economic Development Director in York County. Swenson says comparing growth in York and Lancaster can be deceiving since York’s population is more than double Lancaster.

“I think our pace is a slow, steady, something that we’re we’re used to and have been for the last decade,” Swenson said.

About 3/4 of York County’s population is along I-77 including Rock Hill, Fort Mill and Tega Cay.

Swenson said many of those cities are juggling between growth and maintaining a sense of hometown community.

As those communities start to fill up, it makes way for growth to the western part of the county like York and Clover.

Big Business is following, including along Hands Mill Highway. The future site of QTS Data Centers is a $1 billion investment into the county.

0332 The growth over the past 2 or 3 years, how it has exploded.

Childers is not only a lifetime York County resident, she’s also the owner of Homeland Realty. She said many of her clients coming from California, New York, Ohio and Maryland. Many seeking a quieter life, lower taxes and larger property.

“You know what I hear more than anything? Find me land where I can have chickens. I hear that more than anything. They don’t want the HOA. They don’t want restrictions,” explained Childers.

[J_Lagg]

New home buyers don't want HOAs and no restrictions, lol.

[marciamarsh]

Bought a home in York and sold and left within a year. Lived in PA, 5 yrs in Lan, as child, 2 yrs in Pitts as teenager. State has completely changed, more like WV than an east coast state. Have had several unprovoked road rage incidents only because I had MD license plates on car when I moved there. Roads and achools in terrible shape. DMV will continue to grow attracting the young and best people from PA.

[paulwilliams]

And with growth comes the problems and the higher taxes

[jarvisstradford]

Lancaster county is cheaper than York County also Indian land is going faster than Fort Mill Rock Hill and Tega Cay.