Midlands of South Carolina
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. 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.Counties
The Midlands area of South Carolina includes at least these eight counties:
- Calhoun
- Fairfield
- Kershaw
- Lexington
- Orangeburg
- Richland
- Saluda
- Sumter
Usually included
- Lee County
- Clarendon County
- Newberry County
- Aiken County
This region is largely coextensive with the Columbia metropolitan area. The Columbia television and radio market includes the eight core counties plus Lee, Clarendon and Newberry.
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. Aiken County is also frequently listed as part of the Central Savannah River Area.Cities
- Columbia, Richland and Lexington 122,819
- Sumter, Sumter 39,159
- Orangeburg, Orangeburg 13,563
Suburban towns and cities over 10,000 in population
- Cayce, Lexington 12,597
- Forest Acres Richland 10,558
- Irmo, Richland and Lexington 11,338
- Lexington, Lexington 17,110
- Newberry, Newberry 10,874
- West Columbia Lexington 13,670
Suburbs with less than 10,000 inhabitants
- Arcadia Lakes, Richland 828
- Batesburg-Leesville, Lexington 5,610
- Blythewood, Richland 170
- Camden, Kershaw 7,022
- Chapin, Lexington 689
- Eastover, Richland 774
- Elgin, Kershaw 1,042
- Gaston, Lexington 1,393
- Gilbert, Lexington 571
- Little Mountain, Newberry 262
- North, Orangeburg 782
- Pelion, Lexington 594
- Pine Ridge, Lexington 1,739
- Prosperity, Newberry 1,063
- Red Bank, Lexington 8,811
- Ridgeway, Fairfield 321
- Saluda, Saluda 2,989
- Silverstreet, Newberry 225
- St. Matthews, Calhoun 2,009
- Springdale, Lexington 2,946
- Swansea, Lexington 533
- South Congaree, Lexington 2,397
- Winnsboro, Fairfield 3,647
Unincorporated communities
- Dentsville, Richland 13,009
- Gadsden, Richland
- Hopkins, Richland 13,025
- Lake Murray of Richland, Richland 3,526
- Lugoff, Kershaw 6,278
- Mitford, Fairfield
- Seven Oaks, Lexington 15,755
- St. Andrews, Richland 21,814
- Woodfield, Richland 9,238
- 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, , and WIS 10.
The state's second largest newspaper, The State, is published here.Major highways