Yemassee, South Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yemassee, South Carolina
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| Motto(s):
"The focal point of the four counties"
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Location of Yemassee, South Carolina
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| Country | United States | |
| State | South Carolina | |
| Counties | Hampton, Beaufort | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Town Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 8.12 sq mi (21.02 km2) | |
| • Land | 8.11 sq mi (20.99 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) | |
| Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,080 | |
| • Density | 133.23/sq mi (51.44/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
29945
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| Area code(s) | 843, 854 | |
| FIPS code | 45-79450 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1227730 | |
| Website | www.townofyemassee.org | |
Yemassee (pronounced YEM-uh-see) is a small town in South Carolina. It is located in both Beaufort and Hampton counties. In 2020, about 1,080 people lived there.
Yemassee is close to the borders of Colleton and Jasper counties. A railroad line, run by CSX, divides the town. This line also marks the county line between Beaufort and Hampton counties. Most of the town's residents live in Hampton County.
The part of Yemassee in Beaufort County is considered part of the larger Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. Yemassee is home to Alpha Genesis, Inc., a facility that breeds non-human primates for research. This company is a major employer in the town. Also, the famous Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Auldbrass Plantation is just outside Yemassee.
Contents
History of Yemassee
The town of Yemassee gets its name from the Yamasee people. They were a Native American tribe. The Yamasee were important allies of South Carolina for a long time. This changed during the Yamasee War in 1715. The first attack of this war happened in a Yamasee town called Pocotaligo. Today, Pocotaligo is part of Yemassee.
The area around Yemassee has many historical sites. These include places from the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War. You can still see remains of Civil War defenses along U.S. Route 21 and 17A. These highways are now part of Yemassee.
Three historic plantations are within the town limits. These are Bindon, Cotton Hall, and Tomotley. Cotton Hall and Tomotley became part of the town in 2021.
A writer named William Gilmore Simms wrote a novel called The Yemassee: A Romance of Carolina in the 1800s. The University of South Carolina also publishes a literary magazine named Yemassee.
For many years, the Yemassee Train Depot was the last stop for Marine Corps recruits. They would get off the train here before going to Parris Island for training.
Geography and Climate
Yemassee is located at 32°41′41″N 80°51′11″W / 32.69472°N 80.85306°W. The town covers an area of about 11.7 square kilometers (4.5 square miles). All of this area is land.
Yemassee Weather
Yemassee has a warm climate. Summers are hot and humid. Winters are mild. The average high temperature in July is about 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). The average low temperature in January is around 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius). The town gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.
Population of Yemassee
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 250 | — | |
| 1920 | 323 | 29.2% | |
| 1930 | 539 | 66.9% | |
| 1940 | 684 | 26.9% | |
| 1950 | 712 | 4.1% | |
| 1960 | 473 | −33.6% | |
| 1970 | 745 | 57.5% | |
| 1980 | 789 | 5.9% | |
| 1990 | 728 | −7.7% | |
| 2000 | 807 | 10.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,027 | 27.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,080 | 5.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Information
In 2020, the U.S. Census counted 1,080 people living in Yemassee. There were 390 households and 230 families in the town.
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 385 | 35.65% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 630 | 58.33% |
| Native American | 5 | 0.46% |
| Asian | 1 | 0.09% |
| Other/Mixed | 38 | 3.52% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21 | 1.94% |
Getting Around Yemassee
Yemassee is easy to reach by car. You can get there from three exits on Interstate 95. This highway runs west of the town. Alternate U.S. Highway 17 and U.S. Highway 21 also go through the town. S.C. Highway 68 connects Yemassee to other towns in Hampton County, like Varnville and Hampton.
The town also has an Amtrak train station. This station is an important stop for train travel in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina.
Famous People from Yemassee
- Chief Bey, a well-known African drummer.
- Frank Blair, a famous NBC television journalist.
See also
In Spanish: Yemassee para niños
