Roof Repair in Bluffton, SC

South Carolina is continuing to surge in population growth, and Jasper County, the state’s southernmost region, has been named one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States.

Specifically, Jasper was listed as the nation’s fastest-growing county in terms of housing units, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The housing stock in Jasper County grew by 8.4% between 2023 and 2024, outpacing every other county in the country, the Census data shows.

Conveniently situated between larger urban areas like Bluffton, SC and Savannah, GA, Jasper County’s growth is fueled by its proximity to larger areas, availability of retirement communities and job opportunities.

This sharp rise in Lowcountry growth seems to reflect both a broader regional trend and Jasper County’s own unique appeal within the rapidly developing area.

Major projects over the last few years within the county that have complemented this spike in growth include:

Strategically nestled between Savannah and Hilton Head, the city of Hardeeville, the largest area within Jasper County, has been a hub for much of the development in this region.

Hardeeville was also named the fastest-growing municipality in South Carolina last year, growing by 85% between 2020 and 2024, jumping from 7,000 residents to over 13,000.

“It’s been a neat experience to see all of this happening around us,” said Jasper County Administrator Andrew Fulghum. “We’ve had a lot of work planning for the growth, and the basic strategy has always been, for the last 20 years, to try to channel the growth into our municipalities — and it’s working.”

Out of the 46 counties in the Palmetto State, the growth of Jasper County and the Lowcountry region has exploded over the last five years.

To keep up with this rise in population, Jasper County is “gearing up for potentially over $300 million worth of infrastructure improvements to support the growth in our area,” Fulghum said.

That growth trend is especially visible in neighboring areas of the Lowcountry. Next door, Beaufort County has grown 7% since 2020 and now ranks among the top 10 most populous counties in the state.

The cities of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, which together house over 75,000 people, also continue to draw new residents at a steady pace.

South Carolina, despite being the 10th smallest state by land area, has become a population magnet in the Southeast.

The U.S. Census Bureau also reports a statewide growth rate of 1.7%, with one of the nation’s highest migration ratios, with an estimated 2.05 people moving in for every person moving out of South Carolina.

In South Carolina alone, 62 communities grew even faster than the national average for similarly sized towns.

In 2024, 13 of the 22 U.S. cities that grew beyond 20,000 residents were located in the South, underlining a clear regional migration trend.

Across cities and towns in the South, municipalities between 5,000 and 49,999 people experienced average annual growth of 1.6%.

This broader Southern boom is being mirrored in communities large and small, with many crossing key population milestones, putting the Southern region of the U.S. as the leader in population growth.

This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 5:30 AM.

On May 1, 2025, Tri Pointe Homes announced it is under contract for two land parcels in Coastal Carolina. The company plans to expand its premium lifestyle services by developing single-family homes and townhomes in Bluffton and Beaufort. The company is expecting significant growth as there has been an increased demand for homes in these areas.

Highlights

Tri Pointe Homes Plans to Grow in South Carolina

Tri Pointe Homes is one of the biggest real estate developers in the country, with their services available in 12 states. The company already has its divisions in the Central part and the East and West Coasts. The company is now expanding its Coastal Carolina division by announcing land transactions in Beaufort and Bluffton.

These new plans of land acquisition were announced officially on May 1, 2025. Doug Bauer, the CEO of the company, believes in the reputation, beauty, and location of Beaufort and South Carolina as a whole. After expanding to the Coastal Carolina division, these projects will contribute to the company’s continued growth.

Beaufort and Bluffton Project Plans by Tri Pointe Homes

Tri Pointe Homes is a premium brand that not only creates homes but also a community that complements luxury living. The expansion in Lowcountry will build on the area’s natural appeal. Single-family homes and townhomes will be constructed once the plan is approved. Below are more details on both projects.

The Beaufort project will be just six miles from downtown. Residents will have convenient access to the necessary amenities. 50 townhomes will be constructed with Lowcountry-inspired designs.

The project will be along the Highway 170 corridor. There will be connectivity to the Broad River waterfront and walkable stretches. Near this strategic project are prestigious schools like Preparatory Charter School. Also close are Cross Creek shopping mall, Savannah ports, Gulfstream, and USC Beaufort.

For Bluffton’s vibrant location, 26 single-family homes are planned. The homes are designed to offer a blend of traditional and modern elements. The community will be near the Promenade, famous for its restaurants and recreational spaces. Living here will also offer easy access to Bluffton High School, Red Cedar Elementary School, and Hilton Head Island beaches. This will make for an enriching experience.

