Darlington is a city in and the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
of
Darlington County.Darlington County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2005, its population was estimated at 67,346. Its county seat is Darlington. The county's population was nearly 60% rural in 2000. It is included within the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According...
, in the northeastern part of the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 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...
of
South CarolinaSouth Carolina is a U.S. state that borders Georgia to the south and North Carolina to the north. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence from the British Crown during the American Revolution. The colony was...
. It is a center for
tobaccoTobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as an organic pesticide, and in the form of nicotine tartrate it is used in some medicines. In consumption it most commonly appears in the forms of smoking, chewing, snuffing, or...
farming. The population was 6,720 at the 2000 census (12,066 total pop. of Darlington Urban Cluster) and is part of the
FlorenceFlorence is the largest city in and the county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, United States. This 1997 All-America City finalist, with its historic homes and medical center towers, came together to form a cultural center for the northeastern portion of South Carolina. The city population...
Metropolitan Statistical AreaThe Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in the Pee Dee region of northeastern South Carolina, anchored by the city of Florence...
. It is the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
of
Darlington County.Darlington County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2005, its population was estimated at 67,346. Its county seat is Darlington. The county's population was nearly 60% rural in 2000. It is included within the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According...
. Darlington, theorized to be named for the Revolutionary War Colonel Darlington, is known for its Darlington Oak and
Spanish mossSpanish moss is a flowering plant that grows upon larger trees, commonly the Southern live oak or bald cypress in the southeastern United States....
. Darlington County was named thus by an Act in March of 1785.
Darlington is a city in and the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
of
Darlington County.Darlington County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2005, its population was estimated at 67,346. Its county seat is Darlington. The county's population was nearly 60% rural in 2000. It is included within the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According...
, in the northeastern part of the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 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...
of
South CarolinaSouth Carolina is a U.S. state that borders Georgia to the south and North Carolina to the north. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence from the British Crown during the American Revolution. The colony was...
. It is a center for
tobaccoTobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as an organic pesticide, and in the form of nicotine tartrate it is used in some medicines. In consumption it most commonly appears in the forms of smoking, chewing, snuffing, or...
farming. The population was 6,720 at the 2000 census (12,066 total pop. of Darlington Urban Cluster) and is part of the
FlorenceFlorence is the largest city in and the county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, United States. This 1997 All-America City finalist, with its historic homes and medical center towers, came together to form a cultural center for the northeastern portion of South Carolina. The city population...
Metropolitan Statistical AreaThe Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in the Pee Dee region of northeastern South Carolina, anchored by the city of Florence...
. It is the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
of
Darlington County.Darlington County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2005, its population was estimated at 67,346. Its county seat is Darlington. The county's population was nearly 60% rural in 2000. It is included within the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:According...
. Darlington, theorized to be named for the Revolutionary War Colonel Darlington, is known for its Darlington Oak and
Spanish mossSpanish moss is a flowering plant that grows upon larger trees, commonly the Southern live oak or bald cypress in the southeastern United States....
. Darlington County was named thus by an Act in March of 1785. Darlington is best known for
Darlington RacewayDarlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
, a
speedway-In racing:*Oval track, an alternative name for a dedicated track, distinct from a road circuit or street circuit*Cycle speedway, a form of bicycle racing*Motorcycle speedway, a form of motorcycle sport-Other uses:...
that is home to an annual
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Southern 500The Southern 500 presented by GoDaddy.com is the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina, USA, and is the second such event at Darlington to bear the name. It began in 1957 as a race in the Convertible Division, known as the Rebel 300. In...
race. Darlington is also the site of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) Hall of Fame.
Early history
In June 1875 farmers from all over the county came to witness the infamous double hanging in front of the Darlington Jail. Spectators stayed overnight and there was a need for an extra passenger train to be added to the railway for this event.
Darlington Court House and Public Square
The public square and the Court House now sit in their present location because of an argument between two men, Colonel Lamuel Benton and Captain Elias Dubose in the late 1700s. The tale goes that the disagreement began over whether the courthouse should be located in Mechanicsville or Cuffey Town
South CarolinaSouth Carolina is a U.S. state that borders Georgia to the south and North Carolina to the north. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence from the British Crown during the American Revolution. The colony was...
. It was said that the two compromised, each beginning in their town traveling on horseback until reaching one another. The spot where they met is now the site of the Darlington public square and courthouse. A fire in March 1806 destroyed the original Court House. It was rumored at the time that an old woman was responsible for the flames in an attempt to burn papers connected to her coming court case. Between 1824 and 1825 it was rebuilt with brick due to a petition to build all buildings on the Public Square in brick to prevent the spread of fire.
