Lexington, South Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lexington, South Carolina
Town
Seal
Motto(s):  "Town of Progress"
Lexington, South Carolina Location in South Carolina Show map of South Carolina Lexington, South Carolina Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Lexington County
Named for	Battles of Lexington and Concord
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
• Body	Lexington Town Council
Area
• Total	12.12 sq mi (31.38 km2)
• Land	11.97 sq mi (31.00 km2)
• Water	0.14 sq mi (0.38 km2)
Elevation	394 ft (120 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	23,568
• Rank	22nd
• Density	1,968.92/sq mi (760.19/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	29071, 29072, 29073
Area code(s)	803, 839
FIPS code	45-41335
GNIS feature ID	1246349

Lexington is a busy town in South Carolina, USA. It is the biggest town in Lexington County. It is also the county seat, which means it is where the main government offices are.

Lexington is a suburb of Columbia, the state capital. In 2020, about 23,568 people lived here. It is one of the fastest-growing areas in the middle of South Carolina.

History of Lexington

Early Days and Settlements

Lexington, SC Main Street (1916)

Lexington 2019 Christmas Parade

In 1735, King George II's government created 11 new areas in South Carolina. These areas were meant to encourage people to settle there. They also acted as a buffer between Native American tribes and the colonial farms.

One of these areas was called Saxe Gotha. People from Germany and Switzerland settled there. They grew crops like corn, wheat, and tobacco. They also raised livestock. Two important Native American trails crossed through this area. The Cherokee Path was used by English traders. The Occaneechi Path connected tribes from different regions.

In 1785, Saxe Gotha was renamed Lexington County. This was to remember the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. These battles were important in the American Revolution. Two battles were fought near Lexington in 1781. The Battle of Muddy Springs was just south of town. The Battle of Tarrar Springs was right within the town's current borders.

Growth and Challenges

Before 1820, the county seat was in a town called Granby. But Granby often flooded. So, the courthouse moved to its current spot in Lexington. The area was known as "Lexington Courthouse." It officially became the Town of Lexington in 1861.

During the American Civil War, much of Lexington was destroyed. This happened during Sherman's March to the Sea. Union forces burned most of the town, including the courthouse. After the war, Lexington faced tough economic times. But local farms and the lumber industry helped the town recover.

Many brick buildings you see today were built after big fires in 1894 and 1916. By the 1890s, a railroad and a textile mill helped Lexington grow. In the 1920s, cars became popular. This helped Lexington grow even more as a suburb of Columbia. Also, Lake Murray was created in 1930. This brought more people to live in Lexington. The town's population grew a lot between 1990 and 2010.

Recent Important Events

Welcome Sign, Lexington, SC off of Highway 378

Gibson Pond – Lexington, SC

Lexington is where the "move over law" started. This law says drivers must change lanes. They must do this when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of the road. A paramedic named James D. Garcia was hurt in 1994. He was helping at an accident scene. This led him to work for this law. South Carolina passed the law in 1996. Now, a similar law is in all 50 U.S. states.

In 1994, a strong tornado hit Lexington. It caused over 40 injuries and $50 million in damages. This tornado came from a tropical storm.

In 2013, a gas station in Lexington sold a winning Powerball ticket. It was worth $400 million! This was one of the biggest lottery wins in U.S. history at the time.

In 2015, heavy rains from Hurricane Joaquin caused huge floods. In Lexington, two dams were destroyed. Gibson Park Dam and Old Mill Dam both broke. These dams have since been rebuilt. The floods also damaged many roads and businesses.

Geography of Lexington

Lexington is in the northeastern part of Lexington County. It is about 12 miles west of Columbia. Columbia is the state capital of South Carolina.

The town covers about 11.97 square miles of land. It has a small amount of water, about 0.14 square miles. Two creeks flow through the town. Fourteenmile Creek is to the north. Twelvemile Creek is to the south. Both creeks flow into the Saluda River.

Climate in Lexington

Lexington has a varied climate. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -2°F in February 1899. The hottest was 111°F in June 2012.

July usually has the most rain each year. Lexington gets about 48 inches of rain per year. It does not get much snow, averaging about 1.6 inches per year.

Lexington's Economy

Saturday Market in Lexington, SC

In 2022, stores in Lexington sold almost $2.5 billion worth of goods. In 2020, the average household income was about $74,996. About 9.11% of people lived below the poverty line.

Here are some of the biggest employers in Lexington:

Transportation in Lexington

Public Transit

The COMET provides public transportation in Lexington. It is the main bus system for the greater Columbia area.

Roads and Highways

Lexington is connected by several important roads:

• I-20 – This interstate highway goes from west to east. It connects Columbia to cities like Atlanta and Augusta. It also serves nearby towns like West Columbia.
• U.S. 1
• U.S. 378
• SC 6

Fun Things to Do in Lexington

Lexington, SC community band playing at the Icehouse Amphitheater

• Lake Murray: Just north of Lexington is Lake Murray. It is one of South Carolina's biggest lakes. A 1.7-mile-long dam holds the lake. You can drive, bike, run, or walk on the dam. The Saluda Dam helps make electricity for the area. There is a public swimming area open in summer.
• Lexington County Blowfish Baseball Stadium: You can watch baseball games here.
• Icehouse Amphitheater: This outdoor venue hosts concerts and events. Many famous musicians have played here.
• Parks: Lexington has several public parks. These include Virginia Hilton Park, Gibson Pond Park, and Corley Street Water Park.
• Lexington County Museum: Learn about the history of the area at this museum.
• Fourteen-Mile Creek Trail: A great place for walking and enjoying nature.

The Lexington Community Band performs "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the opening of a Blowfish baseball game.

People of Lexington

Population Changes

Lexington has grown a lot! In 2000, there were about 10,000 people. By 2020, the population was 23,568. This is a big increase. Many new homes and businesses have been built.

Who Lives Here?

In 2020, there were 23,568 people living in Lexington. Most people (about 71%) were White. About 11% were Black or African American. About 7% were Asian. Other groups, including people of mixed races and Hispanic or Latino people, made up the rest.

The average age in Lexington in 2010 was 33 years old. About 27% of the people were under 18. About 7.5% were 65 or older.

Education in Lexington

Lexington County School District One manages public education in Lexington. The district has over 27,000 students. It also employs about 3,900 teachers and staff.

Here are some of the public schools in the area:

Library

Lexington has a branch of the Lexington County Public Library. It is a great place to find books and learn.

Famous People from Lexington

• John Boozer: A former professional baseball player. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Nick Ciuffo: A baseball player drafted in the first round by the Tampa Bay Rays.
• Emily Geiger: An American Revolutionary War heroine. She bravely delivered a secret message.
• Nikki Haley: A former United States Ambassador to the United Nations. She was also the governor of South Carolina.
• Lacie Lybrand: She was crowned Miss South Carolina USA in 2006.
• Bob Peeler: A former Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina.
• Shaq Roland: A former wide receiver for college football teams and the Chicago Bears practice squad.
• Floyd Spence: A congressman who represented the area for many years.
• Harold E. Wilson: A Marine who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery in the Korean War.
• Caitlin Upton: A model and beauty pageant winner.

Images for kids

• 

  The Ballentine-Shealy House built around 1870.

See also

In Spanish: Lexington (Carolina del Sur) para niños