You might think that the whole hippie movement has faded away, but the truth is, there are plenty of hippies out there in South Carolina.
While they aren’t necessarily in your face all the time with war protests, and the next Woodstock isn’t being planned any time soon, we thought it would be fun to look at which cities in the Palmetto State where the most hippies would live.
And, after crunching the data, you know what? It was spot on.
How do you decide where the most hippies live? By the number of yoga studios, organic markets, and most importantly, where the liberals live in droves.
Using those criteria, it’s not hard to scrape the internet, run some scientific data on where hippies might live in South Carolina, and then put out a list.
So, put on your tie-dye shirt and sandals as you go through this list with us.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Cities In South Carolina With The Largest Hispanic Population For 2024
What’s the hippiest city in South Carolina? The hippiest city in South Carolina is Forest Acres.
Read on below to see where your town ranked, Young Flower Child.
/10
Population: 10,533
% Liberal: 65.3%
More on Forest Acres: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 9,110
% Liberal: 45.7%
More on Georgetown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,451
% Liberal: nan%
More on James Island: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,518
% Liberal: 65.3%
More on Irmo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,944
% Liberal: 30.3%
More on Cayce: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 12,702
% Liberal: 40.7%
More on Beaufort: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 14,485
% Liberal: 34.6%
More on North Myrtle Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,147
% Liberal: 27.9%
More on Seneca: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,999
% Liberal: 41.9%
More on Hanahan: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 23,985
% Liberal: 35.2%
More on Mauldin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most beatnik city in South Carolina
In order to rank the best cities for hippies in South Carolina, we used Saturday Night Science to determine what criteria defines a hippie.
We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the Google Places API, the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, and Voter Registration data, this is the criteria we used:
- Number of yoga studios per capita
- Number of organic markets per capita
- Number of pet adoption centers per capita
- Number of vegan restaurants per capita
- Number of thrift stores per capita
- Each city’s liberal voting population
For the sake of getting reliable numbers on places, we counted any place within a ~4.5 mile radius of a city’s center. The average city in the United States is about 18 square miles.
All of these results are listed in a per capita basis, meaning number of stores per person in a city. Additionally, we limited the analysis to non-CDPs that have over 5,000 people.
We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 70 in each category, where 1 was the most hippie.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a hippie index.
And finally, we crowned the city with the highest hippie index the “Best City for Hippies In South Carolina.” We’re looking at you, Forest Acres.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in hippie central. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the places in the state from hippiest to most square.
Summary: The Hippies Of South Carolina
If you’re measuring the locations in South Carolina where there are lots of liberals, and there are many options for vegan food, yoga and thrift stores, this is an accurate list.
The most hippie cities in South Carolina are Forest Acres, Georgetown, James Island, Irmo, Cayce, Beaufort, North Myrtle Beach, Seneca, Hanahan, and Mauldin.
If you’re curious, here are the most square places in South Carolina:
- Greer
- Central
- Georgetown
For more South Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In South Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In South Carolina
- Best Places To Raise A Family In South Carolina
- Richest Cities In South Carolina
- Safest Places In South Carolina
Detailed List Of The Most Hippie Cities In South Carolina
| Rank | City | Population | % Liberal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forest Acres | 10,533 | 65.3% |
| 2 | Georgetown | 9,110 | 45.7% |
| 3 | James Island | 11,451 | nan% |
| 4 | Irmo | 11,518 | 65.3% |
| 5 | Cayce | 12,944 | 30.3% |
| 6 | Beaufort | 12,702 | 40.7% |
| 7 | North Myrtle Beach | 14,485 | 34.6% |
| 8 | Seneca | 8,147 | 27.9% |
| 9 | Hanahan | 18,999 | 41.9% |
| 10 | Mauldin | 23,985 | 35.2% |
| 11 | Fountain Inn | 8,031 | 35.2% |
| 12 | Central | 5,170 | 24.5% |
| 13 | Fort Mill | 12,068 | 39.1% |
| 14 | West Columbia | 15,623 | 30.3% |
| 15 | Anderson | 26,798 | 31.0% |
| 16 | North Augusta | 21,832 | 36.0% |
| 17 | Myrtle Beach | 28,455 | 34.6% |
| 18 | Orangeburg | 13,790 | 71.4% |
| 19 | Tega Cay | 8,224 | 39.1% |
| 20 | Greenville | 60,670 | 35.2% |
| 21 | Camden | 6,931 | 40.3% |
| 22 | Spartanburg | 37,216 | 37.7% |
| 23 | Lexington | 19,007 | 30.3% |
| 24 | Mount Pleasant | 72,379 | 50.4% |
| 25 | Hilton Head Island | 38,497 | 40.7% |
| 26 | Walterboro | 5,339 | 49.6% |
| 27 | Florence | 37,512 | 49.2% |
| 28 | Georgetown | 9,110 | 45.7% |
| 29 | Clemson | 14,254 | 24.5% |
| 30 | Charleston | 125,458 | 50.4% |
| 31 | Bluffton | 13,979 | 40.7% |
| 32 | Port Royal | 11,264 | 40.7% |
| 33 | Simpsonville | 19,219 | 35.2% |
| 34 | Aiken | 29,980 | 36.0% |
| 35 | Summerville | 44,717 | 41.2% |
| 36 | Greer | 26,626 | 35.2% |
| 37 | Cheraw | 5,809 | 48.0% |
| 38 | Greenwood | 23,296 | 41.8% |
| 39 | Gaffney | 12,565 | 34.8% |
| 40 | Goose Creek | 38,545 | 41.9% |
| 41 | Chester | 5,543 | 54.8% |
| 42 | Hartsville | 7,857 | 51.3% |
| 43 | Georgetown | 9,110 | 45.7% |
| 44 | Rock Hill | 68,185 | 39.1% |
| 45 | Abbeville | 5,207 | 42.6% |
| 46 | Sumter | 40,819 | 58.3% |
| 47 | Columbia | 131,331 | 65.3% |
| 48 | Georgetown | 9,110 | 45.7% |
| 49 | Bennettsville | 8,928 | 61.9% |
| 50 | North Charleston | 102,143 | 50.4% |
| 51 | Dillon | 6,731 | 57.7% |
| 52 | York | 7,913 | 39.1% |
| 53 | Marion | 6,833 | 64.6% |
| 54 | Darlington | 6,232 | 51.3% |
| 55 | Easley | 20,242 | 24.5% |
| 56 | Georgetown | 9,110 | 45.7% |
| 57 | Conway | 18,645 | 34.6% |
| 58 | Lancaster | 8,801 | 40.5% |
| 59 | Batesburg-Leesville | 5,242 | 30.3% |
| 60 | Union | 8,191 | 46.2% |
| 61 | Moncks Corner | 8,711 | 41.9% |
| 62 | Newberry | 10,259 | 42.3% |
| 63 | Clinton | 8,525 | 40.6% |
| 64 | Laurens | 9,136 | 40.6% |
| 65 | Central | 5,170 | 24.5% |
| 66 | Union | 8,191 | 46.2% |
| 67 | Clover | 5,321 | 39.1% |
| 68 | Georgetown | 9,110 | 45.7% |
| 69 | Central | 5,170 | 24.5% |
| 70 | Greer | 26,626 | 35.2% |
