Local businesses boom as S.C. becomes fastest-growing state
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - New population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show South Carolina is the top state in percentage population growth – and local businesses are riding that wave.
The statistics show the Palmetto State grew 1.7 percent to a population of 5.37 million from 2022 to 2023.
Alana Aldrich, founder of the L’Atelier de la Ruelle, opened up shop in downtown Aiken in the past few months, making her new business part of the Palmetto State’s 1.7% growth to a population of 5.37 million from 2022 to 2023.
She says Aiken is perfect for her love of fashion and horses.
“A lot of people come here with their show horses to compete on their way to Florida or a lot of people stay here for the winter. So I wanted to break my neck to get it open on time for the season,” she said.
She says her experience with dressage horse training helps her fit right in.
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The population boom has also been great for The Feed Sack, which also opened up this year in North Augusta this year.
“I moved to South Carolina three years ago to Aiken, and I came here for the exact same reason I think a lot of people are,” Executive Chef Jeffrey Hairston said. “The opportunities, the lifestyle, the fact that it’s a beautiful quiet area where you can raise a family is magical.”
There’s more growth, more options, and more reasons to stay.
Aldrich said: “It just couldn’t be a warmer welcome.”
While South Carolina is leading the wave, the South as a whole ed for 87% of the nation’s growth in 2023, as the region added over 1.4 million residents for a total population of 130,125,290.
Georgia reached a new population threshold as the state’s population exceeded 11 million people in 2023, increasing by 116,077 to a total population of 11,029,227.
The South is the only region to have maintained population growth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Census Bureau.
The growth in 2023 can largely be attributed to the region’s migration patterns as 706,266 people were added via net domestic migration, while net international migration contributed almost 500,000 to the total.
It comes amid a national pattern of population trends returning to pre-pandemic norms. The number of annual deaths decreased last year and migration reverted to patterns not seen since before 2020.
As more states see growth, that growth is no longer concentrated in only a few states. For example, four Southern states — Texas, Florida, North Carolina and Georgia — ed for 93% of the nation’s population growth in 2022, but only 67% in 2023.
Texas experienced the largest numeric change in the nation, adding 473,453 people, followed by Florida, which added 365,205 residents.
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