List of metropolitan areas of South Carolina facts for kids
South Carolina is a state in the southeastern part of the United States. It shares borders with North Carolina to the north, and with Georgia to the south and west, across the Savannah River. To the east, South Carolina meets the Atlantic Ocean. This article will help you understand the largest "metropolitan areas" in South Carolina.
Contents
Understanding Metropolitan Areas
When we talk about a "metropolitan area," we mean a big city and all the smaller towns and suburbs around it that are closely connected. People often live in the smaller towns but work or shop in the main city. These areas are important because they show where many people live and work together.
What is an MSA?
An MSA stands for "Metropolitan Statistical Area." This is a way the government groups together a main city and its surrounding areas. These areas have a lot of people living there and are very connected, often through jobs and daily life.
South Carolina's Largest MSAs
Here are the largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas in South Carolina, based on how many people lived there in 2020:
| Rank | Metropolitan statistical area (MSA) | Population (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer | 928,195 |
| 2 | Columbia | 829,470 |
| 3 | Charleston-North Charleston | 799,636 |
| 4 | Spartanburg | 355,241 |
| 5 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | 351,029 |
| 6 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | 215,908 |
| 7 | Florence | 199,964 |
| 8 | Sumter | 105,556 |
| Total | 3,784,999 |
As you can see, the Greenville-Anderson-Greer area was the largest in 2020. It had over 928,000 people. Columbia and Charleston were also very large, with populations close to 800,000.
What is a CSA?
A CSA stands for "Combined Statistical Area." This is an even bigger grouping. It combines several nearby Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and sometimes smaller "Micropolitan Statistical Areas." These areas are linked by jobs and how people travel. CSAs show a wider picture of economic and social connections.
South Carolina's Largest CSAs
Here are the largest Combined Statistical Areas in South Carolina, based on their 2020 populations:
| Rank | Combined Statistical Area | Population (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson | 1,487,610 |
| 2 | Columbia-Sumter-Orangeburg | 951,412 |
| 3 | Myrtle Beach-Conway | 551,126 |
| Total | 2,990,148 |
The Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area is the biggest CSA in South Carolina. It combines the Greenville and Spartanburg MSAs. This shows how connected these parts of the state are.
See also
- Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas
- Table of United States Combined Statistical Areas
