The following resources are available for Chamber members and the Western York County Region. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by phone toll free at (877) 684-2590 or by email.

Economic Development

 

                 Statistics, figures, and census data concerning

       Western York County, SC

           


 Presented to you by:

 The Greater York Chamber of Commerce

Serving the communities of
Hickory Grove, McConnells, Sharon, Smyrna, and York
 

Western York County

Economic Development Opportunities

This section of York County is a thriving area of 61,504 plus individuals. In the early 1700’s individuals, largely of Scotch-Irish ancestry, migrated from Pennsylvania and points North to York. These folks and their descendants fought bravely as patriots in the American Revolution and many historic battlegrounds are found in York and surrounding counties. The area was predominantly agricultural until around 1900 when the textile industry began to grow. Now a balanced manufacturing section has emerged and with agriculture and historic tourism, provide additional economic strength. As the county seat, York has many government offices, which provide good jobs for its citizens. The population increases experienced today are due to economic development activities that offer opportunities not found in other areas. Western York County is on the threshold of even stronger growth and economic development. Highway expansion will reduce traffic congestion and create easy access to two major interstate systems for the movement of products and services.  

The Greater York Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the communities of Western York County is committed to planned economic development that will improve the quality of life for each resident. To support this commitment, the Chamber’s Economic Development Committee has put together a Business Prospect Package to acquaint business with the opportunities available in Western York County. 

The Business Prospect Package contains maps, tables, and publications about the communities and the people who live, work, and play in Hickory Grove, McConnells, Sharon, Smyrna, and York. The package is divided into 8 sections as follows:

  1. Demographics; provides population information in terms of race, gender, age and per capita income for the County and each community.
  2. Work Force; lists the labor pool for York County and the seven border counties; also breaks down the labor statistics by industry group and commuting patterns.
  3. Economy; has data on capital investment by both new and existing businesses, sales history, municipal and County fees, cost of living comparisons, and City of York zoning map.
  4. Education; lists the colleges and university that serve York County their enrollment levels, tuition charges, graduation rates, and scholarship availability. Also provides data on the County’s four school districts, enrollment, attendance, test scores, graduation rates, teacher qualifications, and extracurricular activities.
  5. Infrastructure; provides information on the County and its citizens commitment to improvement and expansion of the highway system that serves the County.
  6. Business Incentives; identifies contact information to the South Carolina Department of Commerce Incentive Program.
  7. Publications; a collection of brochures, pamphlets, and visitor guides highlighting attractions and activities within the County.
  8. Sites/Buildings; contains listing of existing sites and buildings that are available for prospective businesses.

 Additional information pertaining to this Business Prospect Package may be requested by contacting the Greater York Chamber of Commerce at 803-684-2590 or e-mail info@greateryorkchamber.com.

 

Table of Contents

1. Demographics

2. Work Force

3. Economy

4. Education

5. Infrastructure

6. Incentives

7. Publications

8. Sites/Buildings

 

 

1. Demographics

     POPULATION STATISTICS

    York County

      2004     

Resident Population

2006

192,890

2000

164,614

1990

136,000

 

 

 

Race

Total

192,890

White

147,829

Black

36,248

American Indian

731

Asian

2,224

Hispanic/Latino

5,858

Gender

Total = 192,890

Male = 93,948

Female = 98,942

Comparative Age Distribution
Median Age:

0 -14

38,539

15 – 19

13,991

20 – 64

118,817

65 +

21,543

 

     POPULATION STATISTICS

      Western York County

   2006

Resident Population Hickory Grove

2006

1,404

2000

1,174

1990

287

 

Hickory Grove, The People

Median Age

38.1

Under 18

363

19 – 64

867

65 and older

174

White

83.5%

Black

15.5%

Male

52.1%

Female

47.9%

1999 per cap. Income

$20,627

 

Resident Population McConnells

2006

1,957

2000

1,547

1990

157

 

McConnells, The People

Median Age

36.8

Under 18

555

19 - 64

1,215

65 and older

187

White

78.8%

Black

19.7%

Male

49%

Female

51%

1999 per cap. Income

$24,475

 

