South Carolina was recently ranked by a U.S. Census report as the 10th fastest growing state in the union as a percentage of total population. 74,316 people were added here over the past year, mostly from relocation. About 48,000 U.S. residents moved here, accompanied by 7,700 foreign nationals, and 18,000 births. That adds up to a 1.7 percent increase as charted from July 2005 to July 2006. For a report on the top 10 states.

Several Cherrydale area businesses have recently formed a coalition called the Greenville Chamber Cherrydale Area Council. The Cherrydale Mall area is one of the top five growth areas in Greenville County and acts as a gateway for visitors arriving from the north and northwest as well as those heading through Greenville towards Furman University, Travelers Rest and the mountains. The council's goal is to assist in planning the corridor by addressing issues such as competition with other high retail areas such as Haywood, Woodruff Rd, and the West End; other issues include crime, panhandling, traffic and zoning.

The Palmetto Expo Center will continue to receive renovations throughout 2007, wrapping up a plan that started in 2005. Updated convention space, paint, new bathrooms and entrances are the main changes. The center was built in 1964 to house the American Textile Manufacturers Show, but since textiles have largely departed the South, the goal is to position the center for our recent growth in the automotive and aviation sectors.

A 6.7 mile section of the Palmetto Trail has recently opened that will take hikers through two wilderness areas of the Greenville Water System's watershed in the northern part of the county. The new Palmetto Passage is just one link of an ambitious project that will connect South Carolina's mountains and coast with a 425 mile trail.

Source: The Greenville News, Greenville Journal, Outlook