Dillon, South Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dillon, South Carolina
City
Downtown Dillon from the Amtrak station in June 2013.
Seal
Motto(s):  "Your First Stop in SC"
Location of Dillon in South Carolina
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Dillon
Named for	James W. Dillon
Government
• Type	Council-Manager Form of Government
Area
• Total	5.37 sq mi (13.91 km2)
• Land	5.34 sq mi (13.83 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation	112 ft (34 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,384
• Density	1,195.95/sq mi (461.73/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	29536
Area code(s)	843, 854
FIPS code	45-19420
GNIS feature ID	1222024

Dillon is a city in Dillon County, located in eastern South Carolina, United States. It is the main city and the county seat of Dillon County. The city was officially started on December 22, 1888. Both the city and the county are named after James W. Dillon. He was an early settler who helped bring the railroad to the area. In the 2010 U.S. census, Dillon had a population of 6,788 people.

History of Dillon

Dillon County was formed in 1910 from a part of Marion County. The city and county are named after James W. Dillon (1826−1913). He was an Irish settler who became a successful local citizen. James Dillon worked hard to bring a railroad to the community.

This effort led to the building of the Wilson Short Cut Railroad. This railroad later became part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. It connected Dillon County to the national railroad system. This connection brought more wealth and opportunities to the area. For many years, people in Dillon County were farmers. They grew crops like cotton and tobacco. Today, cutting down trees for wood, called timber harvesting, is still a big industry in the county.

Over the last 20 years, Dillon County has seen more factories and distribution centers. This growth is partly because Interstate 95 runs through the county. This major highway helps businesses move goods easily.

Dillon was once known as "The Wedding Capital of the East." This was because South Carolina had fewer rules for getting married. Many couples would get married there. After their weddings, some couples would visit South of the Border for their honeymoons.

Geography of Dillon

Dillon is located in the middle of Dillon County. It is in the Pee Dee region of northeastern South Carolina. The Little Pee Dee River flows just east of the city. This river is a branch of the larger Pee Dee River.

Major Roads in Dillon

Several important roads pass through Dillon. U.S. Routes 301 and 501 go through the city as Second Avenue. These roads lead northeast about 7 miles (11 km) to Interstate 95. They also lead southwest about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) to Latta.

Interstate 95 is a major highway that runs northeast of Dillon. You can get on I-95 from Exits 190 and 193. I-95 goes northeast about 25 miles (40 km) to Lumberton, North Carolina. It goes southwest about 28 miles (45 km) to Florence.

South Carolina Highway 9 also goes through the center of Dillon. It leads northwest about 26 miles (42 km) to Bennettsville. It goes southeast about 13 miles (21 km) to Lake View. South Carolina Highway 57 follows SC 9 through Dillon. It leads north about 14 miles (23 km) to the North Carolina border. It goes south about 17 miles (27 km) to Mullins. SC 9 and 57 follow Main Street when leaving town to the southeast. South Carolina Highway 34 follows Main Street northwest out of town. It leads west about 33 miles (53 km) to Darlington.

Land and Water Area

The U.S. Census Bureau states that Dillon covers a total area of about 5.25 square miles (13.6 sq km). Only a very small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 sq km), is water. The Little Pee Dee River flows southwards about 2 miles (3 km) east of the city center.

Dillon's Climate

Dillon's Economy

In the spring of 2018, the Dillon Inland Port was built. This port helps move goods to and from the Port of Charleston. It has helped the area's economy grow even more.

Dillon's Population

According to the 2020 United States census, Dillon had 6,384 people living in the city. There were 2,159 households and 1,364 families.

In the 2010 U.S. census, the population grew by 7.5% compared to 2000. About 53.1% of the people were Black or African American. About 42.8% were White or Caucasian. Other groups included American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latino, and people of two or more races.

There were 2,454 households in Dillon. Each household had about 2 to 3 people. The city also had 2,916 housing units. About 13.7% of these were buildings with multiple homes. The average value for a home owned by its resident was $101,800. The population density was about 1,299 people per square mile. The land area of Dillon was 5.23 square miles. The average household income was $30,455. About 30.4% of the people lived in poverty.

Dillon Wellness Center

The city of Dillon has a public wellness center. It is located at 1647 Commerce Drive. This large building is 40,000 square feet (3,716 sq m). It was built in 2008 and cost $4.1 million. The center has exercise equipment, a sauna, a gym, and a walking track. It also has rooms for meetings and events that you can rent. You can use the exercise areas for a small fee, or you can buy a monthly membership.

Education in Dillon

Public schools in Dillon are managed by Dillon District Four Schools. The district includes several elementary schools: East, South, Stewart Heights, Lake View, and Gordon. There is also Dillon Middle School and two high schools: Dillon High School and Lake View High School.

Dillon Christian School is a private school option. For education after high school, Northeastern Technical College is available. Dillon also has a public library, which is part of the Dillon County Library system.

Transportation in Dillon

Roads and Highways

Downtown Dillon is a busy spot where several major roads meet. These include US 301, US 501, SC 9, SC 34, and SC 57. I-95 has two exits that lead to Dillon. There are also plans for I-73 to serve Dillon in the future. In August 2023, Dillon got a large Tesla Supercharger station. It has 40 charging spots and is the biggest in the southeastern United States.

Train Service

Amtrak, which is the national passenger train service, offers daily trips from Dillon. The train is called the Palmetto. It travels between Savannah, Georgia, and New York City. Trains stop at the Dillon station, which first opened in 1904. Another train line, the Andrews Subdivision, also runs through Dillon. This line used to be owned by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. Now, it only carries freight (goods, not people). CSX owns both of these railroad lines in Dillon.

Media in Dillon

The Dillon Herald is the city's newspaper. It started in 1894 and is the oldest business in Dillon County that has been running continuously. The Dillon Observer is an online newspaper for Dillon, South Carolina. It was started in 2020.

Notable People from Dillon

• Ben Bernanke, who led the Federal Reserve from 2006 to 2014.
• Alfred W. Bethea, a farmer and businessman. He was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
• John Chavis, a defensive coordinator for the Birmingham Stallions football team.
• Johnny Davis, a two-time world champion in kickboxing.
• Derrick Hamilton, a football player.
• Rufus R. Jones, a professional wrestler.
• Willie Jones, a Major League Baseball player.
• Kenneth Manning, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• Kevin Steele, a defensive coordinator for the University of Alabama football team.
• Lieutenant General Jack C. Stultz, a former leader of the U.S. Army Reserve.
• Robin Tallon, a former member of Congress.

See also

In Spanish: Dillon (Carolina del Sur) para niños