Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Batesburg-Leesville is a town in Lexington and Saluda counties in the U.S. state
of South Carolina
. The population was 5,517 at the 2000 census
. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
an African American
World War II
veteran, was beaten and blinded as he passed through the town.
The town of Batesburg-Leesville was formed in 1992 by the merger of the towns of Batesburg and Leesville, South Carolina.
opened a new 180000 square feet (16,722.5 m²) Wal-Mart Supercenter near the middle of town, as well as a strip mall for smaller businesses. Despite creating 375 new jobs, the Wal-Mart has been a point of contention for many residents since it was announced, as fears arise that competition from a new Wal-Mart will force local business owners to shut down. However, many also argue that historically when a Wal-Mart moves into a small town, the associated economic boom will result in heavily increased population growth which may allow the local businesses to remain open.
All sports teams associated with Lexington County School District Three use a panther as their mascot. The Panthers' colors are purple, blue and gold.
, The University of South Carolina Columbia campus
, and several Midlands Technical College campuses are within an approximate 30-45 minute drive from town.
In 2008, Midlands Technical College opened a new Batesburg-Leesville satellite campus around the site of the Old Haynes Auditorium in the Leesville side of town.
and Monetta
). It is usually devoid of national or world news.
The town is also served by The State newspaper, which is also circulated through most of the state of South Carolina.
In 2007, Lexington County Chronicle & The Dispatch-News began circulating at town stores and business to compliment their subscribers in the area. The newspaper covers all county governments, state, national and international news as it affects Lexington County residents.
Alternatively, digital cable providers Time Warner Cable
and Pond Branch Telecommunications collectively cover the majority of the greater Batesburg-Leesville area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km2), of which, 7.3 square miles (19.0 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2) of it (1.21%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,517 people, 2,167 households, and 1,482 families residing in the town. The population density
was 751.4 people per square mile (290.2/km2). There were 2,446 housing units at an average density of 333.2 per square mile (128.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 52.82% White, 45.66% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.40% from other races
, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.
There were 2,167 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples
living together, 22.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,865, and the median income for a family was $40,040. Males had a median income of $32,447 versus $22,196 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,078. About 16.1% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. The population was 5,517 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Columbia, South Carolina metropolitan area
As defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and used by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistical purposes only, the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area, is an area consisting of six counties in central South Carolina, anchored by the city of Columbia. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had...
.
History
On February 13, 1946, Isaac WoodardIsaac Woodard
Isaac Woodard, Jr., often written Isaac Woodward, was an African American World War II veteran whose 1946 beating and maiming, hours after being discharged from the United States Army, sparked national outrage and galvanized the civil rights movement in the United States.Still in uniform, Woodard...
an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran, was beaten and blinded as he passed through the town.
The town of Batesburg-Leesville was formed in 1992 by the merger of the towns of Batesburg and Leesville, South Carolina.
Town Council
The town council comprises eight elected council persons representing single member districts. The current council members are:- District 1: Linda Deloach
- District 2: Todd O'Dell
- District 3: Stephen Cain
- District 4: Charles M. Simpkins
- District 5: Gladys Cullum
- District 6: Kathy Mingo
- District 7: Rita J. Crapps (also mayor pro tem)
- District 8: Frank Fox
Top Employers
The top employer in Batesburg-Leesville is Lexington County School District Three with four different schools and a district office. Following closely is Union Switch & Signal in their 184000 sq ft (17,094.2 m²) manufacturing facility.Poultry Industry
The town's economic dependence on poultry harvesting is apparent due to the presence of two large processing plants: Amick Farms and Columbia Farms. These assist in making Lexington County the top poultry producer in the state.Poultry Festival
The South Carolina Poultry Festival (formerly the Ridge Poultry Festival) has been on the second Saturday in May since the year 1986. The Festival features live music, food vendors, craft vendors, a carnival, a parade, and to conclude the event a cake auction and firework show.Future Growth
On May 9, 2007, Wal-Mart Stores, IncWal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
opened a new 180000 square feet (16,722.5 m²) Wal-Mart Supercenter near the middle of town, as well as a strip mall for smaller businesses. Despite creating 375 new jobs, the Wal-Mart has been a point of contention for many residents since it was announced, as fears arise that competition from a new Wal-Mart will force local business owners to shut down. However, many also argue that historically when a Wal-Mart moves into a small town, the associated economic boom will result in heavily increased population growth which may allow the local businesses to remain open.
Public schools
The public school system in Batesburg-Leesville is administered by Lexington County School District Three, which consists of:- Batesburg-Leesville Primary School (grades K-2)
- Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School (grades 3-5)
- Batesburg-Leesville Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Batesburg-Leesville High School (grades 9-12)
All sports teams associated with Lexington County School District Three use a panther as their mascot. The Panthers' colors are purple, blue and gold.
