D.M.
I live near Denver - so too cold and definitely NOT Southern! : ) My Mom and Dad and LOTS of extended family are from South Carolina though, so I have a good idea of what Southern means.
The friendliest "safest feeling" city I have EVER visited in the US was Kansas City, MO (not the Kansas side). Drivers even stopped to let me cross the street when I was NOT at a x-walk!
The prettiest place I have been is the mountains of Arkansas.
Both areas seem to be doing fine economically.
My folks are in Greenwood, SC. It's a small town, but it doesn't really feel like it to me. Economy is good though and Lake Greenwood is a fun place to play.