Resident Population Sharon

2006

2,597

2000

2,164

1990

270

 

Sharon, The People

Median Age

37.9

Under 18

683

19 – 64

1,611

65 and older

303

White

80.4%

Black

18.4%

Male

50.7%

Female

49.3%

1999 per cap. Income

$19,863

  

Resident Population Smyrna

2006

1,537

2000

1,293

1990

57

 

Smyrna, The People

Median Age

37.8

Under 18

401

19 – 64

962

65 and older

174

White

89.9%

Black

8.7%

Male

51.8%

Female

48.2%

1999 per cap. Income

$19,628

 

Resident Population York

2006

25,300

2000

22,537

1990

6,709

 

York, The People

Median Age

35.9%

Under 18

7,159

19 – 64

15,455

65 and older

2,686

White

78.4%

Black

18.8%

Male

49.7%

Female

50.3%

1999 per cap. Income

$14,218

  

     INCOME STATISTICS

               York County

                     2006

Per Capita Income

2006

$23,474

1990

$13,306

 

Median Household Income

2006

$50,601

1990

$20,925

  

Average Household Income

2006

$61,534

1990

$35,875

  

Household Income Distribution

Total Households:

< 14,999

8,780

$15,000 - $24,999

7,393

$25,000 - $34,999

7,991

$35,000 - $49,999

11,414

$50,000 - $74,999

16,062

$75,000 - $99,999

9,602

$100,000 - $149,999

7,345

$150,000 +

3,437

 

 2. Work Force

 
AVAILABLE LABOR
YORK AND NEIGHBORING COUNTIES

 

 

County

 

 

Labor Force

 

Employed

 

Unemployed

 

Unemployment Rate

 

York

 

 

86,805

 

81,476

 

5,329

 

6.0

 

Union

 

 

12,760

 

11, 480

 

1,280

 

11.6

 

Cherokee

 

 

24,350

 

22,370

 

 

1,980

 

8.1

 

Chester

 

 

14,680

 

13,260

 

1,420

 

9.7

 

Lancaster

 

 

28,240

 

25,850

 

2,390

 

8.4

 

Union, NC

 

 

65,057

 

62,261

 

2,796

 

4.3

 

Gaston, NC

 

 

96,839

 

91,354

 

5,485

 

5.7

 

 

South Carolina

 

 

1,938,195

 

1,824,700

 

113,495

 

5.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LABOR FORCE BY INDUSTRY GROUP

 

Text Box: COUNTY

 

  

Text Box:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box:                                                                                                       County Manufacturing                                                                        17,475 City of York                                                                     889 Construction & Mining                                                            6,933 Transportation & Public Utilities                                            5,078 Wholesale & Retail Trade                                                    14,163 Finance, Insurance & Real Estate                                         4,841 Services                                                                                   8,038 Government                                                                             2,142 Art, Recreation, Accommodations & Food                          5,902 Education, Health, Social Services                                    13,067 Other                                                                                         3,837 Total                                                                                        81,476

 

 

DAILY COMMUTING PATTERNS

YORK AND NEIGHBORING COUNTIES

 

County

In-Commuting From

Out-Commuting To

 

Union, SC

 

54

 

74

 

Cherokee, SC

 

274

 

21

 

Chester, SC

 

3,063

 

95

 

Lancaster, SC

 

2,775

 

96

 

Union, NC

 

60

 

43

 

Gaston, NC

 

1,602

 

2,526

 

Mecklenburg, NC

 

4,217

 

23,900

 

Total

 

12,050

 

26,755

 

 

Text Box: All workers commuting out of York – 26,755 All workers commuting into York  -- 12,050

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AVAILABLE LABOR
YORK AND NEIGHBORING COUNTIES

 

 

County

 

 

Labor Force

 

Employed

 

Unemployed

 

Unemployment Rate

 

York

 

 

96,000

 

90,730

 

5,270

 

5.5

 

Union

 

 

12,920

 

11, 640

 

1,280

 

