SUMTER, S.C. — The military population is large in the South Carolina Midlands, but one county stands out. The recently released 2022 US Census Bureau data shows Sumter County has the most veterans per capita out of all the counties in the state.
"The people in the area just have a true love for you," veteran Lefford Fate said, smiling. "It just makes it better."
Fate served as command chief at Hulburt Field in Florida before moving to Sumter for Shaw Air Force Base in 2008. When it came time to retire, Fate decided to stay. Now, he works as Sumter support services director.
"People in Sumter get it," Fate said. "I've been to a lot of places. I was in the Air Force for 31 years. I've traveled around the world, and this is the single greatest place that welcomes military people."
It's part of why Fate says recent data from the American Collection Survey makes sense. The data shows that out of all the counties in South Carolina, Sumter has the most veterans per capita at 13.2%, with 76,401 veterans.
"Businesses look at census data to see if a community is growing," Sumter Project Manager Jason Stoddard said. "If we can show that we're growing community and that our average and median income levels are healthy and improving, then I think we see more businesses look at the community to come here, and so we improve quality of life. I read a report that said the military community out at Shaw Air Force base but also including retirees and veterans, are spending over $33 million a year at basically restaurants. Well, you know, that's a huge investment in the community. But also you think about hospitality tax and how that can generate funds for improving quality of life for things tourism-related."
According to a 2022 Economic Impact of South Carolina's Military Community report by the South Carolina Department of Veteran's Affairs, the Sumter region has an annual economic impact of $2.5 billion. The report shows that 16,916 jobs were supported by the military community, which generated $1.1 billion in labor income.
Stoddard is a veteran himself and said he helped with the 2020 census outreach awareness and education efforts.
"Businesses look at that census data to see if they want to open new stores, factories, restaurants, you know, in that community so we wanted to show we were a growing community so we could attract new businesses," Stoddard said.
"Sumter's motto is 'uncommon patriotism,' and I truly feel that they show it," said Sumter American Legion District 11 Commander Peter St. Onge. "Because the way they cater to the military around here, programs, VA clinics…the city itself, the civilians, they serve the military and the veterans. And it is uncommon to find that. There is a lot of towns where the veteran community just falls into the background, but here at Sumter, Shaw having a big impact in the Sumter economic plan; they kind of cater to each other."
It's a feeling that Pennsylvania native Jack Lonergan credits for his decision to stay in Sumter after a 22-year career in the Air Force. Lonergan now serves as the American Legion Department of South Carolina's Third Vice Commander and the American Legion Dalzell-Shaw Post 175 Commander.
"Cost of living, employment. I mean, I actually thought about moving to the beach when I retired from my next career, but I mean, my cost of living….my mortgage is lower than what a homeowner's association fee would be in a lot of places. So cost of living is number one, employment opportunities number two, the way Sumter treats the military personnel is fantastic. You don't get… I've never seen that type of relationship," Lonergan said. "To be able to belong someplace, that made me want to retire here, is I could go into certain businesses in Sumter, and the respect that I get because I'm a veteran is just phenomenal. It really makes you feel like you're part of the family."
"I mean, just that the leaders of this town, you know Murrell Smith is the Speaker of the House, he's from Sumter. So many of these guys truly believe in helping veterans and being part of their community," St. Onge said. "Sometimes when you go to Washington and stuff like that, you see some of it. It's just more of a photo op. But here, they truly believe it, and it's genuine. It's nice to see."
The census data was released in December and gives a one-year look at 2022 and a five-year overview from 2017 to 2022.
Fate said he believes Sumter's continued support of the veteran population comes down to communication.
"The city needs things. We need workers, we need leaders, we need all of that," Fate said. "So we need to be able to tell the people from the base what we need and want, right? And then they need to tell what they need and want and we just come together and have a conversation."