Wedding & Event Venue near Rock Hill, SC

Passengers can leave feedback about the changes for city officials to review.

ROCK HILL, S.C. — The city of Rock Hill says many bus transit operations are being cut due to the inability of the parent company, manufacturer Proterra, to upkeep buses or send in parts for maintenance.

The city told WCNC Charlotte that, to accommodate the change, it is now using paratransit vehicles on certain routes.

“Because of the fleet issues and the challenges with that, this is a way to hopefully serve as many people as we can while addressing the issue that we have,” explained Katie Quinn, the city's Communications and Marketing Manager.

However, fewer seats mean some passengers will be left waiting at a stop, just hoping to catch the next bus.

Josh Grant is one of the passengers that was left at the stop. He says because of this, he had a 7-10-mile walk home from work.

“I had to go from York Tech all the way to India Hook where I live. It’s definitely going to be inconvenient. I know a couple of people who live in my area and use the bus every day," Grant said.

The city says the plan is to cut Route 1, the downtown loop. Route 2 will remain the same, while Route 3 – the Cherry/Riverwalk Line - will merge with Route 4, the Dave Lyle/Galleria Line.

City leaders are also debating cutting the Saturday service altogether or reducing the hours.

There is a public comment period now and city leaders will be accepting feedback and suggestions until April 2nd.

Comments can be sent by email at comments@myriderockhill.com, by phone at (803) 329-RIDE (7433) or in-person at a meeting at Rock Hill City Hall on March 19, 2025 at 10 a.m.

Contact Anna King at aking2@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

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McHale’s Irish Pub, which operated in Fort Mill from 1997 to 2014 and in Rock Hill from 2004 to 2020, is set to reopen in Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood.

The pub, known for its craft beers, wood-fired pizzas and pub fare such as fish and chips, was a popular community gathering spot with live music and events during its South Carolina tenures.

At the time of its Rock Hill closing, Rock Hill city council member Nikita Jackson told The Herald that “McHale’s [had been] a vital and important part of downtown’s development and resurgence.”

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Owner Brendan Kuhlkin also currently owns and operates Millstone Pizza and Rock Hill Brewing with his childhood friend, David Clapp.

In a recent public filing with the City of Charlotte, it was announced that McHale’s is finally looking to reopen, this time at 3112 N Davidson St. in NoDa, next door to Haberdish in the building that last housed Roy’s Kitchen and Patio. This would be Kuhlkin’s first restaurant within the Charlotte city limits.

NoDa, the city’s arts and entertainment district, is also one of Charlotte’s most popular and busy neighborhoods for dining and nightlife. McHale’s will fill the lacuna when it comes to Irish pubs in the area, a welcome addition to the already diverse and eclectic North Davidson Street.

Kuhlkin denied a request from CharlotteFive to offer any details about the reopening at this time, but noted he would in the future once there is “strong progress in the upfit.”

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Location: 3112 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205

Cuisine: Pub fare, craft beers, and drinks

Catherine Muccigrosso contributed reporting.

This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

York County reached another population milestone last year, though its rate of adding new people has slowed compared with the rest of the region.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates 303,001 people lived in the county on July 1 last year, according to new population figures published Thursday. It’s an increase of more than 4,600 people in a year and it’s the first time the county topped 300,000 people.

The 1.6% annual growth rate, though, is only No. 12 among South Carolina’s 46 counties. It’s also slightly below the state growth rate of 1.7%. York County’s rate is tied for seventh highest in the 11-county Charlotte metro area.

All those numbers are a shift for a county that’s been a growth magnet for more than a decade. Apart from a 1.1% growth rate in 2020, York County has grown between 1.4% and 3.2% each year since at least 2011.

Neighboring Lancaster County, which hit its own milestone a few years ago by topping 100,000 residents, had an estimated 111,652 people last summer.

That’s 2.6% more people in a year, the seventh highest rate statewide. The 16.3% growth since the 2020 Census is third highest in South Carolina, behind Jasper and Horry counties.

