Hampton, South Carolina Facts for Kids

Hampton is a small town located in Hampton County, South Carolina, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,694 people lived there. Hampton is special because it is the main town, or county seat, of Hampton County. Both the town and the county are named after Wade Hampton III. He was a general during the Civil War.

History of Hampton
Geography of Hampton
- Roads and Travel
- Land and Water Area
Culture and Events
- Local Newspaper
- Watermelon Festival
Population Information
- 2020 Census Details
Education in Hampton
See also

History of Hampton

How Hampton County Began

Hampton County was created in 1878. It was formed from parts of Beaufort County. The state of South Carolina decided to name the new county after Governor Wade Hampton III. This was to thank him for his help in ending the Reconstruction Era. He also led the Democratic Party at that time.

Founding the Town

The town of Hampton Courthouse was officially started in 1879. It was chosen to be the county seat. This means it became the center for government in the county. Later, the U.S. Postal Service shortened the name to just Hampton.

The town's location was picked carefully. It was right in the middle of the Port Royal Railroad line. This railroad connected Augusta, Georgia, and Port Royal. People hoped this central spot would help the town grow economically. The town was planned with a neat grid of streets. Streets running one way were named after trees, and others were numbered. The main street, Lee Avenue, connected the courthouse and the train station.

Growth and Changes

Hampton grew because of its connection to nearby farms. It became an important stop along the railway. The town stayed fairly small for a while. However, during World War II, a prisoner-of-war camp opened nearby. This brought more activity to the area.

Later, industries came to Hampton. A large factory for making pulp opened northwest of town. Over time, big companies like Westinghouse and International Paper owned this factory. It was one of the biggest employers in the county. Sadly, the factory closed in late 2014.

Bringing Back Downtown

In recent years, many new businesses opened outside of town. This made the original downtown area quieter. The town of Hampton has been working hard to bring back shops and activities to Lee Avenue. They have done projects to improve the streets. These efforts have helped bring some businesses back downtown. Hampton County also fixed up its old courthouse in 2012. They decided to keep it right in downtown Hampton.

Historic Places to See

Several buildings in Hampton are very old and important. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include:

The American Legion Hut
The Bank of Hampton
The Hampton Colored School
The Hampton County Courthouse
The Palmetto Theatre

Geography of Hampton

Hampton is located in the northern part of Hampton County. It is next to the town of Varnville to the southeast.

Roads and Travel

U.S. Route 278 goes right through the middle of Hampton. It is called Elm Street in town. This highway goes northwest about 10 miles to Fairfax. It also goes southeast through Varnville about 30 miles to Ridgeland.

U.S. Route 601 also passes through Hampton. It enters from the south as First Street and leaves to the north as Hoover Street. Route 601 goes north about 32 miles to Bamberg. It goes south about 23 miles to meet US 321 near Tarboro.

Land and Water Area

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Hampton covers about 11.7 square kilometers (4.5 square miles). Most of this area is land. Only a very small part, about 0.04 square kilometers (0.01 square miles), is water.

Culture and Events

Local Newspaper

The Hampton County Guardian newspaper started printing two months before the town was even founded. It is still the main newspaper for Hampton and the rest of the county. It is one of the oldest newspapers in South Carolina that is still being printed.

Watermelon Festival

Since 1939, Hampton has hosted the yearly Hampton County Watermelon Festival. This fun event happens in the third week of June. The festival lasts a whole week! It includes exciting events like:

A watermelon judging contest
A watermelon eating contest

The biggest event of the festival is a parade held on Saturday. The parade travels from Varnville to Hampton. As of 2015, the Watermelon Festival is the longest-running festival in South Carolina that has happened every single year.

Population Information

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	169	—
1890	318	88.2%
1900	536	68.6%
1910	748	39.6%
1920	706	−5.6%
1930	811	14.9%
1940	997	22.9%
1950	2,007	101.3%
1960	2,486	23.9%
1970	2,966	19.3%
1980	3,143	6.0%
1990	2,997	−4.6%
2000	2,837	−5.3%
2010	2,808	−1.0%
2020	2,694	−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 Census Details

The 2020 United States census counted 2,694 people living in Hampton. There were 1,139 households and 595 families in the town.

Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Hampton in 2020:

Hampton racial composition
Race	Number	Percentage
White (not Hispanic)	1,217	45.17%
Black or African American (not Hispanic)	1,295	48.07%
Native American	2	0.07%
Asian	61	2.26%
Other/Mixed	69	2.56%
Hispanic or Latino	50	1.86%

Education in Hampton

Public Schools

Public education in Hampton is managed by Hampton County School District 1. Students in Hampton attend the following schools:

Ben Hazel Primary School
Bubba's Virtual Learning
Brunson Elementary School
Fennell Elementary School
Hampton County School District
North District Middle School
Varnville Elementary School
Wade Hampton High School

Private and Higher Education

Patrick Henry Academy is a private school located about three miles southwest of downtown Hampton. It was founded in 1965 and serves students from Hampton and Hampton County.

The Technical College of the Lowcountry also offers some courses in the county. The Clemson University Extension office provides various courses and programs. These are for local residents and businesses.

Public Library

Hampton has a public library. It is a part of the Allendale Hampton Jasper Regional Library system.

Hampton, South Carolina facts for kids

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