Census Population Figures Reveal South Carolina Growth

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Population growth in U.S. metro areas as a whole was faster between 2023 and 2024 than in the previous year and outpaced that of the nation.

Additionally, some metro areas that experienced population declines during the Covid-19 pandemic are now observing population gains, according to Vintage 2024 estimates of population totals and components of change released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Jasper County, part of the South Carolina Lowcountry, ranked third among the top 10 U.S. counties by percent growth: July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024, with a resident population of 20,000 or more in 2023 and 2024.

On July 1, 2023, the population was 33,642, and on July 1, 2024, it was 35,618 for 5.9 percent growth.

Its April 1, 2020, estimates base was 28,805.

In the same period, Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach ranked third among the top 10 U.S. metro areas by percent growth.

Census officials said the area grew from 398,374 on July 1, 2023, to 413,391 on July 1, 2024, for 3.8 percent growth.

Its April 1, 2020, estimates base was 351,038.

Spartanburg ranked 10th among U.S. metro areas , growing from 385,441 on July 1, 2023, to 395,934 on July 1, 2024, for 2.7 percent growth.

Its April 1, 2020, estimates base was 355,237.

Census officials said that between 2023 and 2024, the number of people living in a U.S. metro area increased by nearly 3.2 million (or around 1.1 percent) to 293.9 million.

In comparison, the total U.S. population increased by nearly 1 percent to more than 340 million people.

The population in metro areas also grew faster from 2023 to 2024 than between 2022 and 2023 (when it increased by 0.9 percent or 2.6 million people) largely due to higher levels of net international migration, Census officials said.

Nearly two-thirds (65.3 percent) of the 3,144 counties in the 50 states and the District of Columbia grew last year. In general, large counties had faster growth in 2024, while small counties noted more population loss.

Large counties (those with populations over 100,000 in 2024) grew on average by 1.1 percent, up from 1 percent in 2023.

Conversely, among the 737 smallest counties with populations below 10,000, the average annual decrease was 0.2 percent in 2024, compared to a 0.1 percent decrease from 2022 to 2023.

ALLTAPE Adhesive Manufacturing Inc. Selects Lexington County For First SC Operation

ALLTAPE Adhesive Manufacturing Inc., a manufacturer of adhesive products, announced it selected Lexington County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation.

The $70 million investment will create 130 jobs, according to Gov. Henry McMaster’s office.

Part of ATP Group and founded in Germany, ALLTAPE specializes in developing and manufacturing sustainable and solvent-free adhesive products.

The company’s water-based adhesives are used in a variety of industry segments including automotive, transportation, foam, plastics and more.

ALLTAPE’s new facility, located in the Saxe Gotha Industrial Park, will include 125,000 square feet of production and office space.

Operations are expected to be online in July 2026. Those interested in joining ALLTAPE should contact Daniel Heini ([email protected]).  

The state’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project.

The council also awarded a $600,000 Set-Aside grant to Lexington County to assist with the costs of site preparation and building construction.

U.S. Foreclosure Activity Increased In February 2025; SC Shows Annual Decline

ATTOM, a curator of land, property data, and real estate analytics, released its February 2025 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 32,383 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions – up 5 percent from the prior month but down 1.7 percent from a year ago.

"February's rise in foreclosure filings suggests evolving market pressures," said Rob Barber, CEO at ATTOM. "While some increase may reflect seasonal trends, the uptick in foreclosure starts both month-over-month and year-over-year signals potential shifts. We'll continue monitoring how economic factors influence foreclosure activity moving forward."

Foreclosure completion numbers continue annual decline
Lenders repossessed 3,031 U.S. properties through completed foreclosures (REOs) in February 2025, up just under 2 percent from last month but down 11 percent from a year ago – continuing a trend of declining annual REO numbers seen in 12 of the last 13 months.

States that had at least 50 or more REOs and that saw the greatest annual decline in February 2025 included: New York (down 49 percent); South Carolina (down 44 percent); New Jersey (down 43 percent); Pennsylvania (down 35 percent); and Ohio (down 34 percent).

Among the 225 metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 200,000, that saw the greatest number of REOs included: Chicago, IL (154 REOs); Houston, TX (101 REOs); St. Louis, MO (91 REOs); Detroit, MI (87 REOs); and Philadelphia, PA (78 REOs).

Highest foreclosure rates in Delaware, Illinois, and Nevada
Nationwide one in every 4,395 housing units had a foreclosure filing in February 2025.

States with the highest foreclosure rates were Delaware (one in every 2,278 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Illinois (one in every 2,333 housing units); Nevada (one in every 2,435 housing units); New Jersey (one in every 2,695 housing units); and South Carolina (one in every 2,816 housing units).

Those major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) with a population greater than 200,000, with the highest foreclosure rates in February 2025 were Modesto, CA (one in every 1,486 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Lakeland, FL (one in every 1,863 housing units); Columbia, SC (one in every 2,006 housing units); Chicago, IL (one in every 2,007 housing units); and Atlantic City, NJ (one in every 2,032 housing units).

Other than Chicago, among the metropolitan areas with a population greater than 1 million, those with the worst foreclosure rates in February 2025 included: Las Vegas, NV (one in every 2,044 housing units); Riverside, CA (one in every 2,166 housing units), Philadelphia, PA (one in every 2,195 housing units), and Jacksonville, FL (one in every 2,445 housing units).

Foreclosure starts increase monthly and annually
Lenders started the foreclosure process on 22,730 U.S. properties in February 2025, up 8 percent from last month and up 1 percent from a year ago.

Those states that had 100 or more foreclosure starts and saw the greatest monthly increase in foreclosures starts in February 2025 included: New Jersey (up 78 percent from last month); Colorado (up 58 percent); Iowa (up 57 percent); Georgia (up 42 percent); and South Carolina (up 29 percent).

South Carolina Gun Safety Advocates, Gun Violence Survivors Urge Lawmakers to Act on Gun Safety Law 

Gun safety advocates and gun violence survivors with the South Carolina chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, took to the statehouse on March 13, 2025, to demand more action from their lawmakers on South Carolina’s gun violence crisis.

Joined by lawmakers, law enforcement, and community partners, attendees rallied behind a call to strengthen the state’s gun safety laws by passing a measure to close the Charleston loophole, which allows gun purchases to move forward by default after three business days — even if a background check hasn’t been completed. 

“With the ten-year mark of the worst mass shooting in South Carolina’s history only a few months away, we’re here to make it especially loud and clear that the time is long overdue that our lawmakers close the Charleston Loophole,” said Kristen Moldenhauer, a volunteer with the South Carolina chapter of Moms Demand Action. 

Moldenhauer added, “We can all agree that if you can’t pass a background check, you shouldn’t be able to access a gun – regardless of whether it takes longer than three days. It’s time for our lawmakers to take common sense steps to save lives, before more families are torn apart.” 

The rally comes just one month after volunteers joined members from Mother Emanuel Church and gun violence survivors in Charleston to mark the 10th year since the shooting at Mother Emanuel Church where nine Black parishioners were murdered during a Bible study by a white supremacist.

Gun safety advocates say they will continue to fight to close the Charleston loophole in honor of those who were taken in the mass shooting at Mother Emanuel Church and those who are shot and killed or injured every day across South Carolina.

They say that by ensuring that prospective gun owners pass a background check before obtaining a firearm and closing the Charleston Loophole, this law can help keep guns away from criminals, domestic abusers and others who could be a danger to themselves or others, saving lives. 

South Carolina has the 12th-highest rate of gun deaths in the U.S.

In an average year, 1,081 people are killed by guns in the state, a 24 percent increase from 2014 to 2023.

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