The one-year rate ties with Mecklenburg County as second highest in the Charlotte metro area, behind only Iredell County which grew at 3%. Lancaster County growth since the 2020 Census is easily highest in the metro area.

Lancaster County residential growth has been widespread throughout the Indian Land panhandle for more than a decade. Now, large subdivision projects like Edgewater, Roselyn and Riverchase look to expand growth throughout the county.

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February 12, 2025 6:00 AM

Across South Carolina, there were about 500 more deaths than births from mid-2023 to mid-2024. The overall population increase of 91,000 people came from movers to the state. About three-quarters of them came from other states, with the rest coming from other countries.

York County, though, is different. York County had 555 more births than deaths in a year, and 1,714 more births than deaths since the 2020 Census. While most people who moved to York County came from other states, nearly 35% of the net migration total came from international moves.

Lancaster County had 36 more births than deaths in a year, but 72 more deaths than births since 2020. International moves are a little higher than the state figure, but well below the rate in York County.

Chester County has had a mostly flat population for many years. The 32,323 estimated residents last summer is 23 more people than the county had in 2020. Deaths outpaced births in Chester County by 232 in a year and 957 since 2020. The steady population has come almost entirely from people moving from other states.

The Census Bureau will release new estimates for cities and towns later this year. But driving through the Rock Hill region makes it clear there’s more growth to come.

Along with those big Lancaster County subdivisions, homebuilder Lennar is clearing property opposite Fort Mill Parkway from its Elizabeth subdivision for a second phase in Fort Mill. Tega Cay is creating a new Main Street at Dam Road and Stonecrest Boulevard. Lake Wylie, Rock Hill, York and Clover have new home projects.

In Lancaster County, there are more than 26,000 lots in subdivisions where a home is allowed, but hasn’t yet been built.

Here are more facts about growth in the Rock Hill region, from the new census estimates:

? York County is the seventh largest county in South Carolina. Greenville, Charleston and Richland are the largest. Lancaster County is No. 15 and Chester County is No. 29. That’s one spot higher for Lancaster and lower for Chester compared with the 2020 Census. York County didn’t change.

? Only Mecklenburg County, with 1,206,285 people, has more residents than York County within the Charlotte metro area. Union, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell and Rowan counties in North Carolina, in that order, have more people than Lancaster County does.

? The nation has 3,144 counties or equivalents (Louisiana has parishes, for instance). York County ranks No. 242 in population, or in the top 8% nationwide. Lancaster County is No. 573 and Chester County is No. 1,387.

? The nearly 447,000 people who live in York, Lancaster or Chester counties would make up almost half the population of Charlotte.

? York, Lancaster and Chester counties added a combined 7,642 residents in the year ending last July 1. That’s a couple hundred more people than the entire population of Clover. The 36,752 more Rock Hill region residents since 2020 is more people than live in Fort Mill.

? South Carolina has the second largest York County. It trails York County, Pennsylvania with its 471,240 people but has more than fellow namesake counties in Maine (220,143), Virginia (71,410) and Nebraska (14,375).

Likewise, Pennsylvania (563,293) has the largest Lancaster County. Next are Nebraska (332,857), South Carolina and Virginia (11,062). South Carolina’s Chester County slots in between others in Pennsylvania (560,745) and Tennessee (17,876).

The city of Lancaster appears ready to take ownership of a once-thriving economic downtown hub and turn it back into one.

The city will vote Tuesday night on whether to accept ownership of the former Springs Mill site. It’s nine properties that combine for 35 acres, between Old Landsford Road and Brooklyn Avenue. The city’s ownership would end years of legal and environmental wrangling over a site that once employed much of the city.

A mill that opened in 1896 was part of the Springs Industries textile mill operation that once defined communities in Fort Mill, Lancaster and Chester. The Springs Mill in Lancaster closed in 2003, after employing more than 300 people. By 2004 several buildings had been demolished on the Springs property while others fell into disrepair.