Gray Shell, head of the Coastal Carolina division, said that demand for homes and market growth will strengthen Tri Pointe Homes’ position in the regional market. Once the approval comes and these transactions become successful, deliveries are expected from 2027. These projects will be a testimony to the combination of innovation and expertise.

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Update 11:36 a.m.: Sparklight states that repairs have been completed, and services should now be resumed. If you are still experiencing issues, Sparklight recommends rebooting your modem or contacting their 24/7 tech support system at 877-692-2253.

Update 11:27 p.m.: Services have been restored for some affected customers. Local technicians are on-site working to stabilize connections and ensure proper connectivity for everyone.

Update 10:32 p.m.: Services were restored in areas of Beaufort and Jasper Counties, but no further update has been posted by Sparklight.

Update 9:30 p.m.: No reports of restored internet have been posted

Update 9:02 p.m.: Crews are replacing the damaged equipment and will then perform a hardware swap. We know waiting is tough, and we truly appreciate your continued patience while progress with service restoration continues.

Update 7:13 p.m.: The utility company successfully restored power at the affected site housing our equipment following the lightning strike.

Update 6:03 p.m.: Local power company electricians were on site and working on the physical restoration.

4:48 p.m. original report: Sparklight customers in areas of South Carolina and Georgia are currently without internet, video and phone services due to a lightning strike causing a commercial outage on Tuesday.

Bluffton, Beaufort and Hilton Head Island are among those areas affected, according to a post from Sparklight, formerly known as Hargray, on X.

As of 3:22 p.m., the website Downdetector, which compiles user reports of internet interruptions, had reported the highest amount of outages with 162 reported issues. At 4:22 p.m., reported outages dropped to 66.

Owned by Cable One, Sparklight serves over 1 million customers in 24 states. It’s the phone and internet provider for the majority of residents and businesses in the Beaufort County area.

The last reported interruption was in early April. Back in mid-September, four separate fiber cuts made by a “third party” in Georgia and South Carolina caused a 10-hour shutdown, plunging the workday into chaos for thousands of residents and local businesses.

Sparklight stated at 11:36 a.m. on Wednesday that service was fully restored. 911 services were still active during this outage.

This story was originally published June 10, 2025 at 4:48 PM.

A taste of the north has made its way down into the heart of the Lowcountry at Nosh NY Bagels, one of the newest bakery establishments in the area.

Serving up traditional New York-style bagels, Nosh NY Bagels officially opened in late April and in just a few short weeks, it’s already made waves in the Lowcountry food scene.

Located right off Highway 170 in Riverwalk Commons, Nosh NY Bagels is strategically nestled between Okatie, Bluffton and areas of Jasper County.

You can visit their shop at 149 Riverwalk Boulevard, Unit 20 in Ridgeland, located in the same complex as The Kyra Restaurant and Domino’s Pizza.

When owners Michael and Jen Penchansky moved to the Lowcountry from New Jersey, they quickly settled into the Southern hospitality, sunny skies and easygoing lifestyle.

Even with so much to enjoy in the Lowcountry, the Penchanskys still felt like something was missing.

Their go-to way to start the day: bagels.

“We missed that kind of comfort food,” Michael Penchansky said. “So, I decided to do something about it and bring it here.”

Now, his dream of bringing fan favorite New York-style bagels to the Lowcountry region has come to fruition.

According to Michael Penchansky, the bagels are trucked in four days a week, directly from New York, then baked fresh in-house every morning, so there’s no need to ask for your bagel to be toasted.

Nosh NY Bagels offers breakfast, lunch, coffee and sweet treats all day, seven days a week.

You can choose from an egg and cheese bagel sandwich, wraps, muffins, a bagel and cream cheese or a nostalgic black and white cookie.

They even offer bagel boxes, ranging from just one bagel of your choice to a baker’s dozen, so you can take these baked goods to go.

To view their full menu, click here.

Nosh NY Bagels is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mobile ordering also launched this week, offering an easier way to grab your favorite breakfast on the go.

Nosh NY Bagels joins the growing bagel and bakery scene in the Lowcountry, including other popular locations like Island Bagel & Deli, which is opening a third location in Bluffton soon.

To learn more about Nosh NY Bagels or place an order online, you can visit their website at noshnybagels.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.