Summerton, South Carolina | |
|---|---|
 Views of downtown Summerton | |
 Location of Summerton, South Carolina | |
| Coordinates:33°36′05″N80°21′10″W / 33.60139°N 80.35278°W /33.60139; -80.35278[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Clarendon |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mac Bagnal[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.36 sq mi (3.51 km2) |
| • Land | 1.36 sq mi (3.51 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 131 ft (40 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 814 |
| • Density | 601.1/sq mi (232.08/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 29148 |
| Area codes | 803, 839 |
| FIPS code | 45-70225[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2406683[1] |
Summerton is a town inClarendon County, South Carolina, United States. Per the2020 census, the population was 814.[6]
Summerton is in southwestern Clarendon County.Interstate 95 passes just south of the town, with access from Exit 108. I-95 leads northeast 57 miles (92 km) toFlorence and southwest 120 miles (190 km) toSavannah, Georgia. U.S. Routes15 and301 join in the center of Summerton. US 301 leads northeast 10 miles (16 km) toManning, the Clarendon County seat, and US 15 leads north 23 miles (37 km) toSumter, while the combined highways lead southwest 11 miles (18 km) toSantee.
Summerton is located in the heart ofSantee Cooper Country, 8 miles (13 km) from the shores ofLake Marion.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, Summerton has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.3 km2), all land.[7]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 236 | — | |
| 1910 | 678 | 187.3% | |
| 1920 | 957 | 41.2% | |
| 1930 | 812 | −15.2% | |
| 1940 | 958 | 18.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,419 | 48.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,504 | 6.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,305 | −13.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,173 | −10.1% | |
| 1990 | 975 | −16.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,061 | 8.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,000 | −5.7% | |
| 2020 | 814 | −18.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 2010[9] 2020[10][4] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[9] | Pop 2020[10] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 347 | 345 | 34.70% | 42.38% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 616 | 430 | 61.60% | 52.83% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 0.10% | 0.12% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 14 | 3 | 1.40% | 0.37% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 0.10% | 0.12% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 0 | 8 | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 5 | 9 | 0.50% | 1.11% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16 | 17 | 1.60% | 2.09% |
| Total | 1,000 | 814 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of thecensus[5] of 2000, there were 1,061 people, 452 households, and 285 families residing in the town. The population density was 919.3 inhabitants per square mile (354.9/km2). There were 516 housing units at an average density of 447.1 per square mile (172.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 39.77%White, 57.21%African American, 0.19%Native American, 0.75%Asian, 1.41% fromother races, and 0.66% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.07% of the population.
There were 452 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% weremarried couples living together, 24.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 73.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,563, and the median income for a family was $34,038. Males had a median income of $34,500 versus $18,906 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $13,284. About 18.4% of families and 25.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 24.4% of those age 65 or over.
Summerton's history begancirca 1830 to 1840.Plantation owners made their move inward to Summerton to escape from the mosquitos along theSantee River. It was thought of as a health resort and safe retreat from the "malaria" associated with the swamp. The town was officially chartered by the South Carolina legislative delegation on Christmas Eve, 1889.
Summerton is well known for the court caseBriggs v. Elliott (Court citation:347 US 483).Briggs was the first filed of the four court cases combined intoBrown v. Board of Education, the famous case in which the U.S. Supreme Court in 1954 officially overturnedracial segregation in U.S. public schools.Summerton High School and Scott’s Branch High School were added toBrown v. Board of Education National Historical Park in 2022.
Despite the outcome ofBriggs andBrown, as of 2004 Summerton's schools remain effectively segregated, with nearly all white students now attending the private Clarendon Hall, leaving the public schools almost entirely African-American. As of 2004, 95% of public high school students at Scotts Branch High are black, despite 40% white population in the community.[11][12]
Today, Summerton is still noted for being a summer retreat and vacation spot for visitors interested in nature and outdoor recreation activities, e.g. golf, fishing, hunting, boating, camping.[13][14]
It is inClarendon School District 1.[15]
Municipalities and communities ofClarendon County, South Carolina,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||