Graniteville, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Graniteville, South Carolina
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Mill houses in Graniteville
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 Graniteville, South Carolina
Location in South Carolina
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  South Carolina |
| County |  Aiken |
| Founded | 1845 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.32 sq mi (8.61 km2) |
| • Land | 3.31 sq mi (8.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 227 ft (69 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,439 |
| • Density | 737.53/sq mi (284.79/km2) |
| ZIP code |
29829
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| FIPS code | 45-30265 |
Graniteville is a special kind of community called a census-designated place (CDP). It is located in Aiken County, South Carolina, in the United States. In 2010, about 2,614 people lived there.
Graniteville is found along U.S. Route 1. It is about 5 miles (8 km) west of Aiken. The community sits in a place called Horse Creek Valley. This valley starts in the nearby town of Vaucluse. Graniteville is also part of the larger Augusta, Georgia metropolitan area. This area is sometimes called the C.S.R.A. or Central Savannah River Area.
Contents
History of Graniteville
Graniteville began in 1845. A man named William Gregg built the first large cotton mill in the Southern United States here. This mill was the start of the community.
Gregg created a special kind of town for his mill workers. It had 90 homes, places for people to stay (boarding houses), six stores, two churches, and a school. The town got its name because many of these first buildings were made from blue granite.
Gregg believed in education. He made sure that children of mill workers had to go to the public school he started. If they didn't, their families could be fined. This made Graniteville the first place in the Southern United States to have a system where school attendance was required by law.
The important old buildings and areas of Graniteville are now part of the Graniteville Historic District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Train Accident and Memorial
On January 6, 2005, a Norfolk Southern Railway freight train had an accident in Graniteville. It hit another train that was stopped. One of the train cars was carrying a dangerous chemical called liquid chlorine. This car broke open and released a cloud of poisonous chlorine gas.
This accident was very serious. Nine people sadly lost their lives. More than 550 people were hurt. Over 5,400 people had to leave their homes for more than a week because of the gas.
The town built a special memorial in a small park to remember those who died. It is at the corner of Canal Street and Aiken Road. The memorial was officially opened on May 20, 2006.
Town Incorporation Talks
In 2008, there were discussions about making Graniteville and two nearby villages, Vaucluse and Warrenville, into one official town. This is called "incorporating." If it had happened, the new town would have been about 20 square miles (52 km²) in size. However, the people voted on this idea in August 2008, and they decided not to incorporate.
Economy and Community Support
For many years, Graniteville was the main location for a group of textile (fabric-making) factories called The Graniteville Company. These factories were in South Carolina and Georgia. In 1996, a company called Avondale Mills bought The Graniteville Company. Avondale Mills was one of the biggest makers of denim fabric in the United States.
After the train accident in 2005, Avondale Mills faced financial problems. They were not able to recover, so they closed or sold all their factories in the area by 2006. However, Graniteville is still home to a large Bridgestone/Firestone Tire and Rubber Company plant.
A very important part of Graniteville's community is the Gregg-Graniteville Foundation. This foundation was started in 1941 to honor William Gregg, who founded the town. The foundation helps people by giving out college scholarships every year. It also gives money to other good causes.
The Foundation also supports the Gregg Park Civic Center. This is a fun place for people in the community. It has a walking track, fields for softball and baseball, tennis courts, a swimming area, and picnic spots. The gym inside has a basketball court, a weight room, an exercise room, and racquetball courts. People can use these facilities for a small fee.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 2,439 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 2,439 people living in Graniteville. There were 1,220 households and 810 families.
In 2010, the total population was 2,614 people.
- About 65% of the people were white.
- About 28% were African American.
- A smaller number of people were from other racial backgrounds.
- About 6% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino origin.
The population was almost evenly split between males and females. About 47.6% were male and 52.4% were female. Most people (about 57.5%) were between 18 and 64 years old. About 15% were 65 or older, and about 27.5% were under 18.
Education
Children in Graniteville attend schools in the Aiken County Public School District. The local schools include New Elementary School, Leavelle McCampbell Middle School, and Midland Valley High School.
See also
In Spanish: Graniteville para niños
