Walterboro, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Walterboro is a city in Colleton County, South Carolina
, United States
. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census (10,064 total pop. of Walterboro Urban Cluster). It is the county seat
of Colleton County.
. The town quickly spread out from the original Hickory Valley location, its population growth fueled successively by the town becoming the county seat in 1821, the establishment of a railroad line connecting the city with Columbia and Charleston in the 1880s, the establishment of an airfield in the 1930s and more recently the establishment of Interstate 95
in the 1960s, making the town a prime overnight stop on the road to Florida or New York.
In 1942, Walterboro became home to the
Walterboro Army Air Field
, a sub-base of Columbia Army Air Base
and part of the overall network of army air training facilities that sprang up across the US during World War II. The base was established to provide advanced air combat training to fighter and bomber groups. It also hosted the largest camouflage school in the United States, as well as a 250 person Prisoner of War Camp. In 1944 the air field changed commands and became an advanced combat training base for individual fighters, primarily the black trainees graduating from Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama
. Over 500 of the famed Tuskegee Airmen
trained at Walterboro Army Air Field between April 1944 and October 1945 including individuals training as replacement pilots for the 332nd Fighter Squadron and the entire 447th Bombardment Group. The base closed in October 1945 and returned to its origins as a local airfield.
Today Walterboro represents the epitome of natural southern beauty and hospitality with its elegant old southern oaks, shaded lanes dotted with historic homes dating back to 1820, and a charming downtown that has changed very little in the past 75 years.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.8 km²), all land.
The Rice Festival is usually held on Friday and Saturday.
of 2000, there were 5,153 people (5,516 in 2004 estimate), 2,084 households, and 1,379 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,038.0 people per square mile (401.1/km²). There were 2,362 housing units at an average density of 475.8 per square mile (183.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.13% White, 48.30% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races
, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.46% of the population.
There were 2,084 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 years living with them, 39.0% were married couples
living together, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,200, and the median income for a family was $36,549. Males had a median income of $28,488 versus $19,351 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,150. About 18.6% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.1% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
. There are two private K-12 school in Walterboro, Colleton Preparatory Academy and North Walterboro Christian Academy. There is one university in Walterboro, the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie
. This is a branch of the University of South Carolina.
(access at exits 53 and 57), where lodging, dining, and gas station facilities make it a popular stopping point for travelers. Other roads of importance include U.S. Highway 15
, Alternate U.S. Highway 17
, and several state highways. The Lowcountry Regional Airport
provides general aviation services to Walterboro and Colleton County.
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census (10,064 total pop. of Walterboro Urban Cluster). It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Colleton County.
History
Walterboro (originally spelled Walterborough) was founded in 1783 as a summer retreat for local planters looking to escape their malaria-ridden, lowcountry plantations. The original settlement was located on a hilly area, covered with pine and hickory trees and named "Hickory Valley." Two of the earliest settlers were Paul and Jacob Walter. The two brothers owned plantations in nearby Jacksonboro, SC. Paul's small daughter Mary was taken ill with malaria, a common disease amongst the families who built their plantations in the marshy areas of the Lowcountry, suitable to rice production. To save Mary's life the two brothers went looking for a more healthy location in which to live during the summer months when mosquitoes abounded and started the town that was later named for them. In 1817, Walterboro was named the third county seat of Colleton County, and has remained such until the present. This was followed by the construction of a county courthouse and jail in 1821, the courthouse being design by well-known architect Robert Mills (architect)Robert Mills (architect)
Robert Mills , most famously known for designing the Washington Monument, is sometimes called the first native born American to become a professional architect, though Charles Bulfinch perhaps has a clearer claim to this honor...
. The town quickly spread out from the original Hickory Valley location, its population growth fueled successively by the town becoming the county seat in 1821, the establishment of a railroad line connecting the city with Columbia and Charleston in the 1880s, the establishment of an airfield in the 1930s and more recently the establishment of Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in South Carolina
Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway, running along the East Coast of the United States from Florida to Maine. In South Carolina, I-95 runs approximately parallel to the Atlantic Ocean shore although about inland, from Hardeeville in the south to Dillon in the northeast.-Route...
in the 1960s, making the town a prime overnight stop on the road to Florida or New York.
In 1942, Walterboro became home to the
Walterboro Army Air Field
Lowcountry Regional Airport
Lowcountry Regional Airport is a public airport located 2 miles northeast of Walterboro, South Carolina. The airport serves the general aviation community, with no scheduled commercial airline service.-History:The airport was opened in October 1937...
, a sub-base of Columbia Army Air Base
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Columbia Metropolitan Airport is the main airport for Columbia, South Carolina. The airport lies five miles southwest of Columbia's central business district, in Lexington County.-Airlines and destinations:...
and part of the overall network of army air training facilities that sprang up across the US during World War II. The base was established to provide advanced air combat training to fighter and bomber groups. It also hosted the largest camouflage school in the United States, as well as a 250 person Prisoner of War Camp. In 1944 the air field changed commands and became an advanced combat training base for individual fighters, primarily the black trainees graduating from Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history....
. Over 500 of the famed Tuskegee Airmen
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....
trained at Walterboro Army Air Field between April 1944 and October 1945 including individuals training as replacement pilots for the 332nd Fighter Squadron and the entire 447th Bombardment Group. The base closed in October 1945 and returned to its origins as a local airfield.
Today Walterboro represents the epitome of natural southern beauty and hospitality with its elegant old southern oaks, shaded lanes dotted with historic homes dating back to 1820, and a charming downtown that has changed very little in the past 75 years.
Geography
Walterboro is located at 32°54′15"N 80°39′58"W (32.904289, -80.666238).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 city has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.8 km²), all land.
