Belton, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belton
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Top, left to right: Downtown Belton, Belton City Hall, Belton Depot, Belton Standpipe
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| Motto(s):
"The Standpipe City"
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Location in Anderson County, South Carolina
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 Belton, South Carolina
Location in South Carolina
Belton, South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Anderson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.79 sq mi (9.80 km2) |
| • Land | 3.78 sq mi (9.79 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 883 ft (269 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,335 |
| • Density | 1,147.43/sq mi (443.01/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
29627
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| Area codes | 864, 821 |
| FIPS code | 45-05365 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1246736 |
Belton is a city located in the eastern part of Anderson County, South Carolina. In 2020, about 4,335 people lived there. Belton is known for its history with railroads and cotton, and it has a unique water tower called the Belton Standpipe.
Contents
History of Belton
How Belton Started
Back in 1845, a group decided to build a railroad line. This new line would connect the Piedmont area of South Carolina to the existing railway. The railway already ran from Columbia to Charleston.
The new part of the railway went right through where Belton is today. There was also a smaller line built that went to the nearby town of Anderson. When the railroad was finished in 1853, many people moved to the area. Because of this growth, the state officially made it a town in 1855. The town's borders were set within half a mile of the new train station.
Naming the City
The city was named Belton after John Belton O'Neal. He was the first president of the Columbia and Greenville Railroad. He came from Newberry.
Cotton and Mills
Belton grew and became successful not just because of the railroad. The area also grew a lot of cotton. This led to many cotton mills being built in the city. For a long time, Belton was a major center for processing cotton in South Carolina.
The Belton Standpipe
In 1908, Belton built its own water system. A tall concrete tower was constructed to hold water. This tower is 155-foot (47 m) high and can hold 165,000-US-gallon (625 m3) of water. It is known as the Belton Standpipe. This historic tower is still used today!
The Belton Standpipe is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. It also inspired the yearly Belton Standpipe Festival. This festival started in 1987 to help raise money.
Arts and Culture
Belton has a lively arts center. It often shows art exhibits that everyone can visit. This center adds a lot of artistic energy to the city. It's also a place where many city events are held.
The old train station, called the Belton Depot, has been completely fixed up. It's now used as a comfortable place for events. Part of the depot is a museum. It's filled with interesting items from Belton's past.
Tennis is also a big part of Belton's culture. The South Carolina Palmetto championships are held in Belton every year. Local tennis courts are used for this big competition.
Besides the Belton Standpipe, the Belton Depot and the Chamberlain-Kay House are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are important historical buildings.
Geography of Belton
Belton is located in the eastern part of Anderson County, South Carolina. Its exact location is 34°31′32″N 82°29′46″W / 34.52556°N 82.49611°W.
It is about 11 miles (18 km) east of Anderson. Anderson is the county seat, which means it's the main town of the county. You can get there using U.S. Routes 76 and 178. The town of Honea Path is about 8 miles (13 km) to the southeast on the same highways. Also, South Carolina Highway 20 goes 26 miles (42 km) north to Greenville.
The city covers a total area of about 3.9 square miles (10.0 km2). Most of this area is land, with only a very small part, about 0.012 square miles (0.03 km2), being water.
Population and People
This section shows how Belton's population has changed over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 314 | — | |
| 1890 | 494 | 57.3% | |
| 1900 | 826 | 67.2% | |
| 1910 | 1,852 | 124.2% | |
| 1920 | 1,780 | −3.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,765 | −0.8% | |
| 1940 | 2,119 | 20.1% | |
| 1950 | 3,371 | 59.1% | |
| 1960 | 5,106 | 51.5% | |
| 1970 | 5,257 | 3.0% | |
| 1980 | 5,312 | 1.0% | |
| 1990 | 4,646 | −12.5% | |
| 2000 | 4,461 | −4.0% | |
| 2010 | 4,134 | −7.3% | |
| 2020 | 4,338 | 4.9% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 4,444 | 7.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Belton's Population in 2020
The 2020 United States census counted 4,335 people living in Belton. There were 1,956 households and 1,158 families in the city.
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Belton in 2020:
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 3,271 | 75.46% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 617 | 14.23% |
| Native American | 14 | 0.22% |
| Asian | 22 | 0.51% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed | 229 | 5.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 181 | 4.18% |
Education in Belton
Public schools in Belton are managed by Anderson County School District Two. This district runs several elementary schools. It also operates Belton Middle School and Belton-Honea Path High School.
Belton also has a public library. It is part of the Anderson County Library System.
Famous People from Belton
Here are some notable people who have connections to Belton:
- William L. Ball
- Dave Cockrum
- Matthew LeCroy
- Ralph McT. Pennell, a U.S. Army major general
- Viola Thompson
See also
In Spanish: Belton (Carolina del Sur) para niños
