City of Fort Mill, South Carolina

Did you know that the state of South Carolina is nicknamed the Palmetto State? Not only because the palmetto tree is predominantly present in the state. But, the palmetto tree featured on the state flag is a reminder of Colonel Moultrie’s heroic defense of the palmetto-log fort on Sullivan’s Island. The British fleet attack on the fort on June 28, 1776, could not penetrate the palmetto-log walls of the fort because the cannonballs would either be absorbed or bounced back.

South Carolina is also the nation’s leading peach producer. The expensive peach orchards located throughout the state are easy to notice. Also, the first battle of the Civil War took place at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The city of Fort Mill, South Carolina is where the last Confederate Government Cabinet meeting took place. With so many forts mentioned throughout the history of the state, we would like to take a look at Fort Mill, a peaceful and quiet city in the northern part of South Carolina.

The city is now home to approximately 17,000 people and it is well known for having a friendly community. The median age of its population is around 34 years, and according to many, the city of Fort Mills is a desirable place to live for both older adults and families with children. With the prosperous economy of the city and its job growth, many got in touch with the local real estate agents in Fort Mill SC, in order to find a home and relocate here.

Titled by many as one of the fastest-growing cities in South Carolina, it’s important to know what makes the city of Fort Mill so special and desirable? What is Fort Mill known for? Or, what is there to do in Fort Mill, SC? How affordable is Fort Mill, compared to other cheap places in South Carolina? Let’s dive into it and find out more about Fort Mill, SC.

Fort Mill’s population

The first caucasian couple that inhabited the area was Thomas Spratt and his wife Elizabeth, who in the mid-18th century traveled to South Carolina in their wagon. The friendly Catawba Indians invited them to live thereby offering them a large tract of land. Their descendants still reside there today.

The same spirit of friendship can be found today in Fort Mill, where according to the 2017 Census Data the population is composed of 73% Caucasian residents, 17% African American residents and 4% Hispanic or Latino residents. The smaller percentage of Fort Mill’s population is represented by other ethnicities.

Schools in Fort Mill, SC

When it comes to the school system, Fort Mill, South Carolina stands out with some of the top-rated schools in the state. This is definitely a good place to educate yourself or enroll your children for high-quality education. Many parents praise the schooling system for providing a good education for their children.

Fort Mills is served by the Fort Mill School District, also known as York County School District 4. This public school district also serves students from Tega Cay and Lake Wylie. The Fort Mill School District is made up of five middle schools, nine elementary schools, and three high schools.

 In 2000, Fort Mill High School was recognized by the United States Department of Education as one of the nation’s best high schools. The high school was awarded with New American High School designation and it was set as an example for other schools.

Fort Mill, SC jobs

Because Fort Mill is a suburb of Charlotte and in close proximity to Rock Hill, many businesses saw this as an opportunity to expand because of Fort Mill’s convenient location. Notable companies and businesses settled their headquarters within the city of Fort Mill, SC. Businesses such as AECOM, Shutterfly, Domtar, Springs Industries, Continental Tire the Americas, LLC and others.

This resulted in a positive job growth in Fort Mill of about 30% in the past 10 years. The costs of living might be a bit higher than some other cheaper places in South Carolina, but Fort Mill has jobs with higher wages. The current unemployment rate is at around 3% and the prediction shows a job growth of about 30% in the next decade for the city of Fort Mill.

With all this, many people find job opportunities in Fort Mill to be some of the best. It determines many people who want to get away from the big cities to find a well paid job in a smaller and more slow-paced city such as Fort Mill, SC.

How safe is Fort Mill, South Carolina?

There are a couple of factors that come into play in order to know how safe Fort Mill is. The overall crime rate of the city consists of reports related to violent crimes and property crimes.

Data shows that the city of Fort Mill, South Carolina is safer than 33% of other US cities. The chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 205 and the chances of becoming a victim of a property crime is 1 in 33. While the crime rate doesn’t place Fort Mill amongst the communities with the highest crime rates, it is definitely higher than other communities in South Carolina.

It is safe to say that because of the family-friendly environment many families reside within the city of Fort Mill. The diversity amongst its residents shows that it is a place fit for people of all ages and a safe place to live in.

What is Fort Mill, SC known for?

The city of Fort Mill, SC holds a rich history, therefore some of the museums featured here will highlight important moments from America’s history. Also, there are amenities and attractions such as amusement parks, live theater, nature preserve parks that Fort Mill, SC is known for. With so many things to do in Fort Mill, SC let’s highlight some of the most important aspects that Fort Mill is known for.

Fort Mill is definitely known for the Anne Springs Close Greenway, which is an extensive nature preserve stretching for about 2,300 acres. Anne Springs offers tourists and residents 3.6 square miles of lakes, forests which will make any nature lover fall in love with this place. Also, the trails featured within the park are ideal for activities such as hiking, biking and horseback riding.

Fort Mill features the Confederate Park which contains the only monument in the nation dedicated to slaves fighting on the Confederate’s side during the American Civil War. Also, the area had a representative at the US house of representatives from 1983 to 2011, whose name was John Spratt, the descendent of the first caucasian couple that inhabited the area.

Fort Mill is also known for having multiple monuments, houses, churches and entire districts listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Homes for sale in Fort Mill, SC

Many would consider Fort Mill, one of the best places to live in South Carolina, however not one of the cheapest compared to the rest of the state. According to many residents, housing and transportation are the two major things that impact the cost of living in Fort Mill. Aside from these two things, healthcare in Fort Mill is amongst the most affordable and accessible in South Carolina.

This has convinced many people to buy a home in Fort Mill, and move here. Therefore, because of the higher priced real estate market, it might be harder to find homes under $200,000 in Fort Mill. Although, prices for listed homes are negotiable and this results in a lower median price for homes that are sold compared to the median price of homes currently listed.

Therefore, you could end up buying a home that surpasses the $200,000 price point for less, if you negotiate with the seller. As a rough guide, out of the current 856 listings in Fort Mill, 35 homes sold under $200,000, 631 sold between the price range of $200,000 to $500,000 and only 190 of homes listed sold for more than $500,000. As you can see most homes for sale in Fort Mill, SC are situated between the $200,000 to $500,000 price range.

Conclusion 

Overall, the city of Fort Mill, SC offers it’s residents a comfortable living, with plenty of attractions around to keep anyone busy. The job market is growing thanks to the prosperous economy, therefore more people will be relocating to the city for better job opportunities. The diversity of the city paired with the hospitality and friendship of its residents makes it a desirable place to live and we wanted to show some of the aspects that make Fort Mill a great city of South Carolina.

Do you agree with all the aspects highlighted by this article regarding the city of Fort Mill? What do you think is great about Fort Mill, South Carolina? Let us know in the comment section below.