250 Years of Growth: South Carolina’s Forestry’s Enduring Legacy
With the United States hitting its 250th anniversary, it’s important to recognize the industries that helped shape its growth, with forestry among the most significant in South Carolina.
For over two centuries, South Carolina’s forests have supported economic development, supplied global markets, and provided essential materials for building homes, infrastructure, and communities across a growing nation. From colonial shipbuilding and naval stores to railroads and early industrial expansion, timber from the Southeast played a foundational role in America’s development.
But forestry in South Carolina is also a story of stewardship and renewal. Unlike many natural resources, forests regenerate, allowing generations of landowners, foresters, and conservationists to balance economic production with long-term sustainability.
Gunrise Farms: A Private Retreat Surrounded by Protected Land
Milliken Advisors Realty Group recently listed Gunrise Farms, an approximately 314-acre recreational property in Newberry County, South Carolina. Designed for wildlife, recreation, and entertaining, the property could serve equally well as a private family retreat or a corporate recreational estate. But one of its most valuable features lies beyond its property lines.
Beyond Timber: New Value from Working Lands
In Spring of 2026, I had the opportunity to travel to Helsinki, Finland, as part of a South Carolina trade mission alongside representatives from private industry, Clemson University’s Wood Utilization + Design Institute, and the South Carolina Forestry Commission. The trip centered around the Pulp & Beyond Conference, one of the world’s premier events focused on forest products, biomaterials, and sustainable manufacturing.