Bennettsville, South Carolina Facts for Kids

Bennettsville is a city located in the U.S. state of South Carolina on the Great Pee Dee River. As the county seat of Marlboro County, Bennettsville is noted for its historic homes and buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries—including the Bennettsville Historic District which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

According to the 2010 census, Bennettsville has a population of 9,069.

Geography
History
Registered historic sites
Facilities
Economy
Demographics
- 2020 census
Education
Notable people
See also

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16 km²), of which 5.6 square miles (15 km²) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) (10.13%) is water.

History

The city of Bennettsville was founded in 1819 on the Great Pee Dee River and named after Thomas Bennett, Jr., then governor of South Carolina. The area was developed for short-staple cotton cultivation, dependent on the labor of enslaved African Americans. Many were brought to the upland area from the Lowcountry, carrying their Gullah culture with them. Others were transported from the Upper South by slave traders. This shift to cotton cultivation in the uplands was based on the development of the cotton gin, which made short-staple cotton, cotton with relatively short fibers, profitable. The advent of the gin in turn led to development of large cotton plantations throughout the Deep South.

In the same year, the S.C. General Assembly authorized the relocation of the courthouse from the eastern bank of the Great Pee Dee River to a more central location, selecting a 3-acre (12,000 m²) apple orchard located on a bluff above Crooked Creek. The new courthouse was designed by South Carolina architect Robert Mills. Streets were developed radiating courthouse square, one of the state's largest. In 1852, the Mills building was replaced.

In 1865 during the last year of the Civil War, the city was occupied by Union troops. During this time, the Jennings-Brown House and the first County Courthouse were used as the headquarters for General William T. Sherman. The new courthouse escaped burning. This is one of the few county seats that has preserved records dating to 1785; they are available for genealogical research.

In 1884, another Second Empire-style courthouse was built on the site. In 1952-1954 it was later enlarged with additions, and the 1884 portion constitutes the central portion of the current building. Additions included two-story red brick wings and the present clock steeple, all designed by Bennettsville architect Henry D. Harrall.

In 1885, Duncan Donald McColl financed development of the first railroad, bank and textile mills in Bennettsville, stimulating the economy as the town was connected to other markets and built an industry. The economy boomed during this "king cotton" era. The city became the center of one of the richest agricultural areas in the state. In the 20th century, the State of South Carolina designated Bennettsville as one its first "G.R.E.A.T. Town" (Governor's Rural Economic Achievement Trophy).

Registered historic sites

Buildings and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places include Appin, the Bennettsville Historic District, Jennings-Brown House, Magnolia, Robertson-Easterling-McLaurin House, and the nearby Welsh Neck-Long Bluff-Society Hill Historic District.

The Bennettsville Historic District was designated and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Its contributing buildings include the Jennings-Brown House (1826), the Female Academy (1830), the Medical Museum (1902), and the Murchison School (1902), as well as other residences in the Queen Anne and Beaux Arts style.

Facilities

In the 21st century, a new Marlboro County library was constructed. Named in honor of national activist Marian Wright Edelman, who was born and grew up in Bennettsville, it opened on February 22, 2010. She founded the Children's Defense Fund, to promote programs for children and mothers.

The library is located on 4.4 acres (18,000 m²) at the intersection of Marlboro Street and Fayetteville Avenue adjacent to the Murchison building (1902) and is a new single-story building with approximately 20,000 square feet (1,900 m²). Its front tower is oriented on axis with that of the Murchison Building. The building's cost was supported by $1.325 million in federal funding. The Library holds 60,000 volumes and has two conference rooms, seating 50 and 12.

Economy

The county is still largely rural, with limited job opportunities. The county seat serves as a trading center for the county.

The Federal Correctional Institution, Bennettsville was built outside of the city in the county. It is a medium-security prison for male prisoners, and has an associated minimum-security camp holding 139 prisoners. Together the facility houses 1776 prisoners.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	343	—
1890	978	185.1%
1900	1,929	97.2%
1910	2,646	37.2%
1920	3,197	20.8%
1930	3,667	14.7%
1940	4,895	33.5%
1950	5,140	5.0%
1960	6,963	35.5%
1970	7,468	7.3%
1980	8,774	17.5%
1990	9,345	6.5%
2000	9,425	0.9%
2010	9,069	−3.8%
2020	7,020	−22.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

Bennettsville racial composition
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	2,089	29.76%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	4,529	64.52%
Native American	46	0.66%
Asian	56	0.8%
Pacific Islander	3	0.04%
Other/Mixed	205	2.92%
Hispanic or Latino	92	1.31%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,020 people, 2,850 households, and 1,684 families residing in the city.

Education

Bennettsville has a lending library, the Marian Wright Edelman Public Library.

Notable people

Thomas Carey (baritone), American operatic baritone
Aziz Ansari, comedian and actor
Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children's Defense Fund
Scott Howell, American political consultant
Hugh McColl, retired CEO of Bank of America
Cozell McQueen, Starting Center on 1983 NC State NCAA Championship Team
Jim Odom, MLB umpire
Claudius E. Watts III US Air Force lieutenant general
Mike Wright, pitcher for Seattle Mariners
Chancellor Williams, historian, writer and educator

Bennettsville, South Carolina facts for kids

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