Site Consultant / Quality of Life

Rich with open farmland and parkland, dotted with quiet villages, yet situated on the outskirts of one of the most up-and-coming cities in the nation, Lancaster County offers an appealing blend of small-town charm and cosmopolitan amenities. 

 

Housing and cost of living

From downtown condos to modest single-family homes to $1 million properties within gated communities or on sprawling, multi-acre estates, Lancaster County and the Charlotte metro region have it all.

The influx of people to the region has brought a building boom. Across Lancaster County, 15,000 homes are permitted or under construction. This includes a 4,500-home Sun City community in Northern Lancaster.

 

Lancaster County’s many charms are complimented by the area’s cost of living. As a whole, the Charlotte metro area has a cost of living index of 96.7. In Lancaster County, the cost of living is even lower.

 

Climate

The local climate is moderate, with four distinct seasons; spring arrives early in March, and pleasant autumn temperatures last well into November. Winters are mild and most outdoor activities can be enjoyed year-round.

 

Education

The Lancaster County and Fort Mill School Districts provide excellent education to K–12 students; Fort Mill High School was nominated as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2003. There are 18 public schools in Lancaster County. In addition, Lancaster County and the Charlotte area are home to more than 30 private schools.

 

The region is also home to 4 universities, 11 liberal arts colleges, and 10 community colleges. The University of South Carolina—Lancaster offers associate degree programs in fields including business, criminal justice, and nursing, and also offers pre-baccalaureate studies. York Technical College is just minutes away and offers one- and two-year degree programs in several business and industrial fields.

 

Culture and entertainment

Just a quick trip across the Lancaster County line is Charlotte, North Carolina, which boasts all the cultural and recreational offerings you’d expect from the nation’s 19th-largest city.

 

Charlotte’s leading performing arts center hosts many touring Broadway productions each year and is home to resident symphony, ballet, philharmonic, opera, choir, and dance companies. Several professional, community, and children’s theater groups are also active in the city. The Queen City’s other cultural and educational attractions include museums and centers devoted to arts and crafts, children’s exploration, and the natural environment.

 

Sports fans will enjoy cheering on the Carolina Panthers (NFL) and the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA) as well as minor league hockey and baseball; expect to see golf’s elite in town every spring for the Quail Hollow Championship, a PGA TOUR stop at Quail Hollow Country Club. And NASCAR fans will appreciate Lancaster’s proximity to Lowe’s Motor Speedway, home of the Coca-Cola 600.

 

Even closer to home, Lancaster County has a thriving arts scene all its own. The Lancaster County Council of the Arts is an umbrella organization for a variety of local arts groups including the Lancaster Art League, which hosts periodic exhibits; the Lancaster County Community Playhouse, with productions throughout the year; and the Lancaster Chamber Choir.

 

Each year at Andrew Jackson State Park, the Carolina Legends festival features a full day of performances by the pioneers of bluegrass, Celtic, country, and gospel music along with local craftsmen and food.

A variety of musical performances take place throughout the year at the University of South Carolina’s Lancaster campus.

 

Shopping and dining

Charlotte is home to world-class shopping and dining: Neiman Marcus, Dean and Deluca, Nordstrom, IKEA, Crate and Barrel, and Trader Joe’s are here; many boutiques, antique stores, galleries, and outdoor markets complement more familiar retail destinations. Charlotte’s restaurant scene is diverse and constantly expanding to meet the needs of the city’s sophisticated population. Whether your appetite tends toward upscale steakhouse, ethnic cuisine, neighborhood pub, or traditional Southern “meat and three,” you and your belly will have fun exploring all the options.

 

In Lancaster County, more than $200 million in new retail is coming online to meet the needs of the growing population.

 

Charlotte light rail

Hate in-town driving? Charlotte’s new light rail line makes the trip a breeze. Visitors can park at the rail line’s outer stop located at the I-485 loop near the Lancaster County line, and enjoy a quick, comfortable ride right into the center city.

 

Outdoors

Lake Wateree, the Catawba River, and Andrew Jackson State Park provide beautiful settings in which to enjoy boating, swimming, canoeing, hiking, and fishing.

 

Lancaster County Recreation Commission operates 20 baseball/softball fields, 5 soccer fields, 14 tennis courts, 8 basketball courts, 13 playgrounds, 5 picnic shelters, and a swimming pool. The recreation commission provides a variety of programs for all ages on a year-round basis, with adult leagues in softball, basketball, and volleyball. For youth, team activities include soccer, baseball, softball, T-ball, football, and cheerleading. Classes are available for all levels in gymnastics, exercise/aerobics, and swimming. Camps are available for sports skill advancement.

 

More offbeat excursions can be found at the Bermuda High Soaring School, a sailplane club and instructional facility that offers glider rides and training from FAA-certified instructors. Lancaster Airport also offers recreational and commercial flying lessons. Back at ground level, the Carolina Motorsports Park, just south of Lancaster County, features a 2.3-mile racecourse where car and motorcycle enthusiasts can satisfy their need for speed on a 14-turn road track.

 

Charlotte is home to the world’s largest artificial whitewater river. The U.S. National Whitewater Center is an official U.S. Olympic Training Site. In addition to braving the rapids, guests can enjoy kayaking, hiking, and mountain biking within the 397-acre facility.

 

Those who prefer a walking pace will find dozens of public and private golf courses in Lancaster County and the Charlotte area.

 

History

Lancaster County holds many claims to historical fame. Two Revolutionary War battles were fought here, and the county is the birthplace of Andrew Jackson. The state park named in his honor features a museum and ongoing educational programs about the era in which Jackson was raised.

 

Lancaster County sits in the middle of South Carolina’s Olde English District, which boasts many historic homes, churches, and downtowns.

 

Several historic districts within the county feature residential and commercial buildings dating back to the late 19th century. The Lancaster County Courthouse, designed by Robert Mills (architect of the Washington Monument), has been in constant use since its construction around 1828.

 

Well-being

Top-quality medical care is always close at hand in Lancaster County. Springs Hospital is a 200-bed facility with a 24-hour emergency room, intensive and coronary care units, and surgical, laboratory, and imaging services.

 

The Charlotte region is served by two hospital systems, including one of the largest public health care systems in the nation. Nine major hospitals in the area feature specialists in everything from laser surgery to heart disease to organ transplantation. Carolinas Medical Center has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s best hospitals in orthopedics and urology.

 

Proximity

Lancaster County is just two hours from the famed South Carolina coast, perfect for a family vacation to Myrtle Beach or a romantic getaway to Charleston. Just three hours away lie the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and Smoky Mountains National Park.