While access to Charlotte is immediate, the advantage of Rock Hill’s location is distinct. Rock Hill, located in York County, is within minutes of two of the best attractions in South Carolina – Paramount’s Carowinds theme park and Historic Brattonsville. Several Brattonsville locations were used as sets for the filming of the major motion picture The Patriot starring Mel Gibson. The region’s cultural lineup also includes nationally recognized museums, symphony, opera, theater and dance companies. The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center is home to the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Opera Carolina, Charlotte Repertory Theatre, Charlotte Choral Society, Charlotte Oratorio Singers, and the NC Dance Theater. The Discovery Place, a “hands-on” science museum, contains an OMNIMAX theatre and the Kelly Space Voyager Planetarium. The Mint Museum of Art hosts internationally renowned artists. The Museum of York County also provides art, history & natural history exhibits.

With a mild year-round climate, recreation opportunities abound. Outdoor activities include boating, hiking and playing on some of the nation’s most outstanding golf courses. Lake Wylie and the Catawba River provide ample opportunity for water sports in Rock Hill. The Anne Close Springs Greenway offers 26 miles of hiking, horseback and bicycle trials weaving through over 2,000 acres in Fort Mill.

A short drive to the Blue Ridge Mountains or the famed Carolina beaches, York County also offers easy access to a variety of destinations. With teams in the NFL, IHL and triple-A baseball as well as the reputation as a major NASCAR headquarters, the region continues to be recognized as a national sports market. In addition York County is home to the Knights Stadium, Charlotte’s triple-A affiliate to the Chicago White Sox.

Rock Hill’s location provides a wide range of housing options from lakeside living to rural settings. Cost of living in York County ranks as one of the lowest in the Southeast. Plentiful shopping, dining, entertainment, medical service options make Rock Hill an ideal location. From home cooking to trendy, restaurants offer foods from all over. Shopping opportunities include the nationwide retailers and upscale boutiques. Rock Hill also has a wide range of medical services available, with specialists in most branches.

At the start of the 21st Century, the challenges of global economic competition create an ever growing emphasis on the improvement of our educational system. And in South Carolina, this issue takes center stage. We are one of the five states leading the nation in systematic reform of education. The York County public school system ranks among the top districts within the state, with average SAT scores of 1022 (for 2003) compared with the national average of 1026 and a state average of 989. York County schools consist of four school districts and seven private schools.

Education
Founded in 1886, Winthrop University is a national-caliber, comprehensive learning university. Winthrop's distinctive mission is to offer challenging academic programs to a high-achieving, culturally diverse, socially responsible student body.
 
York Technical College is a public, community-based, two-year institution providing accessible, relevant, and high-quality education. The College emphasizes and promotes marketable job skills, economic development and the improvement of the quality of life in the communities it serves.