Whitmire, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whitmire, South Carolina
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Businesses along Main Street
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| Nickname(s):
Pearl of the Piedmont
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Location of Whitmire, South Carolina
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| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Newberry |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.25 sq mi (3.24 km2) |
| • Land | 1.25 sq mi (3.24 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 436 ft (133 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,390 |
| • Density | 1,112.00/sq mi (429.38/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
29178
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| Area code(s) | 803, 839 |
| FIPS code | 45-77380 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1251440 |
Whitmire is a small town located in Newberry County, South Carolina, in the United States. It sits right next to the Enoree River. In 2020, about 1,390 people lived there. The town got its name from George Fredrick Whitmire, who originally came from Stuttgart, Germany.
Contents
History of Whitmire
Whitmire has a long and interesting past, starting with its first settlers and growing into a busy town.
Early Settlers and Growth
The very first person to settle in the area that is now Whitmire was John Duncan. He built his home along a creek that is still named after him today. Before the 1790s, the family of George Frederick Whitmire arrived. They set up a tavern and a post office, which helped the area grow.
The Arrival of the Railway
A big change happened in 1890 when the Georgia, Carolina and Northern Railway came to Whitmire. This new railway helped the town grow very quickly. Because of this growth, Whitmire officially became a town in 1891.
The Textile Mill Era
In 1902, a large textile factory called the Glenn-Lowery Mill was built. It had many machines for making fabric, like 900 looms and 33,000 spindles. By 1911, the mill had almost doubled in size! Over the years, new owners kept making the mill bigger. This factory was a very important source of jobs and money for Whitmire for most of the 20th century.
Rebuilding After the Great Fire
In 1916, a big fire destroyed many buildings in downtown Whitmire. Most of these buildings were made of wood. After the fire, the town decided to make new rules about building. The business area was rebuilt using strong brick, and many of these brick buildings are still standing today.
The Carlisle County Idea
In 1924, Whitmire tried to create a new county called Carlisle County. This new county would have included parts of Newberry, Laurens, and Union counties. Whitmire would have been the main town, or "county seat," for this new area. However, the people organizing this plan could not get enough land, so the idea did not happen.
Geography of Whitmire
Whitmire is located at 34°30′8″N 81°36′51″W / 34.50222°N 81.61417°W. It is found where two main roads, U.S. Route 176 and South Carolina Highway 72, cross paths. The town is northwest of Columbia and southeast of Spartanburg. The eastern edge of Whitmire runs along the Enoree River.
The town covers about 1.3 square miles (3.3 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.
Population of Whitmire
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 131 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,045 | 697.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,955 | 87.1% | |
| 1930 | 2,763 | 41.3% | |
| 1940 | 3,272 | 18.4% | |
| 1950 | 3,006 | −8.1% | |
| 1960 | 2,663 | −11.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,226 | −16.4% | |
| 1980 | 2,038 | −8.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,702 | −16.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,512 | −11.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,441 | −4.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,390 | −3.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 1,441 people living in Whitmire. These people lived in 597 households, with 382 of them being families. The town had about 1,147 people per square mile.
The average household in Whitmire had about 2.30 people. The average family had about 2.94 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 23.7% of the people were under 18 years old. About 24.5% were 65 years old or older. The average age in Whitmire was 43 years.
Economy of Whitmire
Whitmire was once called the "Pearl of the Piedmont." This was because it was a very successful town known for its textile mills. However, by the early 2010s, the last textile mill in Whitmire had closed down.
Education in Whitmire
Whitmire has a public library. It is part of the Newberry County Library System, where people can borrow books and use other resources.
Notable People from Whitmire
- Billy O'Dell (1933–2018) was a professional baseball player. He was well-known for playing with the San Francisco Giants.
- Donnie Shell (born 1952) is a former professional football player. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Jordan Gregory (born 1987) was a college mascot for the University of South Carolina.
See also
In Spanish: Whitmire para niños
