The Upstate is the region in the westernmost part of
South Carolina,
United States, also known as
the Upcountry, which is the historical term. Although loosely defined among locals, the general definition includes the ten counties of the commerce-rich
I-85 corridor in the northwest corner of South Carolina. This definition coincides with the
Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC Combined Statistical Area, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget in 2013. The region's population was 1,409,582 as of 2014. Situated between
Atlanta and
Charlotte, the Upstate is the fastest-growing region of South Carolina. After
BMW's initial investment, foreign companies, including others from
Germany have a substantial presence in the Upstate; several large corporations have established regional, national, or continental headquarters in the area.
Greenville is the largest city in the region with an urban population of 400,492, and it is the base of most commercial activity.
Spartanburg, then
Anderson, are next in population.