Lake City is a S.C. town with a popular arts scene
Lake City is a once-prominent agricultural town that is becoming known as a regional cultural destination. This community of about 5,900 features a quaint downtown that blends the old and the new. The Bean Market, once the site of the world’s largest truck auction of green beans, is now a multipurpose venue. A similarly restored historic building next door houses the Jones-Carter Gallery, anchor of the town’s burgeoning arts scene. “Lake City is a small community that has a lot of things going on,” says J Steven Franklin of Brown & Company SC, who has sold several homes in town.
ArtFields is the community's signature event
The Jones-Carter Gallery opened in 2013 as host to the inaugural ArtFields event, an annual celebration of regional artists that awards a $50,000 prize. “It draws people from all around,” Franklin says. The town also offers additional studio spaces and gallery exhibits. Downtown is home to a colorful collection of murals, and hosts the annual Crossroads Music & Market in September. More community events, and holiday celebrations, are held at nearby Moore Farms Botanical Garden.
Interest rates are keeping homes on the market longer than usual
Homes here tend to get bigger and more expensive the father they are from the center of town. Cottage-style homes are prominent among the mostly older housing stock. The Colonial influence is popular among larger homes. Ranch-style homes and newly built model homes are other options.
Sidewalks are rare, and most homes sit on quiet streets with plenty of mature trees. Prices range from about $30,000 for a fixer-upper to more than $400,000. Some of the higher-priced homes are in the Lake City Country Club community. Lake City is about 60 miles from the coast, so flooding is not a major risk. However, the community is close enough to the ocean that wind damage is a concern during hurricane season.
“Right now, we have a lot of supply, and inventory is not moving as fast as it used to with the high interest rates,” Franklin says. “So, you have a standoff, where sellers are wanting more for their homes, and buyers are waiting on the interest rates.”
Lake City Park is a picturesque center of community recreation
Lake City Park is the center of recreational activity. A boardwalk, a pier and a gazebo are featured attractions of this picturesque waterfront green space. Other parks offer traditional athletic amenities such as basketball courts and ballfields. Dr. Ronald E. McNair Memorial Park features a statue dedicated to the local astronaut who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. Lake City Country Club members have access to an 18-hole golf course and other resort-style amenities. The Lynches River winds its way through the natural landscape north of town, offering plenty of rural recreation. “Lake City is a great place for people who like to fish and hunt,” Franklin says.
Stores, restaurants found downtown, along commercial corridor
“We have a lot of local eateries and businesses,” Franklin says. Popular dining destinations and boutique stores are concentrated downtown, while a collection of restaurants and retail centers can be found along the Ron McNair Boulevard commercial corridor.
PK-12 schools conveniently located in the community
The town is served by Florence County School District 3, which earns a C from Niche. The typical pipeline is Lake City Early Childhood School for the Arts, rated B; Main Street Elementary and Dr. Ronald E. McNair School of Digital Communication and Leadership; both rated C-minus; and Lake City Early College High School, rated C. The high school offers a Career & Technical Education program. J. Paul Truluck Creative Arts & Science Magnet School, rated C, is another local option. It serves qualified students in seventh through 12th grades. The district offers school choice, so eligible students can attend schools outside of their geographic zones.
Highways provide access to Florence, larger cities
U.S. Route 52 provides convenient travel north to Florence. The county seat and the region’s economic hub is about a 25-mile drive. Interstates 95 and 20 converge in Florence. The three major highways put the state’s major metropolitan areas within reach. “You can get to Myrtle Beach and Charleston and Columbia,” Franklin says. “You’re kind of centrally located between the three big cities.” Closer to home, the Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority offers bus access to Florence. MUSC Health Black River Medical Center is about 5 miles outside of the community.
Written By
Matt Pallister
