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 a small community in Clarendon County, South Carolina, United States. It is known as a census-designated place, which means it's a special area used for gathering population information.
As of the 2010 census, about 429 people lived in Alcolu. The community has its own post office with ZIP code 29001. This post office first opened on August 17, 1888. Alcolu grew up as a town centered around lumber and mill work.
Contents
History of Alcolu
How Alcolu Started
Alcolu was created between 1885 and 1890 by a man named D.W. Alderman. He built it as a "company town." This means the town was developed by his timber company to house its workers. The area was quite isolated back then.
The name Alcolu comes from parts of names important to D.W. Alderman. "AL" is for Alderman, "CO" is for Coldwell (a friend), and "LU" is for Lula, who was D.W. Alderman's only daughter at the time.
Life in the Company Town
When Alcolu was built, almost everyone worked for D.W. Alderman & Sons. The company had many different businesses. These included logging, a saw mill, a hosiery mill, and even farming and cattle ranching.
The company also ran a cotton gin, a hotel, and a "company store." Over time, the company helped start schools and churches. They also built baseball fields, an electric plant, and a telephone system for the town. D.W. Alderman even founded two railroads, the Alcolu and Paroda railroads, and built the Alcolu railroad depot.
The Alcolu Post Office opened on August 17, 1888. D.W. Alderman's friend, Algernon Coldwell, became the first Postmaster.
Company Money and Stores
Company employees were sometimes paid with special metal coins called "babbits." These coins had an "A" stamped on them. Workers could only use these coins at the company store.
At the company store, people could buy groceries, see a doctor, get a haircut, or watch a show. The store had a 200-seat auditorium upstairs for entertainment. In 1919, the company opened a large store in nearby Manning, South Carolina. It was one of the first department stores in South Carolina and had the first elevator in Manning.
Later Years of the Mill
In 1947, the Alderman family sold the lumber mill to other companies. Later, in 1968, the Georgia-Pacific company bought the mill. Georgia-Pacific continued to operate the mill in Alcolu until 2000, when it finally closed down.
Geography of Alcolu
Alcolu is located in the northern part of Clarendon County. It is about 4 miles (6 km) north of Manning, which is the main town of the county.
The southern edge of Alcolu is near Interstate 95. You can get to Alcolu from Exit 122 on I-95. This highway goes northeast 44 miles (71 km) to Florence and southwest 24 miles (39 km) to Santee. U.S. Route 521 also runs through Alcolu. It goes south to Manning and northwest 16 miles (26 km) to Sumter.
The U.S. Census Bureau says that Alcolu has a total area of about 4.57 square miles (11.84 km2). Most of this area, about 4.55 square miles (11.78 km2), is land. A small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2), is water.
Population Data
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 402 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Notable People from Alcolu
- Pressley Harvin III: He is a punter who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2021 to 2023. He also won the Ray Guy Award in 2020, which is given to the best college football punter.
- Adam Wingfield: Adam grew up near Alcolu and was a great athlete in Sumter County. He is now an expert in the trucking industry. He helps trucking business owners grow their companies. Adam is known for leading Innovative Logistics Group, which supports small trucking companies. He focuses on making work easier and helping small carriers connect with shippers. Adam wants to improve standards in the trucking community and is seen as an expert in the field.
See also
In Spanish: Alcolu (Carolina del Sur) para niños
