South Carolina Cities by Population 2026

South Carolina’s municipal structure features 46 counties and over 270 incorporated municipalities, including cities and towns. Counties provide services to rural and unincorporated areas, while municipalities handle localized services and governance within their boundaries.

Charleston, South Carolina’s largest city, operates under a mayor-council government, where the mayor serves as the chief executive and the city council acts as the legislative body. Charleston manages a full range of services, including public safety, infrastructure, and economic development, while the mayor holds significant influence over policy implementation.

Columbia, the state capital, also follows a mayor-council structure, with a strong emphasis on legislative oversight by the city council. The mayor, as the executive leader, directs city services and ensures compliance with council policies, providing checks and balances within municipal governance.

Smaller cities, such as Greenville and Spartanburg, often use either mayor-council or council-manager systems. Council-manager structures, where a professional manager handles daily operations, offer streamlined administration and emphasize professional governance.

Counties like Richland County and Greenville County manage services for unincorporated areas, including law enforcement, public health, and infrastructure maintenance. County councils, consisting of elected representatives, govern these services, ensuring support across both urban and rural regions.

Unincorporated areas in South Carolina rely on county services, with residents often engaging through local advisory boards to address community-specific concerns. Counties handle essential services such as emergency management, zoning, and transportation in these regions.

Councils of government promote cooperation between South Carolina’s municipalities and counties, focusing on regional planning, economic development, and infrastructure projects that cross local boundaries.