Education
In 1818 Darlington's growth proved time to build a school. The first schoolhouse built was named the Darlington Academy.in the year 1860, the name was changed to St. John's Academy. This building served educational purposes as well as the site for fund-raising and the lottery. St. John's Academy was later renamed St. John's High School, and later underwent renovation followed by another name change to
Darlington High when it combined with Mayo High School in 1995.
In September, 2006 work was finished on
the Darlington County Institute of Technology,
Darlington Middle, and
Hartsville Middle.
After desegregation, Mayo High School became a magnet school called
Mayo High School for Math, Science, and TechnologyMayo High School for Math, Science, and Technology is a magnet high school located in Darlington, South Carolina. The school educates about 340 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Darlington County School District....
.
Early churches
In the 1820s denominations, mostly the Baptists met at the Court House. The Presbyterians built the first church. With the help of donations from all denominations the church was built with the understanding that all denominations could have access to the building. The Baptists built their church in 1831, which had been planned since 1829. The Methodists built third in 1834 where the Methodist Cemetery is now located. The present day United Methodist church (Trinity United Methodist Church) sanctuary was constructed in 1901.
The Civil War
No battles during the Civil War occurred in Darlington. One of Sherman's lieutenants, a former architect, was sent to burn down part of Darlington. When he arrived and saw a house that he had designed, he left the house and the rest of the town standing. The Federal troops burned down the depot, cotton platforms and railroad trestles in 1865. During this time, St. John's Academy was used as a hospital. The also did some foraging. In 1865 Federal troops passed through Darlington and hanged a slave on the Public Square for insurrection. After the war, the town was occupied by troops which were not withdrawn until 1871. By 1865, Darlington was the Headquarters for the Third Separate Brigade of the Military District of Eastern South Carolina and the Freedman's Bureau. In 1866, during the occupation the worst fire to ever hit Darlington burned down the Court House and the Jail. It was rumored that drunken Federal soldiers were to blame. It is to be noted that
Evander M. LawEvander McIvor Law was an author, teacher, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, confederate general, was born in Darlington.
The Darlington Guards
As the south readied itself for
secessionSecession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity.-Secession theory:...
, Darlington formed the Darlington Guards. When South Carolina seceded, they were the first called upon to defend Charleston. After their term of enlistment was over, the men returned to Darlington to reenlist in regiments going to Virginia. The Darlington Guards existed at this time for almost two years. They reorganized in later years and receive their own Armory in 1893. Governor B.R. Scarborough called them to the scene of the Darlington Riot of 1894. They were the first in the state to volunteer for the Spanish American War in May 1898. They were also seen by President
William McKinleyWilliam McKinley Jr. was the 25th President of the United States, and the last veteran of the American Civil War to be elected to the office....
in
Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Chatham County, Georgia, USA. Savannah was established in 1733 and was the first colonial and state capital of Georgia...
before being sent to
CubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean. It consists of the island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city. Cuba is home to over 11 million people and is...
for occupation duties near
HavanaHavana is the capital city, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city is one of the 14 Cuban provinces. The city/province has 2.4 million inhabitants, and the urban area over 3.7 million, making Havana the largest city in both Cuba and the Caribbean region...
. After coming home, they continued to serve in the
National GuardThe National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States...
. In 1915 the group retired from service again only to be reinstated and sent to the Mexican Border in 1916. After returning home, they found themselves caught in World War I. The last surviving member, Thomas W. Buchanan died in 1984.
Geography
Darlington is located at (34.301370, -79.868659).
According to the
United States Census BureauThe 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. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the
censusA "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.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 6,720 people, 2,812 households, and 1,765 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 1,565 people per square mile (604.8/km²). There were 3,140 housing units at an average density of 731.7/sq mi (282.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 56.04% African American, 42.50% White, 0.16% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , 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 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 1.01% of the population.
There were 2,812 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.3% were married couples living together, 24.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 79.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,869, and the median income for a family was $33,971. Males had a median income of $28,110 versus $20,206 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city was $15,454. About 24.9% of families and 29.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.9% of those under age 18 and 29.5% of those age 65 or over.
In popular culture
Bruce Springsteen's "Darlington County" off his album
Born in the USA.
Notable natives
- Orlando Hudson
Orlando Thill Hudson , nicknamed O-Dog and Headquarters, is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers....
, baseball player for the Los Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The team is in the Western Division of the National League. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming the Brooklyn...
- Evander M. Law
Evander McIvor Law was an author, teacher, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, Civil WarThe American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several other names, was a civil war in the United States of America. Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America...
general