South Carolina Piedmont Plateau
The Piedmont Plateau consists of most of the middle of the state. The state capital, Columbia, is located in the heart of the Piedmont Plateau.
The Piedmont begins at the Fall Line, which is the point where rivers running from the west towards the ocean have a period of rapids as they descend from the hard rock of the Piedmont to the softer soils of the Coastal Plain. Elevations of the Piedmont Plateau begin at about 400 feet, and run up to around 1,400 feet.
The landscape is mostly gentle hills that become more extreme the farther west and northwest you travel.
The Piedmont Plateau experiences some of the hottest temperatures in South Carolina.
Too far from the coast to enjoy the breezes, and too low in elevation to have the cooling effects of a higher altitude, the hottest days happen here.
Luckily, there are several lakes in the Piedmont area to help cool people off when the heat gets unbearable.
Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie are connected by a canal and form a large body of water that stretches from the northwest corner of Francis Marion State Park up into Calhoun County, which is southwest of Columbia.
To the east of Columbia is Lake Murray which also provides respite from summer's heat.
Average temperatures in Columbia in July top out in the low nineties, and average lows in January hover in the upper thirties.Precipitation in the Piedmont is found mostly in the form of rain.
Columbia receives an average of about 45 inches of rain per year, with the most falling in August and the least in November.
Once or twice a year there will be a small amount of snow, most likely in the Upper Piedmont and often with no lasting accumulation.
South Carolina is in the process of moving from a primarily agrarian based economy towards a business, industry, and manufacturing centered economy.
Most of the farming in South Carolina occurs in the inner Atlantic Coast, although there is a good bit spread throughout the Piedmont Plateau as well.The Piedmont raises a large amount of livestock.
Many of South Carolina's forests are found there and are working forests, which are harvested for lumber.
South Carolina Piedmont Plateau Cities/Towns
Aiken Batesburg-Leesville Camden
Cheraw Chester Columbia* Hartsville
Irmo Lancaster Newberry Orangeburg
Rock Hill Santee Sumter Walterboro
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SC Coastal Plains Map and Climate
SC Piedmont Plateau Map and Climate
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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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Comments on South Carolina Piedmont Plateau
There are supposed to be 6 regions of SC (Blue Ridge, Piedmont, Sandhills, Inner Coastal Plain, Outer Coastal Plain or Costal Zone.) Your three divisions above are not in accordance with third grade elementary education books. Please clarify where the other three divisions begin and the piedmont region is SUPPOSED to end at the FALL Line (where ever that is). Please clarify ASAP. Thank you, Martha Smith
Hi Martha,
In creating those lines we researched many different sources,
as to where they should be drawn.
We did our best to come up with a consensus because there
was quite a bit of variation.
Bob