9.9

 

Cherokee

 

 

25,830

 

23,950

 

 

1,830

 

7.3

 

Chester

 

 

17,010

 

15,260

 

1,750

 

10.3

 

Lancaster

 

 

31,490

 

28,560

 

2,920

 

9.3

 

Union, NC

 

 

60,960

 

59,530

 

1,380

 

2.3

 

Gaston, NC

 

 

107,520

 

98,080

 

9,440

 

8.8

 

 

South Carolina

 

 

2,124,700

 

1,989,000

 

135,700

 

6.4

 

LABOR FORCE BY INDUSTRY

GROUP

  

 

Text Box:                                                                                                       County Manufacturing                                                                        17,475 City of York                                                                     889 Construction & Mining                                                            6,933 Transportation & Public Utilities                                            5,078 Wholesale & Retail Trade                                                    14,163 Finance, Insurance & Real Estate                                         4,841 Services                                                                                   8,038 Government                                                                             2,142 Art, Recreation, Accommodations & Food                          5,902 Education, Health, Social Services                                    13,067 Other                                                                                         3,837 Total                                                                                        81,476

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          DAILY COMMUTING PATTERNS

             YORK AND NEIGHBORING COUNTIES

 

County

In-Commuting From

Out-Commuting To

 

Union, SC

 

54

 

74

 

Cherokee, SC

 

274

 

21

 

Chester, SC

 

3,063

 

95

 

Lancaster, SC

 

2,775

 

96

 

Union, NC

 

60

 

43

 

Gaston, NC

 

1,602

 

2,526

 

Mecklenburg, NC

 

4,217

 

23,900

 

Total

 

12,050

 

26,755

 

Text Box: All workers commuting out of York – 26,755 All workers commuting into York  -- 12,050

 


 

3. Economy

 

CAPITAL INVESTMENT

YORK COUNTY

 

New Business & Industry

Expanded Business & Industry

Total Business & Industry

Year

Capital Investment

Jobs
Created

Capital
Investment

Jobs
Created

Capital
Investment

Jobs
Created

2006

 

31,130,000

570

20,237,000

65

51,367,000

635

2005

 

41,700,000

220

83,967,000

354

125,667,000

574

2004

 

46,850,000

1,739

101,776,171

662

151,535,171

2,395

2003

 

329,900,000

325

86,376,227

363

119,276,227

688

2002

 

4,600,000

50

90,264,591

1,339

94,864,591

1,389

2001

 

 

 

 

 

302,715,141

3,844

2000

 

 

 

 

 

388,957,345

1,508

1999

 

 

 

 

 

150,489,574

1,164

1998

 

 

 

 

 

145,471,689

1,415

1997

 

 

 

 

 

214,138,338

2,296

1996

 

 

 

 

 

205,610,062

2,154

 

        SALES HISTORY

         YORK COUNTY

 

YEAR

# Businesses Reporting

 

Gross Sales

 

Net Taxable Sales

 

2005

 

4,203

 

$3,991,298,024.26

 

1,799,324,805.73

 

2004

 

4,010

 

$3,674,037,787.63

 

1,620,260,786.47

 

2003

 

3,949

 

3,357,850,021.33

 

1,597,952,544.24

 

2002

 

3,882

 

3,248,756,712.01

 

1,508,545,077.37

 

2001

 

4,131

 

3,193,414,534.66

 

1,344,470,552.08

 

2000

 

4,318

 

3,172,340,049.75

 

1,409,384,170.08

 

1999

 

4,283

 

3,063,190,355.90

 

1,375,532,864.77

 

1998

 

4,167

 

2,826,554,449.28

 

1,351,786,811.84

 

1997

 

4,144

 

2,495,252,146.17

 

1,189,924,418.53

   

      COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

      YORK COUNTY AREA

College/University/Technical Training Facility

Enrolled Fall 2005

Tuition/Student

Degrees 2004

Clemson University

17,165

$9,400

4,080

Limestone College

 

 

