South Carolina will have 150,000 new residents this year

Thanks largely to golf and a thriving tourism industry, the Carolinas and other Southern states emerged as top migration destinations in 2007, according to an annual study conducted by United Van Lines, the nation's largest mover of household goods.

Nearly two-thirds of all moves, 61.6%, were to North Carolina, making the Tar Heel State the year's top migration destination. South Carolina was another top residential moving destination for 2007, nabbing 57.8% of all household movers.

Other states receiving the most inbound residents were:
Nevada, 59.4%.
Washington, D.C., 58.5%.
Oregon, 58.4%.
Alabama, 57.9%

The Carolinas to tourists or would-be residents, predicted that South Carolina will have 150,000 new residents this year and North Carolina will have twice that many.

Charleston emerged as the No. 1 most-preferred destination for tourists, according to Mason's Carolina Lifestyle Survey. Of 109 South Carolina cities that snapped up new residents, Myrtle Beach was the No. 1 city families moved to after taking the survey; Columbia ranked at No. 4; Summerville ranked at No. 5; Charleston ranked at No. 8 and Mount Pleasant came in at No. 9.

According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau statistics, which compare the number of tax returns filed each year, South Carolina gained 59,332 residents between 2006 and 2007, a figure Mason said is an underestimate.

Mason said the popularity of the Carolinas as an in-migration state is directly connected to the tourism industry.

"It starts with a visit," Mason said. "We wouldn't have in-migration if we didn't have millions of people coming down here to play golf. The tourism industry is robust in South Carolina and is only going to get better. The wisdom of the Legislature this year allocated $31 million for tourism."

As the South and other desirable areas fill up with new residents, other states have the distinction of losing a large number of residents each year.

States that had 55% or more moves out are classified as high outbound states by the migration study. This year, the following states experienced the most moves out:
Michigan, 67.8%.
North Dakota, 67.2%.
New Jersey, 61.0%.
New York, 59.4%.
Illinois, 57.6%.

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