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 10 counties of the commerce-rich I-85 corridor in the northwest corner of South Carolina. This definition coincided with the Greenville–Spartanburg–Anderson, SC combined statistical area, as first defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 2015. In 2018, the OMB redefined the CSA such that it no longer included Abbeville County. That definition remains as of 2020. The region's population was 1,347,112 as of 2016. Situated between Atlanta and Charlotte, the Upstate is the geographical center of the Charlanta megaregion. 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 a population of 72,227 and an urban-area population of 400,492, and it is the base of most commercial activity. Spartanburg and Anderson are next in population. Counties Ten counties are included in the Upstate of South Carolina: Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pickens, Oconee, Greenwood, Laurens, Cherokee, Union, Abbeville. Metropolitan, micropolitan, and combined statistical areas As of 2018, the Greenville–Spartanburg–Anderson CSA includes all counties in the Upstate except for Abbeville County. Within the CSA are a total of two metropolitan statistical areas and four micropolitan statistical areas. As of the 2010 Census, the Greenville–Spartanburg–Anderson CSA had a population of 1,362,073. Communities The following population rankings are based on the 2010 Census. Primary cities Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson The OMB labels all these cities as principal cities in their respective MSAs. Other communities with at least 20,000 residents Cities: Greenwood, Greer, Easley, Simpsonville and Mauldin CDPs: Taylors, Wade Hampton Communities with more than 10,000 residents Cities: Clemson, Gaffney, and Fountain Inn, South Carolina. If students from Clemson University are included, Clemson has close to 30,000 residents. CDP's: Berea, Five Forks, Gantt, Parker, Boiling Springs Communities with fewer than 10,000 residents Communities in the Upstate with under 10,000 residents include: Cities: Towns: According to the 2010 Census, no town in the Upstate has a population greater than 6000. CDPs: Institutions of higher education The following table shows the major institutions of higher education in the Upstate. In 2008, U.S. News ranked Furman as the 37th-best liberal arts college, Wofford College