678

University of South Carolina

27,065

$7,808

5,688

USC Lancaster

1,084

$4,652

121

USC Union

321

$4,652

56

USC Upstate

4,484

$7,424

894

Winthrop University

6,480

$9,500

1,160

York Technical

4,153

$3,124

621

 

College/University/Technical Training

Facility

 SC ED Lottery

# / Amount

Life

Scholarship

#  / Amount

Palmetto

Scholarship

# / Amount

Clemson University

 

0

3,896 / $9,736,125

1,403 / $4,697,107

Limestone College

 

0

96 / $240,000

3 / $10,050

University of South Carolina

 

0

6,031 / $15,175,979

1,051 / $3,426,030

USC Lancaster

 

197 / $119,821

241 / $553,542

0

USC Union

 

137 / $67,544

58 / $134,096

0

USC Upstate

 

0

930 / $2,320,787

431 / $143,999

Winthrop University

 

0

1,527 / $3,811,613

165 /539,512

York Technical

 

953 /  $703,418

281 / $480,686

0

 

SCHOOL INDICATORS

 

Indicator

 

York

 

Clover

 

Rock Hill

 

Fort Mill

 

Enrollment

 

5,168

 

5,688

 

16,632

 

7,173

 

Dollars per pupil

 

$7,734

 

$8,281

 

$7,197

 

$7,164

 

# Schools SACS accredited

 

8

 

1

 

5

 

8

 

HSAP passage rate

 

95.3

 

93.4

 

93.4

 

98.5

 

Attendance Rate

 

95.8

 

96.3

 

96.4

 

96.9

 

% of Seniors Eligible for Life Scholarships

 

11.3

 

17.1

 

17.3

 

35.4

 

Teacher/Student Ratio in Core Subjects

 

21 to 1

 

22.8 to 1

 

23.7 to 1

 

21.9 to 1

 

Average SAT

 

967

 

1,009

 

1,000

 

1,082

 

Graduation Rate

 

78.6

 

81.9

 

68.9

 

88.7

 

PACT-Math (basic or above)

 

80.2

 

85.4

 

78.6

 

89.8

 

PACT-English/Language Arts ~ (basic or above)

 

77.6

 

83.8

 

79.5

 

90.3

 

% of Teachers with Advanced Degrees

 

53.8

 

55.1

 

54.3

 

56.2

 

National Board Certification

 

22

 

33

 

111

 

54

 

Annual Drop out rate

 

3.0

 

0.6

 

3.6

 

1.6


SAT SCORES

 

All Seniors Taking SAT

Composite

Verbal

Math

 

National

 

1021

 

503

 

518

 

State

 

985

 

487

 

498

 

York County

 

 

 

 

York District 1

 

 967

 

466

 

501

 

Clover District 2

 

1,009

 

491

 

518

 

Rock Hill District 3

 

1000

 

488

 

512

 

Fort Mill District 4

 

1082

 

533

 

549

 

Chester

 

878

 

429

 

449

 

Union

 

906

 

453

 

453

 

Lancaster

 

959

 

468

 

491

 

FEE COMPARISON 

Rate

 

York

Rock Hill

Gastonia

Charlotte

County Tax

(Millage Rate)

62

62

173

131

Business License Fees

(Industrial Rate on $11Mil Revenue)

$5,700

$8,000

N/A

$2,000

City Tax

(Millage Rate)

108

102

135

105

Average Monthly Utility

(Electric)

(27,000 KW Industry Rate)

$1,648

$2,155

$2,452

$1,712

Average Monthly Utility

(Water/Sewer)

(250,000 gal Industry Rate)

$1,579

$1,404

$1,362

$1,237

Average Monthly Utility
(Natural Gas)
(1,000 therm/MO Industry Rate)

$1,099

$1,099

$1,074

$1,104

Corporate Income Tax

SC 5%

NC 7.5%
 
COST OF LIVING COMPARISON

City

100%

Composite

Index

16%

Grocery

Items

28%

Housing

8%

Utilities

10%

Transportation

5%

Healthcare

33%

Misc.

