Recently released census data affirms that South Carolina is experiencing some of the highest rates of in-migration in the United States, and this in-migration is concentrated along the coast. Many of these migrants come from cities to enjoy the amenities of rural landscapes, including a “sense of place.” The idea of “sense of place” refers to a person’s knowledge, perceptions, and values of specific locations.
The research team plans to (1) determine the senses of place experienced by life-long residents, (2) spatially measure access to coastal resources historically used by life-long residents, (3) determine the relationship between long-term residents’ economic practices and their environmental values, (4) test whether different community identities can find commonalities in their values, and (5) develop common indicators that community leaders can use to track changes through time.