Private schools
W. Wyman King Academy and The Ridge Christian School are both private, non-denominational Christian schools accepting students in grades K-12.Area Colleges and Universities
The University of South Carolina Aiken campusUniversity of South Carolina Aiken
The University of South Carolina Aiken is a four-year, public coeducational university in Aiken, South Carolina. The school offers undergraduate degree programs as well as master's degrees in elementary education, educational technology and applied clinical psychology...
, The University of South Carolina Columbia campus
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, and several Midlands Technical College campuses are within an approximate 30-45 minute drive from town.
In 2008, Midlands Technical College opened a new Batesburg-Leesville satellite campus around the site of the Old Haynes Auditorium in the Leesville side of town.
Newspapers
Batesburg-Leesville is served weekly by The Twin City News, which specifically focuses on local news as well as that from immediately surrounding areas (mostly GilbertGilbert, South Carolina
Gilbert is a town in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 500 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Town Overview:Gilbert is located at ....
and Monetta
Monetta, South Carolina
Monetta is a town in Aiken and Saluda counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 220 at the 2000 census.The Saluda County portion of Monetta is part of the Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Aiken County portion is part of the Augusta, Georgia...
). It is usually devoid of national or world news.
The town is also served by The State newspaper, which is also circulated through most of the state of South Carolina.
In 2007, Lexington County Chronicle & The Dispatch-News began circulating at town stores and business to compliment their subscribers in the area. The newspaper covers all county governments, state, national and international news as it affects Lexington County residents.
Radio
Batesburg-Leesville has only one radio station transmitting from within its borders, WBLR 1430 AM. However, Batesburg-Leesville is in range of several radio stations broadcasting from the surrounding areas, including:- WYFV 88.7 FM - Christian - Cayce, SC
- WMHK 89.7 FM - Christian - Columbia, SC
- WUSC 90.5 FM - University of South Carolina - Columbia, SC
- WLTR 91.3 FM - Classical/NPR - Columbia, SC
- WARQ 93.5 FM - New Rock - Columbia, SC
- WCOS 97.5 FM - Country - Columbia, SC
- WLXC 98.5 FM - R&B/Soul - Lexington, SC
- WWDM 101.3 FM - R&B/Soul - Columbia, SC
- WEKL 105.7 FM - Classic rock - Augusta, GA
- WNOK 104.7 FM - "Top 40" - Columbia, SC
- WTCB 106.7 FM - "Top 40" - Columbia, SC
Television
Over-the-air channels receivable in Batesburg-Leesville include:- WJBF - Channel 6 - Augusta, GA
- WAGT - Channel 26 - Augusta, GA
- WRDW-TV - Channel 12 - Augusta, GA
- WOLO-TV - Channel 25 (ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
Affiliate) - Columbia, SC - WFXG - Channel 54 - Augusta, GA
- WLTX - Channel 19 (CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
Affiliate) - Columbia, SC - WACH - Channel 57 (FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
Affiliate) - Columbia, SC - WIS-TV - Channel 10 (NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
Affiliate) - Columbia, SC - WRLK-TV - Channel 35 - Columbia, SC
Alternatively, digital cable providers Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
and Pond Branch Telecommunications collectively cover the majority of the greater Batesburg-Leesville area.
Geography
Batesburg-Leesville is located at 33.909767°N 81.534296°W (33.909767, -81.534296).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km2), of which, 7.3 square miles (19.0 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2) of it (1.21%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,517 people, 2,167 households, and 1,482 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 751.4 people per square mile (290.2/km2). There were 2,446 housing units at an average density of 333.2 per square mile (128.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 52.82% White, 45.66% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.40% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.
There were 2,167 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 22.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,865, and the median income for a family was $40,040. Males had a median income of $32,447 versus $22,196 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $16,078. About 16.1% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
Notable figures who were born in, lived in, or are otherwise associated with Batesburg-Leesville.Athletes
- Ed McDanielEd McDanielEdward McDaniel is a former American football linebacker in the NFL. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, 5th round of the 1992 Draft. He spent his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings.Ed is a co-owner of D1 Sports Training in Greenville, South Carolina...
, former professional football player for Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... - Zackary BowmanZackary BowmanZackary Bowman is an American football cornerback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Bears in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, professional football player for the Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. - Maurice SimpkinsMaurice SimpkinsAndrew Maurice Simpkins is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent on August 10, 2010 after playing in the IFL for the Green Bay Blizzard. While in the IFL, Simpkins won the 2010 Most Improved Player award...
, professional football player for the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...