In 2004, the city and Alabama-based KMAC Soil and Environmental Services reached an agreement to demolish the former mill, clean the site and transfer it to the city. The company didn’t do the environmental work or pay property taxes, according to the city, so the city started paying taxes to keep it from being sold at a tax sale.

The city filed suit against KMAC in 2014 for breach of contract. Five years later, a court ordered the property title be transferred to the city. The problem was environmental.

State law allows for financial incentives to clean up brownfield sites, or places like former mills where contamination issues are likely.. Those rules have been key for large redevelopment jobs in downtown Rock Hill, Clover and elsewhere. Lancaster wants industrial development, but needed brownfield grants at the Springs location.

The 2019 court decision required the KMAC to pay the city more than $46,000 for property taxes and $750,000 for site cleanup. But the city couldn’t take the title to the property without risking its status to accept state cleanup incentives. Two years ago, a judge confirmed the 2019 decision once the city could take ownership. A Catawba Regional Council of Governments grant is ready to fund the cleanup, but it requires city ownership.

In 2020, the city and its economic development arm, Red Rose City Development Corporation, received an award of up to $25,000 for consulting services to develop a plan for the property. Options included government services and light manufacturing. Uncontaminated areas could include residential, retail or restaurant uses.

The city’s vote Tuesday doesn’t name any specific uses, but states it would aid in attracting industrial development. Taking ownership is necessary, according to the city vote, in starting the cleanup process.

Andrew Jackson won another girls’ basketball state championship in dominant fashion Saturday.

The high school in Lancaster County routed Eau Claire, 89-36, in the South Carolina Class 2A title game at the Florence Center.

This win marks back-to-back state titles for the Volunteers, who recorded a school-record 29 victories as their high-powered offense averaged nearly 80 points per game.

Senior forward Tamia Watkins, who will continue her career at Elon University, and junior guard Ni’Yonna Asbelle combined for nearly two-thirds of the scoring as they posted double-doubles for Andrew Jackson (29-2), which built its big lead early.

“We made history,” Asbelle, who set a career high with 30 points making 13 of 15 shots from the field, said as the Volunteers celebrated with their fans on the far side of the arena. “It’s a big accomplishment that we’ve made more history for our school, for our state, and we’re gonna go back home and celebrate.

“Being together and having a bond with our teammates is everything — we share the ball and can get the ball up the court to each other. It comes from everybody, and not just one person. We continue to play together throughout the years, things will be all right.”

Watkins finished with 31 points and 15 rebounds, while Asbelle also grabbed 11 boards. The two know each other well and have a variety of plays they run for each other, and their connection was evident throughout this year’s championship game.

“Ni’yonna (Asbelle) and I have a really good connection,” Watkins said. “We read each other and know what each other do. It came from over the years of playing together — we’ve been playing together since she was in seventh grade, I was in eighth grade.”

? Asbelle scored 20 of Andrew Jackson’s 39 points in the first half. The Volunteers held their opponent to just four points during the second quarter and nine points throughout the fourth.

? Andrew Jackson ended its season on a 12-game win streak. Its only losses came against South Pointe, which finished 29-1, and Mount Paran Christian of Georgia. While the Volunteers dropped a 62-36 game to Ashley Ridge on Nov. 30, the high school in Summerville forfeited its victories after an SCHSL ruling.

? Eau Claire (18-9), the high school in Columbia, made its first state championship game appearance in 27 years. The Shamrocks got hot during the postseason after finishing second in their Region 3 2A finals to Clinton and knocked off Ninety Six, Blacksburg, Mid-Carolina and the Red Devils to reach Florence.

“It’s a little bit of everybody,” Volunteers head coach Steven Fair said. “The community, the school, the entire Lancaster County School District — of course, my place of employment — Kershaw Elementary, everybody supports us. I’m not just saying that to be saying it: We have a tremendous amount of support from a very small town.”

This story was originally published March 8, 2025 at 2:24 PM.