Rice Festival
The Rice Festival takes place to celebrate the county’s history with the rice crop. The rice crop was the staple crop until the Civil War. After that it still impacted the county. The festival is held at the end of April each year. The 2010 festival will be the 35th year it has taken place. For each festival there is a parade, pageant, run/walk, and cooking contest. (“Colleton County Rice Festival”)The Rice Festival is usually held on Friday and Saturday.
Great Swamp Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is 800 acres (3.2 km²) of braided-creek hardwood flats bottom-land swamp. It consists of boardwalks, walking trails, bicycle paths, a canoe/kayak trail, observation areas, and a 10000 sq ft (929 m²). Discovery Center is planned. When it is completely finished the Sanctuary will be the most significant nature-based facility in the lower part of South Carolina. It is open everyday from dawn until dusk and is free. It is located on Detreville Street in Walterboro. (“Great Swamp Sanctuary”)Slave Relic Museum
The museum houses many of the relics slaves made and used during the period that they were enslaved (1750-1800s). The museum is located on Carn Street. The hours of operation are: Monday through Thursday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm and Saturdays: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm (“Slave Relic Museum”)The South Carolina Artisan Center
The South Carolina Artisan Center is the official Folk Art and Craft Center of the state. The Center is located on Wichman Street. The hours are Monday - Saturday 10am to 5:30pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. (“South Carolina Artisans Center”)Other attractions
- Colleton Museum (North Jeffries Blvd)
- Little Library (Wichman/Fishburne Street)
- Colleton County Historical & Preservation Society (Church Street)
- Old Water Tower (Memorial Ave/Washington Street)
- Tuskegee Airmen Memorial (Walterboro Army Airfield)
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 5,153 people (5,516 in 2004 estimate), 2,084 households, and 1,379 families residing in the city. 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 1,038.0 people per square mile (401.1/km²). There were 2,362 housing units at an average density of 475.8 per square mile (183.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 50.13% White, 48.30% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.49% 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 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.46% of the population.
There were 2,084 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 years living with them, 39.0% 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, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,200, and the median income for a family was $36,549. Males had a median income of $28,488 versus $19,351 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 city was $17,150. About 18.6% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.1% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Walterboro has many schools in its perimeter. There are five elementary schools in Walterboro: Bells Elementary,Cottageville Elementary, Hendersonville Elementary, Forest Hills Elementary, and Northside Elementary. one middle school can be found here: Colleton County Middle school the only public middle school in the county. There is one public high school in the entire county and that is Colleton County High SchoolColleton County High School
Colleton County High School is a public high school in Walterboro, South Carolina formerly name Walterboro High School.-Athletics:CCHS offers students the opportunity to participate in wrestling, football, basketball, baseball, softball, golf, track, soccer, and tennis.-Band of Blue:The Colleton...
. There are two private K-12 school in Walterboro, Colleton Preparatory Academy and North Walterboro Christian Academy. There is one university in Walterboro, the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie
University of South Carolina Salkehatchie
The University of South Carolina Salkehatchie is a public university with its main campus in Allendale and a branch campus in Walterboro. It is one of the 4 regional USC campuses accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as part of the flagship campus...
. This is a branch of the University of South Carolina.
Notable people from Walterboro
- Cirie FieldsCirie FieldsCirie Fields is a married mother of three children and a repeat contestant on CBS's Survivor television series. Fields has appeared in three seasons, Survivor: Panama, Survivor: Micronesia, and Survivor: Heroes vs...
- Sandy FieldsSandy FieldsSandy Fields is an American professional basketball player. Fields currently has accepted a NBA Development League team invite for the 2011–12 season.-Early life and career:...
- Norman HandNorman HandNorman L. Hand was an American football defensive tackle in the NFL. He last played with the New York Giants in 2004. He also played with the Seattle Seahawks, the New Orleans Saints, the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins...
- Dean MemingerDean MemingerDean Peter Meminger is an American basketball player and coach. Meminger starred at Rice High School in New York City. He attended Marquette University, where he played for coach Al McGuire...
- John Peurifoy, diplomat
- Brother StairBrother StairRalph Gordon Stair , also known as Brother R. G. Stair, or simply Brother Stair, is an American radio preacher based in Walterboro, South Carolina.-Early life:Stair was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania...
- Darwin WalkerDarwin WalkerDarwin Jamar Walker is an American football defensive tackle in National Football League who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
- John F. WalkerJohn F. Walker-General Background:John Furman Walker was born to Furman Frank Walker and Birdie Jane Walker in Walterboro, South Carolina, USA onFebruary 22, 1960. His father was a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy...
Infrastructure
Walterboro is easily accessible off Interstate 95Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
(access at exits 53 and 57), where lodging, dining, and gas station facilities make it a popular stopping point for travelers. Other roads of importance include U.S. Highway 15
U.S. Route 15
U.S. Route 15 is a -long United States highway, designated along South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. The route is signed north–south, from U.S. Route 17 Alternate in Walterboro, South Carolina to Interstate 86 and NY 17 in Painted Post, New York.US...
, Alternate U.S. Highway 17
U.S. Route 17 Alternate (South Carolina)
U.S. Route 17 Alternate is an alternate route of U.S. Route 17 in South Carolina that runs between Pocotaligo and Georgetown. It is long and has been four-laned in various segments since 1970.-Route description:...
, and several state highways. The Lowcountry Regional Airport
Lowcountry Regional Airport
Lowcountry Regional Airport is a public airport located 2 miles northeast of Walterboro, South Carolina. The airport serves the general aviation community, with no scheduled commercial airline service.-History:The airport was opened in October 1937...
provides general aviation services to Walterboro and Colleton County.