Smyrna, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Smyrna is a small town in Cherokee
and York
counties in the U.S. state
of South Carolina
. The population was 45 at the 2010 United States Census, making Smyrna the smallest town in South Carolina.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 59 people, 22 households, and 17 families residing in the town. The population density
was 83.6 people per square mile (32.1/km²). There were 26 housing units at an average density of 36.8 per square mile (14.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.53% White and 8.47% African American.
There were 22 households out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.7% were married couples
living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $36,667. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $46,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,575. None of the population or the families were below the poverty line.
that had been providing a place of worship to the local residents for fifty years. A railroad depot was built in 1888 by Southern Railway, and then F.D. Horn built a mercantile business nearby. A grocery store, drug store, and dry goods store followed soon after. Soon to follow was the Smyrna High School, a telegraph office, and a post office. The population was on a rise in Smyrna until the "West Road" was completed in 1924. With York now more accessible, many residents left Smyrna in hopes of finding happiness in a larger town. Soon after, the railroad depot was closed down, and all that remained of Smyrna were three businesses and the post office. Today only the post office remains.
Cherokee County, South Carolina
Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The county was formed in 1897 from parts of York, Union, and Spartanburg Counties. It is included in the Gaffney, South Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 United States Census, the county's...
and York
York County, South Carolina
York County is a county located in the north-central section of the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to the 2010 census, the county's population was 226,073. It is the second largest county in the Charlotte metropolitan area...
counties in the U.S. state
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 45 at the 2010 United States Census, making Smyrna the smallest town in South Carolina.
Geography and climate
Smyrna is located at 35°2′48"N 81°24′47"W (35.046664, -81.413191).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 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all land.
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 59 people, 22 households, and 17 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 83.6 people per square mile (32.1/km²). There were 26 housing units at an average density of 36.8 per square mile (14.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.53% White and 8.47% African American.
There were 22 households out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.7% 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, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $36,667. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $46,250 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 $20,575. None of the population or the families were below the poverty line.
History
Incorporated in 1895, the town of Smyrna took its name from of the Smyrna Associate Reformed Presbyterian ChurchAssociate Reformed Presbyterian Church
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church as it exists today is the remnant of a small denomination, which was formed from the Synod of the South, a division of the Associate Reformed Church...
that had been providing a place of worship to the local residents for fifty years. A railroad depot was built in 1888 by Southern Railway, and then F.D. Horn built a mercantile business nearby. A grocery store, drug store, and dry goods store followed soon after. Soon to follow was the Smyrna High School, a telegraph office, and a post office. The population was on a rise in Smyrna until the "West Road" was completed in 1924. With York now more accessible, many residents left Smyrna in hopes of finding happiness in a larger town. Soon after, the railroad depot was closed down, and all that remained of Smyrna were three businesses and the post office. Today only the post office remains.