South Carolina

Situated in pastoral central South Carolina (the Midlands), the historic town of Lexington (population 18,000) is a suburb of Columbia (population 130,000) and got its start in 1735 as one of eleven townships established by England's King George II.   Originally called Saxe Gotha, it was named in honor of the King's son's marriage to Princess Augusta of the German Duchy of Saxe-Gotha, and early residents were German and Swiss farmers who grew wheat, corn and tobacco.  The Civil War nearly destroyed Lexington, and in later years, it suffered two devastating fires.  Each time, though, this Southern hamlet rebuilt.  Today, it retains its rural character, but it is growing rapidly, by nearly 60% in the last decade, and it is becoming more suburban.  It has a cost of living 7% below the national average, and the median home price is $185,000 (some areas have new subdivisions and some areas have mobile homes).  The crime rate meets the national average.  Of the residents, 25% are age 45 or better.
	With good schools and an affordable cost of living, Lexington attracts families, but retirees are discovering it, too.  Nearby Lake Murray, 45 miles long and just down the road, is a reason why.  This body of water has 500 miles of shoreline and is the focal point of this region (it is also the resting ground for a number of WWII B-25 airplanes).  Boating, fishing and bird watching (thousands of blue martins make their home here) are popular ways to spend the day. Cultural amenities are limited, but the Lake Murray Symphony has a Sunday concert series, and the Village Square Theatre mounts productions throughout the year.   Restaurants are in good supply, with tasty pulled pork BBQ, macaroni and cheese and fried catfish on many a menu.  There is no real downtown (the city is fairly spread out), and Palmetto palms, azaleas and pines add to the rural feeling.  Shopping has improved in recent years, with much of it along Highway 378, and there are two Wal-Marts.  The attractive local public library offers interlibrary loan, 16 computers with internet access and a bookmobile.
Residents are conservative and friendly, extending Southern hospitality, but families have been here for generations and breaking into social circles can sometimes be difficult, although the recent growth is making that less so.  Joining a church is always a good way to meet new people.   Lexington (and the surrounding area) is also known as being "two hours from everything" (and almost exactly half way between Miami and New York City), so it is usually easy to find something to do.   The beaches are just two hours away, as are the big city amenities of Charlotte, North Carolina (population 1.7 million in the metro area).   Just next door, Columbia has a zoo, the main campus of the University of South Carolina, numerous theaters, a revitalized downtown, museums, an antique district and the South Carolina State Fair each October (600,000 people attend).
The Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission is located in Lexington and offers exercise classes, a travel club, workshops, sporting events, medical escorts, legal assistance, home care, home delivered meals and more. There is no public transportation, but Senior Express is a company that provides escorted transportation to the grocery, doctor appointments, church, the airport and to other locations around town.   Columbia Metropolitan Airport, about 10 miles away, is serviced by American Eagle, Continental, Delta and other major carriers.
Lexington Medical Center, located in West Columbia, is accredited by the Joint Commission and is a Bariatric Center of Excellence.  It has 414 beds and is award-winning for its joint replacement program.  Eight-one percent of patients would recommend it to a friend (a rate well above the national average).   Medicaid and Medicare patients are accepted. With a humid subtropical climate, Lexington experiences hot, humid summers, mild winters and warm autumns and springs.  It rains 3 to 5 inches per month, but snow is rare.  Summer temperatures reach into the 90s, and winter temperatures can dip below freezing.   The sun shines 222 days of the year.   The water quality meets the national average, but, unfortunately, thanks to temperature inversions that trap pollutants, the air quality is well below the national average.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes, but... Have a town in mind for retirement?  Write to us and we will review it in a weekly issue!

Lexington is experiencing some growing pains, but its very good hospital, good senior programs, nearby lake recreation, reasonable cost of living and average crime rate are strong pluses.  However, the lack of public transportation and poor air quality should be kept in mind if considering retirement here.

---

---