New census data show how Rock Hill, Fort Mill areas changed over last decade
New U.S. Census Bureau data show the Rock Hill region continues to grow, and it’s growing more diverse too.
The growth rate of multiracial residents is up across York, Lancaster and Chester counties. The most predominately white area in the region, Lake Wylie, also has the greatest Black population rate increase.
Meanwhile, the most predominately Black area in the area, Chester, shows the largest regional uptick in its white population. Other cities and towns, including York, Clover, Lancaster and Tega Cay, saw about 5% or more growth in their Hispanic populations.
Those takeaways come from 2018-2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates. The survey covers demographic, social, economic and related data. For many smaller cities and towns, like all but Rock Hill in this region, the five-year estimates offer the most or only detailed figures on those topics.
The Herald compared the 2018-2022 estimates released Thursday to the prior five-year survey data from 2013 to 2017. York, Lancaster and Chester are included. So are Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Clover, York, Tega Cay, Chester and Lancaster.
Unincorporated Lake Wylie has a census listing so it’s included, but unincorporated Indian Land doesn’t so it isn’t. Survey results are less reliable as communities decrease in size, so towns like McConnells, Hickory Grove, Sharon and Smyrna aren’t included in the census results.
More results from SC census data
Here’s what else the data show:
▪ The percentage of multiracial residents increased everywhere. In Tega Cay it rose 10.6% from the prior five-year period to the latest one. The population growth rate was 9.7% in York. Lancaster, Clover, Lancaster County and York County all saw more than 2% increases.
▪ The city of Lancaster joined Chester in having a majority Black population. Chester is 61.4% Black but had the highest percentage drop in that population, at 8.4%. Lancaster went from not quite half of its residents in the prior five-year set to 51% of its residents now being Black.
▪ The city of York registered a 7.9% increase in its Hispanic population. Clover (5.8%), Lancaster (5.5%) and Tega Cay (4.7%) were next highest. Only Lake Wylie saw a decrease, at 3.9%.
▪ The Asian population in Tega Cay is up 6.8%. That increase is driven almost entirely by the Asian Indian population. The city of Lancaster’s Asian population grew by 1.9%. Lancaster County and Fort Mill each grew by 1%.
▪ Areas with the largest white population also grew the most in total residents. York and Lancaster counties are more than 70% white, as are Lake Wylie, Fort Mill, Clover and Tega Cay. Fort Mill’s total population grew 80%. Tega Cay topped 35% growth rate, followed by Clover and Lake Wylie at about 18%. York and Lancaster counties grew at about 12%.
▪ The largest white population declines, by percentage, came in Tega Cay (15.8%), Lancaster (11.7%), York (9.6%) and Lake Wylie (7.9%).
▪ Clover (5.5%), Chester (3.7%), Lake Wylie (3%) and Fort Mill (2.3%) were the communities that saw the highest growth rate in their male population. Lancaster (1.9%) and Rock Hill (1.4%) saw the biggest gains in their female population.
How old are Rock Hill region residents?
The median age is highest in Lancaster County (42.2), Chester County (41.8) and Tega Cay (41.6). The youngest residents are in Chester (33.5), Rock Hill (34.5) and Lancaster (35.6).
Chester (9.7%), Clover (7.8%) and Lake Wylie (7.3%) have the highest portion of their population 5 years and younger. All three counties plus Tega Cay have less than 6% in that age range.
And finally, Lancaster County (2.8%) and Lancaster (2.4%) have the highest percentage of residents 85 and older.
