Alcolu, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alcolu, South Carolina
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 Alcolu, South Carolina
Location in South Carolina
Alcolu, South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  South Carolina |
| County | Clarendon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.57 sq mi (11.84 km2) |
| • Land | 4.55 sq mi (11.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 125 ft (38 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 402 |
| • Density | 88.37/sq mi (34.12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
29001
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| Area codes | 803, 839 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1230998 |
Alcolu is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Clarendon County, South Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 429. Alcolu has a post office with ZIP code 29001, which opened on August 17, 1888. It developed as a lumber and mill town.
History
Early History
Alcolu was established between 1885 and 1890 by D.W. Alderman as a company mill town; it was developed to house the employees of his timber company and lumber mill. These were located in a relatively isolated area. The name Alcolu is derived from "AL" for Alderman, "CO" for Coldwell (a friend), and "LU" for Lula, then the only daughter of D.W. Alderman and his wife.
When it was built, Alcolu was a company town where everybody worked in one of the various businesses of D.W. Alderman & Sons. The business grew to encompass logging operations, a saw mill, planing mill, hosiery mill, flooring mill, and extensive farming and cattle ranching. They also ran a cotton gin, hotel, company store, and several other businesses. Over time, the company helped found schools and churches, and built baseball fields, an electric plant, and a telephone system for the town. D.W. Alderman also founded the Alcolu and the Paroda railroads, and built the Alcolu railroad depot. The Alcolu Post Office was established on August 17, 1888. His friend Algernon Coldwell was appointed as its first Postmaster.
Company employees were paid in "babbits", a metal coin stamped with an "A", which could be used only in the company store. There they could buy groceries, see the doctor, get a haircut, or watch a show in the 200-seat auditorium upstairs. In 1919, the company opened the "Alderman 20 Stores in One" in nearby Manning, South Carolina. It was one of the first department stores in South Carolina and boasted of having the first elevator in town.
Post-War History
In 1947, the Alderman family sold the lumber mill to the Southern Coatings & Chemical Company and the Williams Furniture Company. They, in turn, were bought more than two decades later in 1968 by the Georgia-Pacific company. Georgia-Pacific continued its operations in Alcolu until 2000, when the mill was finally closed. According to the 2010 census, the unincorporated town of Alcolu had a population of 429 people.
Geography
Alcolu is located in northern Clarendon County, 4 miles (6 km) north of Manning, the county seat. The southern edge of the CDP follows Interstate 95, which provides access at Exit 122. I-95 leads northeast 44 miles (71 km) to Florence and southwest 24 miles (39 km) to Santee. U.S. Route 521 runs through Alcolu, leading south to Manning and northwest 16 miles (26 km) to Sumter.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Alcolu CDP has a total area of 4.57 square miles (11.84 km2), of which 4.55 square miles (11.78 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2), or 0.47%, is water.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 402 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Notable people
- Pressley Harvin III, punter for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2021-23) and Ray Guy Award winner (2020).
- Adam Wingfield, is a distinguished expert in the trucking industry, dedicated to assisting trucking business owners in building and scaling their companies. Adam, grew up near Brewington Rd and was a standout athlete in Sumter County. With extensive involvement in various facets of the industry, Adam provides coaching, dispatch services, and innovative technology solutions specifically for small trucking companies. He is prominently known for his leadership at Innovative Logistics Group and their specialized small carrier support service. Adam places a strong emphasis on creating efficient workflows, implementing effective website elements for small carriers, and developing strategies to overcome objections in contacting shippers. Committed to elevating industry standards, Adam focuses on educating and supporting small carriers and owner-operators, aiming to foster growth and success within the trucking community. Featured on many notable trucking platforms and media, he is considered a go to expert in the trucking industry.
See also
In Spanish: Alcolu (Carolina del Sur) para niños
