Prosperity in the U.S. Carolinas: Success and Transformation

I imagine some would dispute the fact that the Carolinas have truly prospered. However, as a North Carolina native who grew up here in the 1960s, who has traveled to most corners of both states, and who has written a half dozen books on the states, I have seen tremendous changes. These changes, while not all for the better, certainly reflect significant progress and success.

Differences Between North Carolina and South Carolina

First of all, North Carolina and South Carolina are two quite different states—differing in population size, demographics, culture, politics, and in many other ways. North Carolina has about twice the population, approaching 10 million, compared to its southern sister, which is smaller both in population and size. North Carolina is larger geographically and topographically, with its western region featuring the highest mountains east of the Rocky Mountains and the longest series of barrier islands in the country. The middle of the state is flatter with some hills, while South Carolina primarily consists of coastal lowlands and flat palmetto scrub and rural land.

The Journey from Poverty to Prosperity

In the middle of the 20th century, both states were mired to some extent in rural poverty, with industries like textiles, furniture, dead-end agriculture, tobacco, and cotton. They also had a culture based on segregation and institutional racism. Yet, they managed to turn their fortunes around with the help of increased mobility and a series of favorable events.

Increasing mobility in the U.S. led to both Carolinas experiencing large influxes of people from the Northeast and other regions seeking a milder winter climate and a higher quality of life, along with reasonably priced property. Many Floridians also moved to the Carolinas for these same reasons.

Education: A Driving Force for Prosperity

Education has always been a significant asset for North Carolina. Its 18-campus University of North Carolina system is a national leader among public university systems, with UNC-Chapel Hill usually ranked among the top five public universities. Duke University is also ranked among the top 10 private universities in the country. Several colleges in North Carolina have strong graduate programs in medicine, law, and the sciences.

President William Friday played a crucial role in the growth and success of the UNC system. However, in recent years, a new crop of conservative Republicans managed to win elections and replace the respected UNC president with a Bush political appointee lacking an advanced degree. Despite this, the state has many other well-regarded public and private colleges, including Wake Forest, Davidson, and Elon University.

Economic Rebirth and Modernization

Economically, the Carolinas have benefited from a business-friendly anti-union environment. While this has been controversial, the states have been able to rebuild their economies with a more modern approach. Several small cities in the Carolinas rank among the best sites for corporate relocations. Charlotte has become a significant national banking center, with Bank of America headquartered there. The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area has emerged as a hub for high tech and pharmaceutical industries. Greenville-Spartanburg has attracted numerous international manufacturing companies, including a huge facility for BMW.

Tourism: A Thriving Industry

Tourism has become a major part of the economy in both states. In North Carolina, it is particularly strong along the coast and in the mountainous region around Asheville, which has become a nationally known art and crafts center. Asheville, with a metro population of around 400,000, boasts attractions such as the Biltmore House and Estate, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Additionally, Asheville has become a national craft beer center, with over 50 breweries. It is home to the East Coast headquarters of major national craft brewers like New Belgium and Sierra Nevada. In South Carolina, tourism is concentrated on the coast, from Myrtle Beach to Charleston to Hilton Head.

A High-Quality of Life

Without the large, decaying cities found in other parts of the country, the Carolinas boast a high quality of life with relatively low crime rates and reasonably priced real estate. Both states have generally temperate four-season climates, making them attractive to those tired of the long, harsh winters in the Mid-West and parts of the Northeast.

Conclusion

I believe there is no single reason or secret for the growth and increasing prosperity of both states. To sum up, they have benefited from generally moderate political leadership with a relatively low level of corruption, hard work by business and political leaders in attracting new industries and companies to replace failing ones, diversified economies, particularly in North Carolina, good public and private education, temperate climates, and low crime rates. Both states have been lucky to be in the right place at the right time for retirement and relocation, immigration, and for tourism growth.