Nichols, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nichols, South Carolina
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Train passing through Nichols, 2019
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Location of Nichols in South Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Marion |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.34 sq mi (3.46 km2) |
| • Land | 1.34 sq mi (3.46 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 234 |
| • Density | 175.15/sq mi (67.60/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
29581
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| Area code(s) | 843 and 854 |
| FIPS code | 45-50110 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1225046 |
Nichols is a small town located in Marion County, South Carolina, in the United States. In 2020, about 234 people lived there.
Contents
Geography
Nichols is located in South Carolina. Its exact position is 34 degrees, 13 minutes, 58 seconds North and 79 degrees, 8 minutes, 55 seconds West.
The town covers a total area of about 1.4 square miles (3.46 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.
History of Nichols
Nichols was founded around the same time as the nearby towns of Marion and Mullins, sometime after 1854. It was first called Floydsville. This name came from Harman Floyd, who owned the land. After he passed away, his land was sold as town lots. These lots were located around the train stations of the Wilmington and Manchester Railroad.
The town grew quickly for a short time because of the turpentine industry. Turpentine is a liquid made from pine trees, used in paints and other products. When this industry slowed down, the tobacco industry took its place.
Later, the town was renamed Nichols. This new name honored Averett B. Nichols. He was a businessman who built a warehouse and a store to benefit from the growing tobacco business. He also owned other stores in town. After World War II, a furniture store called Pilliod of Carolina became a major employer.
Hurricane Matthew's Impact
In 2016, Nichols faced severe flooding from Hurricane Matthew. The nearby Lumber River overflowed its banks. Five months after the hurricane, many homes were still empty. Out of 261 homes, 216 were vacant.
Many businesses, churches, and public services were also affected. Two out of six churches remained closed. Fifteen out of 22 businesses, the library, and most of the fire and police departments were not fully working.
The town's mayor, Lawson Battle, asked the state for help. He suggested that the state provide $700,000 to fix damaged buildings, replace vehicles, and reopen government offices. This shows how the community worked to recover after the storm.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 122 | — | |
| 1890 | 57 | −53.3% | |
| 1900 | 82 | 43.9% | |
| 1910 | 118 | 43.9% | |
| 1920 | 191 | 61.9% | |
| 1930 | 239 | 25.1% | |
| 1940 | 292 | 22.2% | |
| 1950 | 380 | 30.1% | |
| 1960 | 617 | 62.4% | |
| 1970 | 549 | −11.0% | |
| 1980 | 606 | 10.4% | |
| 1990 | 528 | −12.9% | |
| 2000 | 408 | −22.7% | |
| 2010 | 368 | −9.8% | |
| 2020 | 234 | −36.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Over the years, the number of people living in Nichols has changed. In 1880, there were 122 residents. The population grew steadily until 1960, when it reached its highest point of 617 people. Since then, the population has slowly decreased. In 2020, the town had 234 residents.
Education
Nichols has a public library. It is part of the Marion County Library System, which means local residents can borrow books and use other resources.
See also
In Spanish: Nichols para niños
