A recent career change requires that I hop in my car and visit clients dispersed throughout York and Lancaster counties in South Carolina. The largest cities are Rock Hill with a population below 100K and Lancaster which is around 10K. In between, smaller towns like Clover, Heath Springs and McConnells provide a scenic backdrop for daily drives.
Having lived in South Carolina for almost forty years, what I’ve found fascinating are the differences between small town living and what I’ll call “bedroom community” living. Where I live in Tega Cay, we’re considered part of the Charlotte metroplex. Many of the people who live here either work in Charlotte or have a financial link to the city in some capacity. A majority of people tap into big city corporate profits in order to build a life in the suburbs.
Small town living is different. There’s little to no industry or retail and entertainment options beyond the local Dollar General. Not unlike any other small town in America, many of them are food deserts. This allows for stores like Dollar General to fill the gap, essentially acting as a modern day Five and Dime for food and other essentials.
Passing by on your way to the nearest city, you may think that’s all there is. This is most definitely not the case.
Small towns provide an American authenticity that’s missing for most of us. Cities and the suburbs that surround them can have a tornado-like effect on the culture and aesthetic beauty of a town. Whole forests are cleared, concrete is poured and buildings are erected, all in the name of progress. We become enamored with the thought of driving our golf cart to a restaurant, listening to a local artist strum our favorite tunes while we down over priced chicken wings.
None of this is bad by the way. Much of what I’ve just described is my typical weekend. What I have found fascinating is the impact driving into a small town has had on me. Limited options on where to get gas, where to eat and what to do in between appointments has removed any pressure of choice. I can gas up here, I can eat there. The simplicity of it all provides an unburdened reality, very different from the one I experience at home.
Too often we get stuck in our own reality. Working 10-12 hour days, clawing and scratching each week so we can get to Friday and finally relax with a beer at the aforementioned restaurant. A small town removes this option because it doesn’t exist. You’re more than likely going to have a beer on your neighbors porch and fire up the grill on a Friday night instead.
There is a human interaction element that taps into an America you may have thought was lost but is just hiding in the shadows, away from populated cities. It’s why we get excited to attend symphonies in the park or the local fair. We crave this interaction and although it creeps into our life from time to time, this appears to be an everyday occurrence in the small towns I’ve had the pleasure of visiting.
Am I saying that we all need to move out of the suburbs or big city and move to the country? Definitely not. If we all did this the charm and mystique of a small town that I’ve been describing would be lost under a torrent of population growth.
I would recommend looking past the Dollar General to uncover the true spirit of the town you’re speeding past. The houses spread apart by vast swaths of land, grazing cows and hay bails provide an interesting tapestry that’s largely ignored in today’s America. Beyond social media clicks and streaming Kardashian episodes lies small town America in all its glory.
Check it out when you get a chance but don’t forget to gas up. Your options are limited once you get there.
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