A fledgling effort is under way to create a new Midlands county by combining the northwest corner of Richland County with part of northern Lexington County.

Dissatisfaction with rising taxes is the main reason for the effort, said Scott Malyerck, spokesman for a group he said includes civic and business leaders.

The group is working on its plan and boundaries for the idea, hoping to outline the proposal in a month.

If successful, the effort would create the 47th county in South Carolina. it would be the first new one in nearly a century.

Reach more in tomorrow’s edition of The State.