Bishopville, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bishopville, South Carolina
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The water tower in Bishopville
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| Motto(s):
"Small-Town Hospitality at its Best!"
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Location in Lee County and the state of South Carolina.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | South Carolina | |
| County | Lee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.37 sq mi (6.14 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.34 sq mi (6.05 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) | |
| Elevation | 226 ft (69 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,024 | |
| • Density | 1,293.97/sq mi (499.53/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
29010
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| Area codes | 803, 839 | |
| FIPS code | 45-06310 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1220758 | |
| Website | cityofbishopvillesc.com | |
Bishopville is a small town in Lee County, South Carolina, United States. It's a special place because it's the county seat of Lee County, which means it's where the main government offices for the county are located. In 2020, about 3,024 people lived there.
Contents
Geography and Climate
Bishopville is located in South Carolina at 34°13′8″N 80°14′56″W / 34.21889°N 80.24889°W. It's near Lee State Park, a great spot for outdoor fun.
The town covers about 2.4 square miles (6.1 square kilometers) of land. Only a tiny part of this area is water.
Main Roads
Several important roads pass through Bishopville, making it easy to travel to and from the town:
I-20
US 15
SC 34
SC 154
SC 341
SC 441
Weather in Bishopville
Bishopville has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has mild winters and long, hot summers.
| Climate data for Bishopville, South Carolina(1991-2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 55.4 (13.0) |
59.3 (15.2) |
66.6 (19.2) |
75.4 (24.1) |
82.1 (27.8) |
88.0 (31.1) |
91.5 (33.1) |
89.2 (31.8) |
84.1 (28.9) |
75.5 (24.2) |
66.3 (19.1) |
58.6 (14.8) |
74.3 (23.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 44.1 (6.7) |
47.1 (8.4) |
53.7 (12.1) |
62.2 (16.8) |
70.3 (21.3) |
77.4 (25.2) |
80.9 (27.2) |
79.0 (26.1) |
73.6 (23.1) |
63.2 (17.3) |
53.2 (11.8) |
46.8 (8.2) |
62.6 (17.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 32.8 (0.4) |
34.9 (1.6) |
40.8 (4.9) |
49.1 (9.5) |
58.5 (14.7) |
66.8 (19.3) |
70.3 (21.3) |
68.9 (20.5) |
63.2 (17.3) |
50.9 (10.5) |
40.0 (4.4) |
35.1 (1.7) |
50.9 (10.5) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.76 (96) |
3.49 (89) |
3.84 (98) |
3.01 (76) |
3.99 (101) |
4.70 (119) |
4.53 (115) |
4.88 (124) |
4.08 (104) |
3.46 (88) |
3.00 (76) |
3.91 (99) |
46.65 (1,185) |
People in Bishopville
The number of people living in Bishopville has changed over many years. Here's how the population has grown and shrunk:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 144 | — | |
| 1890 | 422 | 193.1% | |
| 1900 | 715 | 69.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,659 | 132.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,090 | 26.0% | |
| 1930 | 2,249 | 7.6% | |
| 1940 | 2,995 | 33.2% | |
| 1950 | 3,076 | 2.7% | |
| 1960 | 3,586 | 16.6% | |
| 1970 | 3,404 | −5.1% | |
| 1980 | 3,429 | 0.7% | |
| 1990 | 3,560 | 3.8% | |
| 2000 | 3,670 | 3.1% | |
| 2010 | 3,471 | −5.4% | |
| 2020 | 3,024 | −12.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives Here?
The 2020 United States census looked at the different groups of people living in Bishopville. Here's a quick look at the racial makeup of the town:
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 753 | 24.9% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 2,135 | 70.6% |
| Native American | 4 | 0.13% |
| Asian | 12 | 0.4% |
| Other/Mixed | 86 | 2.84% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 34 | 1.12% |
In 2020, there were 3,024 people living in Bishopville. These people lived in 1,414 households, and 728 of those were families.
History of Bishopville
Bishopville has an interesting past! For over ten years, it was known as Singleton's Crossroads. It got its current name to honor Jacques Bishop.
