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Chesnee, South Carolina facts for kids

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Chesnee, South Carolina
Chesnee, South Carolina.jpg
Location of Chesnee, South Carolina
Location of Chesnee, South Carolina
Country United States
State South Carolina
Counties Spartanburg, Cherokee
Area
 • Total 1.07 sq mi (2.77 km2)
 • Land 1.07 sq mi (2.77 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
892 ft (272 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 829
 • Density 774.04/sq mi (298.92/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
29323
Area codes 864, 821
FIPS code 45-14050
GNIS feature ID 1221550

Chesnee is a small city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is located in both Spartanburg and Cherokee counties. In 2020, about 829 people lived there.

History of Chesnee

Zeno Hicks House
The Zeno Hicks House is a historic building in Chesnee.

Chesnee got its start in the early 1900s. A company called the Chesnee Land Company bought a lot of land. John B. Cleveland, a main person in the company, named the town. He named it after his great-grandmother, Margaret Chesnee. She was from Scotland.

In 1909, a train called the Clinchfield Railroad came to Spartanburg. The Chesnee post office opened in 1910. The town officially became a city in 1911. Early businesses included a hotel, a pharmacy, a cotton mill, and a lumber mill.

Two important places near Chesnee are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Cowpens National Battlefield and the Zeno Hicks House.

Where is Chesnee?

Chesnee is located in the northeast part of Spartanburg County. A small section of the city also reaches into Cherokee County. U.S. Route 221 goes through Chesnee. It leads north about 18 miles (29 km) to Rutherfordton, North Carolina. It goes south about 16 miles (26 km) to Spartanburg.

South Carolina Highway 11 also crosses through the city. It goes west about 19 miles (31 km) to Campobello. It goes east past Cowpens National Battlefield about 14 miles (23 km) to Gaffney.

The United States Census Bureau says Chesnee covers about 1.07 square miles (2.77 km2) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.

Who Lives in Chesnee?

Historical population
Census Pop.
1920 600
1930 764 27.3%
1940 827 8.2%
1950 1,051 27.1%
1960 1,045 −0.6%
1970 1,069 2.3%
1980 1,069 0.0%
1990 1,280 19.7%
2000 1,003 −21.6%
2010 868 −13.5%
2020 829 −4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2020, there were 829 people living in Chesnee. There were 324 households and 159 families. About 66% of the people were White. Around 23% were Black or African American. Other groups made up the rest of the population.

Education in Chesnee

The Spartanburg County School District 2 manages public schools in Chesnee. There are three schools located in the city. One of these is Chesnee High School.

Chesnee also has a lending library. It is a part of the Spartanburg County Public Library system.

Famous People from Chesnee

  • Woody Abernathy – He was a baseball pitcher for the New York Giants. After retiring, he worked in Chesnee for 30 years.
  • Sonja Glenn – She was crowned Miss South Carolina USA in 1998.
  • Stephen Twitty – He is a highly respected major general in the U.S. Army.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Chesnee para niños

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