Orangeburg, South Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orangeburg, South Carolina
City
Central Business District of Orangeburg
Seal
Nickname(s):  The Burg
Location in Orangeburg County, South Carolina
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Orangeburg
Area
• Total	9.02 sq mi (23.36 km2)
• Land	9.01 sq mi (23.34 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	243 ft (74 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,240
• Density	1,469.15/sq mi (567.23/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	29115-29118
Area code(s)	803, 839
FIPS code	45-53080
GNIS feature ID	1249990
Website	www.orangeburg.sc.us

Russell Street, downtown's main street

Downtown Loop

Orangeburg, also known as The Burg, is a city in South Carolina, United States. It's the main city and county seat of Orangeburg County. In 2020, about 13,240 people lived there. The city is located 37 miles southeast of Columbia, near the North Fork of the Edisto River.

Orangeburg is home to two important historically black universities: Claflin University and South Carolina State University. These schools have played a big role in the city's history and community.

History of Orangeburg

Early Settlement in the 1700s

European settlers first came to this area in 1704. George Sterling set up a trading post for furs with Native Americans. To encourage more people to move here, the government of South Carolina created a township in 1730. They named it Orangeburg after William IV, Prince of Orange, who was related to King George II of Great Britain.

In 1735, about 200 Swiss, German, and Dutch immigrants started a community. They settled near the North Edisto River. This spot was great because of its rich soil and lots of wildlife. The river was also a key way to transport farm goods and lumber to the port of Charleston. Soon, Orangeburg became a successful colony, mostly made up of small farmers.

Orangeburg's first church was built by German Lutherans. It later became an Anglican Church. This church was destroyed during the American Revolutionary War. A new church was built, but during the American Civil War, General William Tecumseh Sherman used it as a hospital.

Changes in the 1800s

After the American Revolution, the area changed a lot. The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney made it easy to grow cotton. This led to many large cotton farms, called plantations. Enslaved African Americans were forced to work on these plantations. They were brought from other areas, and soon became the majority of people in the county.

After the Civil War, enslaved people became free. They started getting an education, and two colleges were built in Orangeburg for black students. However, new laws, called Jim Crow laws, made it hard for black people to vote and treated them unfairly. In 1919, the Orangeburg Regional Medical Center opened.

Civil Rights Efforts in the 1900s

After World War II, black citizens worked hard to gain equal rights. In the 1960s, Orangeburg became a key place for the Civil Rights Movement. Students from Claflin College and South Carolina State College joined with local residents to protest.

In 1956, people tried to end segregation in public schools. White people sometimes fired or evicted activists as a response. College students supported them with protests and marches. In 1960, over 400 students were arrested during sit-ins and marches organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).

In August 1963, the Orangeburg Freedom Movement asked the city to end segregation. When talks failed, more than 1,300 people were arrested during large protests. Efforts to end segregation continued, especially after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed.

On February 8, 1968, protests against a segregated bowling alley led to violence. Police opened fire on a crowd of students from South Carolina State. Three students, Samuel Hammond, Henry Smith, and Delano Middleton, were killed, and 27 others were hurt. This sad event became known as the "Orangeburg Massacre".

Orangeburg in the 2000s

In May 2000, the city started the Orangeburg County Community of Character program. This was a team effort to improve the community. In 2005, Orangeburg County won the All-America City Award. This award recognizes communities where people, government, and businesses work together to solve problems.

In 2007, Orangeburg hosted the first debate for Democratic U.S. presidential candidates. Future president Barack Obama was one of the debaters. In 2021, President Joe Biden visited Orangeburg to speak at South Carolina State University's graduation.

Orangeburg Geography and Climate

Orangeburg covers about 8.3 square miles (21.5 square kilometers) of land. Only a tiny part is water.

Orangeburg's Climate

Orangeburg has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has high temperatures and rain throughout the year. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are mild.

Orangeburg Population and People

Orangeburg's Diverse Community (2020 Census)

In 2020, Orangeburg had 13,240 people living in 4,455 households. About half of these households were families.

Orangeburg's Population in 2010

In 2010, Orangeburg had 13,964 people. Most of the population, about 75%, was African American. About 19% were White, and smaller groups included Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander people. About 1.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The city had 4,421 households. About 18.9% of these had children under 18. The average household had 2.23 people. The median age in the city was 28 years old.

Education in Orangeburg

Colleges and Universities

• Claflin University: Founded in 1869, it's the oldest historically black university in South Carolina. In 2014, it was ranked as a top liberal arts college.
• South Carolina State University: This is a public, four-year historically black university. It was founded in Orangeburg in 1896.
• Orangeburg–Calhoun Technical College: This college offers associate degrees. It is part of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Public Schools

Orangeburg has several public school districts:

• Orangeburg Consolidated School District Three
• Consolidated School District Four
• Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five
• Orangeburg-Wilkinson Senior High School

Charter Schools

• OCSD5 High School for Health Professions
• Felton Laboratory Charter School

Private Schools

• Orangeburg Preparatory Schools, Inc.
• Orangeburg Christian Academy

Public Library

Orangeburg has a public library. It is a branch of the Orangeburg County Library system.

Media in Orangeburg

The Times and Democrat is the daily newspaper for the Orangeburg area.

Transportation in Orangeburg

Travel Hubs

• Orangeburg Municipal Airport: For air travel.
• Greyhound: For bus travel.
• Southeastern Stages: Another bus service.

Major Roads

Orangeburg is connected by several U.S. Routes and South Carolina Highways:

• U.S. Route 301
• U.S. Route 601
• U.S. Route 21
• U.S. Route 178
• South Carolina Highway 4
• South Carolina Highway 33
• Interstate 26 (via Exits 145, 149 and 154)

Fun Things to Do in Orangeburg

St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Orangeburg, South Carolina

Edisto Memorial Gardens

The Edisto Memorial Gardens is famous for its beautiful roses. It features award-winning roses from the All-American Rose Selections. You can see about 4,000 rose plants of at least 75 different types. The garden started in the 1920s with azaleas. A playground was added in 1922, and the first rose garden was planted in 1951. Today, it has over 50 beds of roses, covering more than 150 acres.

IP Stanback Museum & Planetarium

The IP Stanback Museum & Planetarium is located at South Carolina State University. It's named after Israel Pinkney Stanback, the first African-American chairman of the university's board. The museum has one of the largest exhibition areas in the state. Its planetarium has a forty-foot dome and can seat 82 people. It's a great place to learn about art and space!

Festivals and Events

The Orangeburg Festival of Roses started in 1972. It was created to help develop Orangeburg and improve life for its residents. The festival includes fun events like a river race, a bass fishing tournament, a Princess of Roses pageant, and various sports tournaments.

In winter, Orangeburg hosts the Grand American Coon Hunt. This event takes place every January and is the largest field trial for coon dogs in the United States. It's also a qualifying event for the World Coon Hunt.

Historic Landmarks

Many important buildings and areas in Orangeburg are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include:

Famous People from Orangeburg

Many notable people have connections to Orangeburg:

Images for kids

• 

  A controversial Confederate flag in Orangeburg owned by the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

See also

In Spanish: Orangeburg (Carolina del Sur) para niños