The land where Bishopville now stands was first given to Jacob Chamber in 1786. Later, it was sold to William Singleton in 1790. William Singleton and his wife ran a tavern at a busy intersection. This tavern was a popular stop for stagecoaches traveling between Georgetown and Charlotte. Imagine horse-drawn carriages stopping there for a rest! Today, this intersection is part of Highway 15, which was once a major road from New York to Miami.
After William Singleton passed away in 1798, his wife continued to run the tavern until 1820. In 1821, Jacques Bishop bought the property. Back then, the area was mostly wild, with only a few simple houses scattered around.
Lee County was officially created in 1892, and Bishopville became its county seat. This meant Bishopville would be the main town for the county's government. It took a few years, but the town finished building its courthouse and jail in February 1902. On December 15, 1902, Bishopville celebrated its new importance with speeches and by firing an old cannon in front of the Lee County Courthouse.
Lee County has always been important for growing cotton in South Carolina. That's why Bishopville is home to the South Carolina Cotton Museum!
Many historic buildings and areas in Bishopville are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Lee County Courthouse, the Ashwood School Gymnasium and Auditorium, the Bishopville Commercial Historic District, the James Carnes House, Dennis High School, the Thomas Fraser House, the William Apollos James House, The Manor, Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church, the William Rogers House, the South Main Historic District, the Spencer House, and Tall Oaks.
Education
Students in Bishopville attend schools that are part of the Lee County Public Schools system.
Public Schools
- Bishopville Primary School
- Lee Central Middle School
- Lee Central High School
- Lee County Career and Technology Center
- Central Carolina Technical College
Private Schools
- Robert E. Lee Academy
- Pee Dee Math, Science, and Technology Academy
Library
Bishopville has a lending library called the Lee County Public Library. It's a great place to find books and learn new things!
Arts and Culture
Bishopville is home to some unique and interesting places!
Pearl Fryar's Topiary Garden
One of the most famous spots is Pearl Fryar's amazing Topiary Garden. This 3-acre (1.2-hectare) garden is visited by many tourists every year. Pearl Fryar is known for shaping trees and shrubs into incredible spirals, pom-poms, and other wild designs. His garden has been shown on TV and in many magazines. He even won an award as a South Carolina Ambassador for Economic Development! Pearl Fryar simply wanted a nice yard, and he ended up creating a national treasure.
Lee State Park
Lee State Park is another well-known place in Lee County. Located at 487 Loop Road, this park offers tons of activities like river fishing, boating, and nature trails. It even has a show ring and stables for horses! The park also hosts fun educational programs, like learning to weave pine needle baskets or going on "owl prowls" to spot owls at night.
This beautiful park was built by workers during the Great Depression. It covers about 2,839 acres (1,149 hectares) of land. You can enjoy picnics in shelters or go camping here. There are picnic tables and peaceful spots along the 5.6 miles (9 kilometers) of the Lynches River that belong to the park.
Museums
Bishopville is home to two cool museums that are right next door to each other: the South Carolina Cotton Museum and the Lee County Veterans Museum.
- The South Carolina Cotton Museum teaches visitors about the history of cotton farming and how it shaped life in the area. It even has the world's largest boll weevil, a bug that used to cause a lot of trouble for cotton farmers!
- The Lee County Veterans Museum was created by veterans from Lee County. It shares the history of U.S. wars and conflicts, and tells the stories of local heroes who served our country.
The Lizard Man
This town is famous for stories about a mysterious creature called "The Lizard Man." People say they've seen this reptile-like monster near a swamp called Scape Ore Swamp. It's even supposedly scared people and damaged some cars! At one point, there was a huge reward of one million dollars for anyone who could find and bring in the "Lizard Man."
Notable People
Bishopville has been home to many talented people, including:
- Doc Blanchard – A famous college football player known as "Mr. Inside." He was the first junior to win the Heisman Trophy award while playing for Army.
- Gwendolyn Bradley – A talented opera singer.
- The Button King (Dalton Stevens) – Known for his amazing creations made from buttons.
- Silas DeMary – A player for the Cleveland Gladiators, an Arena Football League team.
- Pearl Fryar – The amazing topiary artist mentioned earlier.
- Tommy Gainey – A professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour.
- Jim Nesbitt – A country musician known for his funny songs.
- Drink Small – Also known as the "Blues Doctor," he is an African American soul blues and electric blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
See also
In Spanish: Bishopville (Carolina del Sur) para niños
