Meet The 10 Largest Landowners In South Carolina

Have you ever wondered who the largest landowners are in South Carolina? South Carolina, known as “The Palmetto State,” is one of the 13 original colonies. It is located in the southeastern United States. Situated on the Eastern Seaboard, South Carolina is bordered on the north by North Carolina, on the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the southwest by Georgia. Located in the center of the state, Columbia is the capital and largest city in South Carolina.

So, who are the largest landowners in South Carolina? Let’s take a look.

1. The State of South Carolina — 1.2 Million Acres

The biggest landowner in South Carolina by far is the state itself. A large portion of South Carolina’s land is devoted to almost 50 state parks. Some of the most popular state parks are Table Rock in the Pisgah National Forest, Jones Gap in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area near Greeneville, Caesars Head in Cleveland, and Hunting Island with its pristine Beaufort County beaches.

Another large part of South Carolina’s state-owned land is its wildlife management areas. These WMAs offer an enormous expanse of land available to the public for fishing and hunting as well as a plethora of recreational activities.

Additionally, much of South Carolina’s land is preserved for state conservation efforts to protect forest and farmland, waterways, scenic views, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, and historical resources.

The federal government owns 4.5% (875,316 acres) of the land in South Carolina, which ranks thirtieth among all the states. For comparison, the state where the federal government owns the most land is Nevada (80.1% federal land), and the state where it owns the least is Iowa (.3% federal land).

2. The MeadWestvaco Corporation — 550,000 Acres

MeadWestvaco and its subsidiaries have a long history of paper milling in South Carolina.

MeadWestvaco, formed by the merger of the paper company Mead and Westvaco, began in 1888 in what is currently Luke, Maryland. Throughout the subsequent decades. MeadWestvaco built mills in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Much later in 1937, the company built a bleached paperboard mill in North Charleston, North Carolina.

After 86 years, the North Charleston paper mill owned by MeadWestvaco closed on August 31, 2023. The main reason for the shutdown was high maintenance costs, and MeadWestvaco is attempting to place employees downsized by this closing in alternative plants and facilities in other cities.

3. The Weyerhaeuser Company — 528,000 acres

The Weyerhaeuser Company, an American timberland company, owns almost 12,400,000 acres in the U.S. Founded in 1900 by Friedrich (Frederick) Weyerhauser, the company began to head west to secure more timber areas in Washington, Canada, and Oregon, among others. Weyerhaeuser’s South Carolina location is based in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, near Charleston.

4. The Campbell Family — 350,000

The Campbell family’s land is used primarily for conservation, forestry, and agriculture.

5. The Duke Energy Corporation — 272,000 acres

An electric and natural gas company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, serves over 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Attempting to give back to the communities they serve, Duke Energy focuses on the environment, economic development, education, and community vitality.

6. The John M. Rivers Jr. Family — 250,000 Acres

John M. Rivers, Jr., founded The John M. Rivers, Jr. Foundation in 1990 in Charleston. The foundation funds multiple initiatives such as the Drayton family, summer camps, the Sherwood study, scholarships for Greek and Latin athletics, and numerous other charitable causes.

John Rivers, Jr., is passionate about antiques and has — for over two decades — championed the reacquisition and preservation of Charleston-original antiques. He has been tracking down and obtaining antiques made by Charleston artisans, bringing them back to reside in the town they were created.

7. The Plum Creek Timber Company — 218,000 Acres

Plumb Creek Timber Company was a company dealing with forestry, minerals, and property development. It went defunct in 2016 when it merged with Weyerhaeuser.

8. The Collins Family — 150,000 Acres

The Collins family uses its vast acreage for real estate, forestry, and agriculture.

9. The Brabham Family — 125,000 Acres

The Brabham family is associated with wholesale fuel distribution. Brabham Oil’s corporate office is located in Bramberg, South Carolina.

10. The Holcombe Family — 120,000 Acres

The Holcombe family’s endeavors include real estate, forestry, and agriculture.

The Largest Landowner in South Carolina

Although most of South Carolina’s major landowners are corporations and families involved in a myriad of industries and charities, the single largest landowner is the state itself. Explore all that South Carolina has to offer in its vast state parks!