Little Mountain, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Little Mountain, South Carolina
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Railroad tracks and Church Street
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Location of Little Mountain, South Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Newberry |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.52 sq mi (3.94 km2) |
| • Land | 1.52 sq mi (3.94 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 614 ft (187 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 249 |
| • Density | 163.82/sq mi (63.25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
29075
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| Area code(s) | 803, 839 |
| FIPS code | 45-41965 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1231486 |
| Website | www.littlemountainsc.com |
Little Mountain is a small town in Newberry County, South Carolina, United States. In 2020, about 249 people lived there. The town got its name from a nearby hill also called Little Mountain.
Contents
History of Little Mountain
The hill known as Little Mountain is a special type of landform. It's called a monadnock, which means it's an isolated mountain or rock that has stood strong against erosion. It rises alone in an otherwise flat area.
The historic parts of Little Mountain were recognized in 2003. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places.
How Little Mountain Began
The mountain was once known as Ruff's Mountain. This was true until the 1800s. It was part of Lexington County until 1917. That's when the current county border was set.
The land around the mountain changed hands many times. Abraham N. Boland owned the side where the town now stands.
The Town's Founding
In May 1852, Frederick H. Dominick became the first postmaster. Later, in 1888, Abraham Noah Boland took over the Little Mountain Post Office. The town officially started around a railroad station in 1890. Boland's farm became the spot for the train depot. This happened when the C. N. & L Railroad began running.
The town was officially formed, and Boland became its first mayor. Today, many people call Boland the "Father of Little Mountain."
Early residents of Little Mountain were mostly farmers. They grew crops like corn, cotton, and grain. Today, Little Mountain is a bedroom community. This means many people who live there travel to work in bigger cities. For example, some commute to Columbia, the state capital. Columbia is about 30 miles away.
Learning in Little Mountain
In 1892, the first school opened in a tenant house. The pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Rev. S. L. Nease, taught there. Later, Noah Boland donated land for a one-room school building. As more students joined, a two-room building was added. Finally, in 1908, plans were made for the current Little Mountain Elementary School. The building has been updated and expanded over the years.
Geography and Location
Little Mountain is located in South Carolina. Its coordinates are 34°11′43″N 81°24′50″W / 34.19528°N 81.41389°W.
The United States Census Bureau says the town covers about 1.1 square miles (2.7 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
You can find Little Mountain right off Interstate 26 at Exit 85. This exit is about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the center of town.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 283 | — | |
| 1910 | 440 | 55.5% | |
| 1920 | 399 | −9.3% | |
| 1930 | 244 | −38.8% | |
| 1940 | 251 | 2.9% | |
| 1950 | 213 | −15.1% | |
| 1960 | 238 | 11.7% | |
| 1970 | 240 | 0.8% | |
| 1980 | 282 | 17.5% | |
| 1990 | 235 | −16.7% | |
| 2000 | 255 | 8.5% | |
| 2010 | 291 | 14.1% | |
| 2020 | 249 | −14.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2013, about 292 people lived in Little Mountain. There were 142 households. The average income for a household in the town was $56,250. Only a small number of residents, about 2.9%, lived below the poverty line. This is better than the average for South Carolina, which was $44,779.
Most adults in Little Mountain have a high school degree or higher. About 93.8% of residents have at least a high school degree. This is higher than South Carolina's average of 84.5%.
Little Mountain Town Reunion
Every August, Little Mountain hosts a special event called the "Little Mountain Town Reunion." This reunion is one of South Carolina’s oldest folk festivals. It started in 1882. It was an idea from someone connected to Newberry College. The goal was to encourage class reunions and get people interested in the new college.
Newberry College had faced many challenges. It was used by Federal troops during the Civil War. It even moved to Walhalla for a time. Finally, it returned to Newberry, the county seat of Newberry County. In the early days, most people traveled by foot or horse. So, meeting places were chosen for their easy location.
Records show that in 1882, the group first met at Corinth Lutheran Church. The next year, or soon after, they decided to try the site at Little Mountain. The event was a big success! Everyone agreed to hold the Newberry College Reunion at the foot of Little Mountain every year.
The event took place on land that A. N. Boland had recently bought. He was happy to host. For many years, he prepared and sold barbecue, rice, hash, lemonade, and ice cream. For those who brought their own food, tables were set up between the trees. People came riding on horseback, in buggies, wagons, and carts.
Then, in 1890, the first train came through Little Mountain. Old-timers remember how more train cars were added during reunion time. This brought people from many nearby towns. These included Irmo, Ballentine, White Rock, Chapin, Clinton, and Newberry.
A typical Little Mountain Reunion was a time to meet old friends from school. It was also a chance to talk about politics. The president of Newberry College would give a welcoming speech. This made everyone feel at home and shared news about the college.
These reunions became a tradition in the community. They were eagerly awaited by everyone in the area. The simple fun and community spirit kept the reunion going until just before World War II.
In 1976, the Town of Little Mountain and the Ruritan Club decided to bring back the reunion. It was part of a bicentennial project. The idea created a lot of excitement in town. The festival was so successful that the Little Mountain Association was formed. The Little Mountain Reunion became an annual event once again.
The reunion was canceled in 2012. This was due to issues between the town council and the reunion association. However, in August 2013, the town council voted to bring it back. Mayor Jana Jayroe helped solve the problems. The reunion returned in August 2014.
See also
In Spanish: Little Mountain para niños