Goods

Charlotte/Gastonia, NC

Rock Hill, SC

95.7

98.3

93.2

94.5

96

102.6

96.4

Columbia, SC

89.5

103.3

75.5

96.8

90.9

93.2

97.3

Atlanta, GA

96.6

99.5

92.5

91

104.8

104.9

96.8

Charleston, SC

100

102.8

101.1

92.4

97.8

96.8

100.6

Greenville/Spartanburg, SC

89.4

98.7

79.5

84

95.6

96.5

95.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Education

COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

YORK COUNTY AREA

 

College/University/Technical Training Facility

Enrolled Fall 2004

Tuition/Student

Graduated 2003

Clemson University

17,110

$11,972

3,917

Limestone College

 

 

485

University of South Carolina

25,596

11,105

5,497

USC Lancaster

1,059

3,656

121

USC Union

406

3,656

45

USC Upstate

4,370

10,400

786

Winthrop University

6,447

11,282

1,084

York Technical

3,937

2,736

502

 

College/University/Technical Training

Facility

 SC ED Lottery

# / Amount

Life

Scholarship

#  / Amount

Palmetto

Scholarship

# / Amount

Clemson University

 

0

3,981 / $18,973,924

1,195 / $7,559,104

Limestone College

 

0

76 / $347,500

2 / $13,400

University of South Carolina

 

0

5,757 / $27,802,398

831 / $5,246,147

USC Lancaster

 

243 / $252,934

218 / $785,554

0

USC Union

 

114 / $98,628

58 / $209,092

0

USC Upstate

 

0

954 / $3,516,109

40 / $243,323

Winthrop University

 

0

1,557 / $7,530,187

131 / $835,184

York Technical

 

1,439 /  $1,471,296

209 / $574,689

0

 

SCHOOL INDICATORS

  

 

Indicator

 

York

 

Clover

 

Rock Hill

 

Fort Mill

 

Enrollment

 

4,952

 

5,015

 

15,606

 

6,226

 

Dollars per pupil

 

$6,910

 

$7,935

 

$6,800

 

$6,897

 

# Schools SACS accredited

 

8

 

8

 

5

 

8

 

HSAP passage rate

 

82.1

 

82.1

 

80.6

 

 

 

Attendance Rate

 

95.7

 

96.9

 

96.8

 

96.2

 

% of Seniors Eligible for Life Scholarships

 

15.4

 

16.5

 

18.8

 

25.7

 

Teacher/Student Ratio in Core Subjects

 

22.0

 

22.1

 

27.6

 

21.6

 

Average SAT

 

1,000

 

994

 

1,016

 

1,025

 

Graduation Rate

 

86.5

 

75.1

 

82.2

 

92.1

 

PACT-Math (basic or above)

 

80.7

 

82.2

 

78.2

 

87.5

 

PACT-English/Language Arts ~ (basic or above)

 

76.3

 

79.6

 

75.9

 

87.3

 

% of Teachers with Advanced Degrees

 

52.9

 

54.4

 

55.2

 

56.2

 

National Board Certification

 

25

 

33

 

111

 

54

 

Annual Drop out rate

 

2.3

 

4.6

 

1.8

 

1.7

 

SAT SCORES

 

All Seniors Taking SAT

Composite

Verbal

Math

 

National

 

1026

 

508

 

518

 

State

 

986

 

491

 

495

 

York County

 

 

 

 

York District 1

 

1000

 

491

 

509

 

Clover District 2

 

994

 

489

 

505

 

Rock Hill District 3

 

1016

 

503

 

513

 

Fort Mill District 4

 

1025

 

509

 

516

 

Chester

 

932

 

467

 

465

 

Union

 

922

 

462

 

460

 

Lancaster

 

931

 

457

 

474

 

Athletics offered at York School District One include the following:

v    Basketball (7th, 8th, 9th, Junior Varsity, and Varsity Boys and Girls)

v    Baseball (Junior Varsity and Varsity)

v    Cheerleading (7th, 8th, Junior Varsity, and Varsity)

v    Cross Country (Boys and Girls Varsity)

v