13 Weird South Carolina City Nicknames You've Probably Never Heard Of
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Robin Jarvis
Author
We love all of our cities and towns in South Carolina, big and small. We especially love the people in those towns. Without great neighbors and neighborhoods, we could become just like one of those big cities in another region of the county, a region that we shall not stoop to naming here. Nope, nope. nope. This article is above name calling – or IS it? We’ve done a bit of digging and uncovered some interesting nicknames for our cities and towns in the Palmetto State. Names that are mostly unknown, except maybe to the locals. Take a look and see if you recognize yours.
We're pretty sure the clever nickname is fairly obvious once you realize it's the Town of Clover. Still, there is a lot a weight in the power of suggestion and we can't help but wonder if the chances of finding Prince (or Princess) Charming are greater in a town with LOVE in the center...
Our beloved Beaufort was once commonly known for the bodacious and beautiful heads of lettuce the farmers in the area produced. Let us... reflect upon Lettuce City.
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Columbia is often abbreviated as just 'Cola.' Some people call it pop, some cola and others prefer soda. It looks like the soda majority has spoken in giving our Capital City this cool nickname.
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When the community of Great Falls refused to spurn one of its own and turn their backs on a neighbor, the microcommunity of Flopeye sprang up in defiance of the big employer in town who was trying to force workers to shop at the company store. They refused, instead remaining loyal to a neighbor with a store on the outskirts of town. He had a lazy eye and some called him Flopeye. Today, Great Falls honors community pride, fellowship and loyalty each and every year with their annual Flopeye Festival.
Sadly, this is not the make believe Utopia found in the movie "The Wizard of Oz," but it's almost as fun to visit. It's presumed that Greenwood assumed the moniker because of the green in the city's name.
Nope. Nope. Nope. This place in South Carolina didn't take on the name Gym Isle. It's JIM Isle. And contrary to the above photo, it wasn't because they have an overabundance of muscle men. It's just a shortened version of James Island.
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Perhaps the Pearl of the PeeDee got the moniker because it's impossible to knock this city down. The town's growth spurts and prosperity have been a constant ebb and flow ever since the first settlement in 1736 near present day Darlington. Most recently, she regained strength in the 1950s when a new NASCAR track was born in The Pearl.
Hmm. In the beginning, this South Carolina town was called 'Frog Level.' Eventually, the residents decided they might have more of a chance of attracting some prosperity for themselves if they changed the town's name. Coincidentally, they changed the name from Frog Level to Prosperity.
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Surprisingly, the name has nothing to do with a fictitious hub cap manufacturer (that never existed!). Rather, Spartanburg was a hub for the railroad. At one point, there were reportedly as many as 90 trains that regularly passed through, or stopped in, the city.
If you've ever been to Walhalla then you know the town is surrounded by a garden full of waterfalls and breathtaking natural attractions. And... you can stop staring at the above photo any time now...
South Carolina's tiniest town has 45 residents. Smyrna may be small, but we promise, it has a heart of gold.
You may not have heard this nickname for Charleston before, but if you've ever been through the famous City Market downtown, then you definitely get it, right?
You may think, "I've got this one," but think again! It's not Columbia. Sumter was named for a General in the Revolutionary War named Thomas Sumter. He had quite the reputation for his fighting style and became known as the 'Fighting Gamecock.'
Did we miss any wacky city or place nicknames? Feel free to join the discussion!
For more South Carolina goodness, check out the 15 Things You Quickly Learn When You Move To South Carolina.
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