About 45 miles southeast of Columbia, Orangeburg is a riverside city that serves as the Orangeburg County seat and a regional hub for healthcare and education. City officials and volunteers have worked the past few years to grow the city of almost 14,000 through investments and events. “We’ve been hosting more community events downtown to bring people together, and I know the city has invested millions into the new recreation facility,” says Ashley Bryan, executive director of the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association.
. The Edisto Memorial Gardens in Orangeburg attract nature lovers with scenic trails and river views.
Orangeburg’s downtown district has seen revitalization with new restaurants, boutiques, and entertainment venues.
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Midcentury ranch-style homes and new construction around Orangeburg Municipal Airport
Most homes in Orangeburg feature Midcentury ranch-style architecture with spacious lots. Townhouses from the 1980s are found on the city’s far north end. Some new construction subdivisions with New Traditional-style homes began popping up around the Municipal Airport in 2024. The median sale price in Orangeburg is about $200,000, falling far below the national median.
The post-war housing boom left Orangeburg with a collection of well-preserved ranch-style homes on generous lots.
The latest residential projects in Orangeburg offer energy-efficient homes with open floor plans and custom details.
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Recreation facilities center around Edisto River
Recreation in Orangeburg centers around the North Edisto River. Several public boat launches are accessible from Edisto Memorial Gardens, a 175-acre site just west of the downtown district. The themed rose gardens are a focal point of one of the city’s signature events each May. Since 1972, the Orangeburg Festival of Roses has been a beloved community tradition celebrating the county’s natural beauty. A unique collection of local artworks is on display just up the river at the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center. Continuing north, Orangeburg Country Club has a riverside golf course with a full-service pro shop. A new $20 million recreation complex opened right across the street in 2019. The 100-acre facility has ballparks for the youth softball and baseball leagues, walking trails and open green space for movie nights at the park.
Several public boat launches at the Edisto River give Orangeburg residents easy access to the scenic beauty that draws many visitors to the area.
As the longest free-flowing blackwater river in the nation, the tea-stained Edisto River is an intimate attraction that may serve as the single most inviting canoe run in South Carolina.
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Downtown Orangeburg the heart of the local business
The Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association (DORA) is a local non-profit working to bring new life to the downtown district. Re-laid brick walkways and new vintage-looking streetlamps create a cleaner look without losing the area’s historic charm. Clothing boutiques, an old-school barber shop and a couple of local restaurants have moved into the Main Street-style storefronts along Russell Street. The community theater troupe performs downtown at the Bluebird Theater. DORA began the tradition of hosting a weekly summer farmers market downtown in 2015. “Everyone comes out for the farmers market, it’s been a great thing for the community,” Bryan says. Local dive bars, barbeque joints and Orangeburg Mall are on the north end of town.
The city has invested in downtown Orangeburg’s renewal, restoring historic buildings and attracting new businesses.
The Chestnut Grill is a local favorite, serving Southern comfort food in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.
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The Orangeburg County School District earns C on Niche
The Orangeburg County School District earns an overall C grade on Niche. It operates 28 public schools, including the Orangeburg Career and Technology Center. The city itself is home to two Historically Black Colleges and Universities: South Carolina State and Claflin universities.
. The Orangeburg County School District serves thousands of students across the region.
Orangeburg’s educational institutions have played a pivotal role in shaping South Carolina’s civil rights history.
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Centrally located in South Carolina's Midlands Region
Orangeburg is situated in the Midlands region of South Carolina, between two of the state’s largest cities. Interstate 26 links to the capital city of Columbia in about 45 miles. The nearest commercial airport, Columbia Metropolitan, offers direct flights to 10 major U.S. cities. Coastal beaches and major shopping districts are just 75 miles away in Charleston. The Downtown Circulator is the only public transit option in Orangeburg, with two fixed bus routes looping around the downtown Universities. In 2023, the Regional Medical Center officially became an affiliate hospital of the Medical University of South Carolina’s healthcare system.
Interstate 26 connects Orangeburg to major South Carolina cities, boosting commerce and tourism.
. Orangeburg SC welcomes new businesses, fostering economic development and job creation.
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Environment and Crime
Summers in Orangeburg are hot and muggy, while winters are usually mild and short. Heavy rains and hurricanes can cause flooding throughout the city, especially in areas surrounding the Edisto River.
Recent crime data is not readily available. According to the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, the city saw a 16% increase in violent crime and a 12% decrease in property crime from 2020 to 2021.
Written By
Ryan Horton
Photography Contributed By
David Robinson
Video By
Nathan Allen
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Orangeburg by the Numbers
12,512
Population
94
Average Days on Market
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)$205,000
Median Single Family Price$226,700
Average Price Per Sq Ft$130
Months Of Supply6
Demographics and Finance
Median Household Income$26K
Lower than National Average$71K
% Owners44%
Lower than National Average63%
College Graduates30%
Lower than National Average34%
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Top Schools in Orangeburg, SC
Source:
Best Public Elementary Schools
#1 Edisto Primary School
B
Niche
#2 Brookdale Elementary School
C+
Niche
#3 Rivelon Elementary School
C+
Niche
#4 Whittaker Elementary
6
GreatSchools
#5 Edisto Elementary School
C
Niche
#6 Whittaker Elementary School
C
Niche
#7 Brookdale Elementary
5
GreatSchools
#8 Edisto Elementary
5
GreatSchools
#9 Marshall Elementary School
C-
Niche
Best Public Middle Schools
#1 Carver Edisto Middle School
C-
Niche
#2 William J. Clark Middle School
C
Niche
3
GreatSchools
#3 Robert E. Howard Middle School
C-
Niche
3
GreatSchools
#4 Carver Edisto Middle School
3
GreatSchools
#5 Felton Laboratory
Best Public High Schools
#1 Edisto High School
B-
Niche
3
GreatSchools
#2 Orangeburg Wilkinson High School
C
Niche
1
GreatSchools
#3 Orangeburg Consolitated School District Five Techn
#4 The Orangeburg Technology Center
Best Private Schools
#1 Orangeburg Preparatory School
A-
Niche
#2 Orangeburg Christian Academy
C
Niche
#3 Andrew Chapel Christian Academy
#4 Brighter Children Learning Center
#5 Greater Faith Baptist Church Child Development Center
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
