North Carolina And South Carolina Explosive Growth

Many people especially these days say …

Change is the only thing that stays the same.

With the development of I-85 in North Carolina and South Carolina, all along it's corridor this statement certainly holds true.

So if your thinking North Carolina or South Carolina is your best place to relocate or retire, make sure you take a close look at the places that make it onto your list.  Especially if you don't like change.

Historically, prosperity in both North Carolina was tied to the agricultural and textile industries. Small towns, farms, factories, and mills sprung up along the railroad routes, which were used to ship goods.

As automobiles and trucks were used more and more for the transportation of goods, some of these small towns declined, while others grew.

Today, a town or cities prosperity and people’s lives can be closely tied to the Interstates as they once were to the railroads.

No where is this more evident than along the I-85 corridor, especially in North Carolina and South Carolina.

I-85 stretches from its southern point in Montgomery, Alabama to its northern terminus in Petersburg, Virginia.

There are talks in place of extending I-85’s southern boundary past Montgomery to the state’s border with Mississippi. The goal of the extension is to bring much needed economic development to a part of Alabama that has been historically impoverished.

Given the massive growth along the rest of the Interstate, this assumption is well grounded. You can learn more about the proposed extension at www.i85extension.com.

The states I-85 runs through have been aggressive in attracting business opportunities, offering tax incentives to plant operators, and helping train workers by offering free training programs.

South Carolina is a leader in attracting business interests from abroad. One of the most famous examples is the large BMW plant located in the Spartanburg area, and other German company’s like Adidas, BMG Entertainment, and Seeber USA who have followed.

Spartanburg County actually has the highest per capita foreign investment in the United States.

Foreign corporations are definitely drawn to the low cost of doing business in South Carolina, which also holds true for the other I-85 states of North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Alabama.

I-85 also has access to great airports, with three in North Carolina, one in South Carolina, and Atlanta’s airport, which is one of the busiest in the world.

Add to this great air access, the fact that two thirds of the U.S. market sits east of the Mississippi, and you’ve got a recipe for success. Is it any wonder there is rapid growth all along the I-85 corridor?

The cities that have seen the greatest development and interest from companies here and abroad are:

• Atlanta
• Greenville, SC
• Spartanburg, SC
• Charlotte, NC
• Winston-Salem, NC
• Greensboro, NC
• Raleigh, NC
• Durham, NC

I-85 is definitely poised to become the next megalopolis, similar to the urbanized areas following I-95 from Boston, Massachusetts, all the way to Washington D.C. Which of course is good news as a best place to live.  Not only does this mean easier access but also it means more companies and businesses, more jobs and services.

Quality of life along I-85 is excellent.  The cost of living is low, and the enjoyment of life is high.

Real estate prices have remained more stable along I-85.  All along the route, there is an abundance of available land at affordable prices. Small towns along the route who have been waiting for development are seeing the benefits of living near the Interstate, with new jobs being created in everything from industry to tourism.

If you've decided North Carolina or South Carolina is your best place to live, and it is along the I-85 corridor, now may be the best time to buy.

Creeping north from Atlanta towards Charlotte, NC, with Spartanburg, SC and Greenville, SC in between, there are plenty of great towns to choose from.

One of my favorite best places in South Carolina is the Greenville and Spartanburg area.

You have excellent access to the mountains of North Carolina, the beaches of South Carolina, and great cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbia, SC, and Asheville, NC.

Combine this with a wide choice of colleges, and good public schools and you have a place to call your best place to live.

If all this development and growth reeks of sprawl to you, and that’s one of your hated words, there are plenty of very affordable small towns within 50 miles of the interstate.

These smaller towns are sure to retain much of their charm, even as growth continues. Choosing one of these small towns as your best place allows you to enjoy a slower pace of life, while still enjoying the advantages of access to a major thoroughfare and larger cities a short drive away.

For some of us, working in a larger city while living in a small town 50 miles away is not a long drive.

No matter what your lifestyle preference, there are affordable, exciting and prosperous towns for your best place to relocate or retire all along I-85, and it will continue to affect the areas in proximity to it in the future.

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About Bob Bencivenga

Bob Bencivenga

Bob Bencivenga is a professional site locator and location analyst for major corporations. Bob researches the growth of NC and SC to find the Best Places to Retire or Relocate that are still affordable.

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